I received this honest, sincere reply to my entry on the centrality of preaching from Jim (which I have edited for brevity):
You summarized the last entry by saying that “preaching is the highest form of corporate worship”. I do recognize that it is through the “foolishness of preaching” that those who believe are saved. What I don’t understand is why, if “preaching is the highest form of corporate worship” there was no provision for it in the model given to us in the Tabernacle. Why a regular “preaching service” did not occur in the religious life of The Great Congregation (except on those scheduled, but rare occasions when The Law was to be publicly read) until the development of the synagogue system during The Exile?Why The LORD did not include it even as He stated on “two or three” occasions regarding the Pilgrim Feasts, “No one shall appear before me empty(handed).” Doesn’t that make sacrifice “the highest form of corporate worship”?
Jim, my most immediate response to your final summation that sacrifice is the highest form of worship is ‘how is that expressed in a New Testament church’ (unless your suggesting that giving of Offerings is)? That system of sacrifice was a shadow and type of the Christ Who would come and fulfill the shadow. His sacrifice for sin was the Ultimate Worship Expression!
While we must be careful not to ignore the Old Testament instruction, the centrality of preaching is throughout the New Testament. With that being said, we can certainly look to the Old Testament examples of the preaching prophets and see that God put great emphasis on the declaration of His word (see Jonah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah). We certainly see a powerful picture of the scriptures being read and explained in the book of Nehemiah.
In short, a using of the Old Testament temple worship to lower the centrality of preaching is looking in the wrong place (no disrespect, Jim!). To look at the New Testament focus, we clearly see preaching as central (Romans 10). While no specific service orders are given in the New Testament, Paul clearly exhorts the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 14) to seek prophesy, i.e., preaching, as the greatest gift to, in, and for the Church.
Not only in terms of evangelism, but for sanctification, it is a necessary thing for a believer to be under regular, systematic, careful exposition from God’s Word through preaching. No other form of corporate worship can have as powerful an effect upon sanctification than preaching—not singing, not corporate prayers, not giving of offerings. The exegetical pulpit is the well-spring from which a local church receives its nourishment (while not the only source—private worship is ALSO very crucial in this process—but we are speaking in corporate terms).
There are certainly higher forms of worship. Jesus said that there is no greater gift that to give one’s life for another (John 15:13). However, I was speaking about worship in a corporate environment and specifically in regards to preaching verses singing, giving offerings, prayers, etc.
As I mentioned in a previous post, there are certainly those who disagree with this stance which gave rise to the liturgy. The liturgy seeks to give equal importance to all corporate forms (singing, reading of scriptures, offerings, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of confession, etc.). With all due respect, I do believe that God did put extra emphasis and value upon preaching in a corporate setting than all other forms of corporate worship.
This entry deserves much more development and focus. I would suggest that you read Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ classic book “Preaching and Preachers” for further study on this subject. Thanks so much for your thoughtful and kind question, Jim! (Don’t be shocked and seeing yet another follow-up to this entry—stay tuned!)
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Thanks for sharing this. If I might offer a question or two:
Where does Romans 12:1 fit into this?
Is there really a scriptural basis for classifying as “higher worship” rather than “higher acts, resulting from worship”? That is, to give one’s life for another, is that worship or a selfless act that results from a mindset of God-centered worship? Or, is preaching worship or an act of labor for the gospel’s sake that results from having a heart for making qualified worshippers? Is singing worship, or is it an act of adoration that results from a heart of reverence in awe of God’s worth?
I’ve probably taken the latter too far, with too little scripture considered before asking it, but I think the core of the question – is worship the act, or is it simply at the foundation of the heart that produced the act? – is still worth asking.
Thanks. Grace and Peace,
- tollie
I hear you Tollie. I do think your question may be a matter of semantics. When I say that preaching is the highest form of corporate worship I do mean that preaching is the most essential and most beneficial and most crucial to corporate life. Thx so much for your thoughtful comment.
Brother, and Pastor, Tom,
Thank you for your gracious, biblical and well-reasoned response. You clarified my understanding of your primary concern- that the Word of God be given “pride of place” in our lives; and that this personal attitude is most clearly modeled in the effort, time and attention given to the ministry of preaching in the life of the gathered “corporate” Body of Christ. That concern is clearly the focus of the entire Scriptures from Deut. 8:1-3 and 18:15-19 to I Cor. 14:1 (to arbitrarily choose start-and-finish references). Despite the fact that most (but not all) of the examples of O.T. preaching you offer did not overtly occur within the context of the gathered Great Congregation (which proves my contention; classic exceptions are Jer 7:2 and 17:19), we agree whole-heartedly: The Word of God is central and normative. As the old saying goes, “You preach it, Brother, it is a privilege for me to turn your pages.”
(As an aside: Speaking of the importance of The Word of God in our corporate services, we still do not see eye-to-eye on the related prophetic [in the Deut 18/I Cor. 14 sense] role of music ministry taught by I Chron. 25:1-6, 28:19 and Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:18-19- but that’s a topic for another discussion.)
We also totally agree that The Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for sin completed the shadowy Levitical ceremonial system of sin and trespass offerings, and was the ultimate worship expression (Heb. 10:1ff). To believe otherwise is to rip Hebrews (at least) out of the inspired and completed canon.
But Paul, after completing his magnificent sermon on Salvation in Romans 1-11, did not “close the service.” He recognized that, while the public proclamation of God’s Word was irreplaceable in the lives of God’s People, it was not the climactic / most important part of the service. Instead he exhorted the congregation to “not be hearers only”, “not appear before God empty handed,” but to respond to Him- not by listening to another sermon, but by sacrifice offered vertically and horizontally (12:1-16:27). In this he is joined by the author of Hebrews (13:15-16), Peter (1 Pet. 2:9, 5), and, classically, by James (1:27). (I note in all these passages the context which stresses the prerequisite work of The Word of God!) And, while John doesn’t use “sacrifice” terminology, within the context of “doing good” (Hebrews) and “pure religion” (James), his commands to love God and ‘love the brethren’ could be seen in a ‘sacrificial’ light (I Jn. 5:21, 3:11-19, again, choosing one passage out of several).
Likewise, there were in the typical Levitical model- and not fulfilled by Christ’s expiatory sacrifice-other sacrifices that were offered after the offerings for sin: the Communion (varieties of Freewill) offerings, and the Consecratory sacrifices: the Grain offering and, primarily, that continual Burnt Offering which was the basis of all other sacrifices- it was corporately offered first in the morning, always placed on top of the sin offerings (e.g. Numb 6:13-16; Lev. 8:14-21), and corporately offered last in the evening.
So I see ALL that The Congregation does: from arriving (why do Sheep enter His gates [Ps. 100:3-4]?), through participating in the acts of expressing corporate worship in prayer (Ps. 141:2, Isa. 56:7), koinonia (Jn. 15:12-13) and, yes, even giving (2 Cor. 8-9), to departing (Rom 8:36), as well as actively allowing the “Proclaimed Word” (spoken or sung) to teach, rebuke, correct and instruct in righteousness, as being sacrificial, and therefore, if done in spirit and truth. as “the highest form/expression of corporate worship.”
As the Wycliffe Commentary (Moody Press, 1962) says on I Cor. 14:26: “The early believers did not come to the worship meeting to hear a sermon from one man or simply to receive; they came to give.”
I know that this has been long. Written words- even inspired ones- require so much to make them clear and effective- witness Dr. Jones’ 14 volumes it took to ‘unpack’ Romans! How grateful I/we are that “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld (we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of Life) His glory!” Please know that it was written with smiles, and lots of rejoicing in our mutual love for The Lord Jesus and each other. I am grateful for- and looking forward to- my sharpening by you. In the interim, may you continue to recognize our High Priest’s blessing on you, your family, and your ministry as you sacrificially (SMILE!) prepare to lead His People this weekend -by His grace and for His glory.
Jim Lowery
Richmond, VA