Whether you are from out of town or visiting locally for the first time, we know it can be very uncomfortable. You will always be greeted with a smile and a hand shake welcoming your family to ours. You will find a group of Christians with strong family values and a common love for one another and God. The congregation at Hackleburg is made up of ordinary people who simply desire to be followers of Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23). You will find our worship to be simple, reverant and God-centered. You will want to bring your Bible and follow along. We pray together, we listen to God's Word being taught, our singing is congregational and a-capella (without a musical instrument being played). Each Sunday we remember our Lord's death by sharing the "Lord's Supper." We also take up a collection to aide the work of the local church and support our missionaries. Visitors are neither asked nor expected to give.
You may have often heard people refer to the five acts of worship. This is referring to the five things that we have been commanded to do to complete our worship and please God. These things have been mentioned above but below is a more detailed list with verses to help you along in your study. We are always here if you have questions.
Jesus said, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23,24).
Two things are required of worshippers if our devotions are to be acceptable to God:
The Lord's Supper The Lord's supper or communion (1 Corinthians 10:16) consists of two things: (1) unleavened bread (without yeast) and (2) the fruit of the vine (grape juice). The purpose of the Lord's Supper is to bring to our remembrance the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus on the cross for our sins (Matthew 26:26-29). We must be very careful when we partake of the communion that we discern the blood and body of Jesus so that we partake in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). Christians are to eat the Lord's Supper every first day of every week (Acts 20:7).
Prayer Prayers offered to God are to be a part of our public worship as well as our private daily devotions. There are many examples and precepts concerning prayer in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:1,2,8; Philippians 4:6, etc.). In our prayers to God we give thanks and praise His name. In our prayers we can pray for our needs and for the needs of others. Jesus gave us a "model" prayer in Matthew 6:5-15. He did not intend for us simply to repeat this prayer by rote but gave it as an example by which we could pattern our own prayers. Jesus Christ is our mediator and high priest. Therefore, our prayers must be addressed to God in the name of Jesus (John 16:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1,2).
Preaching and Teaching God's Word God has commanded us to teach His Word (Matthew 28:19,20). Both saved and sinners need to be taught. Therefore, a lesson from the Bible is one of the acts of worship in which Christians are to engage (Acts 2:42). We must learn God's Word so that we can grow stronger in Christ, teach others, and overcome false teachings (1 Peter 2:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:2; 4:1-5). This is a very important part of our worship and must never be overlooked.
Giving Giving of our means is a part of our worship to God. This is the way Christ's church gets the necessary funds to do its work. God has given us the perfect plan for giving (1 Corinthians 16:2). We are told who is to give, "Let every one of you." We are told when we are to give, "Upon the first day of the week." We are also told how much to give, "As God hat prospered us." We show our love for God when we give cheerfully and willingly to Him (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Singing Christians are commanded to praise God in song (Colossians 3:16). The kind of music God has commanded for His church is vocal music only, that is, singing. There is no command or example anywhere in the New Testament for the use of mechanical instrumental music in Christian worship. To add instruments of music to our singing is a sin for it is adding to what God has told us that He wants. No man has the right to do this (Revelation 22:18, 19; 2 John 9-11). We are to "make melody in our hearts" (Ephesians 5:19), the instruments made by God, not instruments made by man!
Neither has God commanded us to have special singers in our worship such as choirs. Every Christian must praise God in song just as every one must partake of the Lord's Supper for himself. The purpose of our worship to God is not to entertain ourselves. Therefore, what we do in worship is not based on that which appeals to our physical senses, but must be based upon what pleases God!
True Christians want to worship God. In fact, it is impossible for a true Christian not to worship God. When we understand God's greatness, His glory, majesty, wisdom, and strength, and reflect upon His infinite mercy in giving His only begotten Son to save us from our sins, our hearts will overflow with a "sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of the lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15)
We are thankful for you! We would love for you to make Hackleburg your home!
You may have often heard people refer to the five acts of worship. This is referring to the five things that we have been commanded to do to complete our worship and please God. These things have been mentioned above but below is a more detailed list with verses to help you along in your study. We are always here if you have questions.
Jesus said, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23,24).
Two things are required of worshippers if our devotions are to be acceptable to God:
- We must worship in spirit. That is, our hearts must be right. We must be right in life. We must have the correct attitude. We must be thinking of what we are doing (Isaiah 1:11-20; Proverbs 28:9; Matthew 15:8).
- We must worship God in truth. To worship God in truth means that we will worship God according to the truth. God's Word is truth (John 17:17). Therefore, for our devotions to be acceptable to God, they must be offered in accordance with His Word.
The Lord's Supper The Lord's supper or communion (1 Corinthians 10:16) consists of two things: (1) unleavened bread (without yeast) and (2) the fruit of the vine (grape juice). The purpose of the Lord's Supper is to bring to our remembrance the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus on the cross for our sins (Matthew 26:26-29). We must be very careful when we partake of the communion that we discern the blood and body of Jesus so that we partake in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). Christians are to eat the Lord's Supper every first day of every week (Acts 20:7).
Prayer Prayers offered to God are to be a part of our public worship as well as our private daily devotions. There are many examples and precepts concerning prayer in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:1,2,8; Philippians 4:6, etc.). In our prayers to God we give thanks and praise His name. In our prayers we can pray for our needs and for the needs of others. Jesus gave us a "model" prayer in Matthew 6:5-15. He did not intend for us simply to repeat this prayer by rote but gave it as an example by which we could pattern our own prayers. Jesus Christ is our mediator and high priest. Therefore, our prayers must be addressed to God in the name of Jesus (John 16:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1,2).
Preaching and Teaching God's Word God has commanded us to teach His Word (Matthew 28:19,20). Both saved and sinners need to be taught. Therefore, a lesson from the Bible is one of the acts of worship in which Christians are to engage (Acts 2:42). We must learn God's Word so that we can grow stronger in Christ, teach others, and overcome false teachings (1 Peter 2:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:2; 4:1-5). This is a very important part of our worship and must never be overlooked.
Giving Giving of our means is a part of our worship to God. This is the way Christ's church gets the necessary funds to do its work. God has given us the perfect plan for giving (1 Corinthians 16:2). We are told who is to give, "Let every one of you." We are told when we are to give, "Upon the first day of the week." We are also told how much to give, "As God hat prospered us." We show our love for God when we give cheerfully and willingly to Him (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Singing Christians are commanded to praise God in song (Colossians 3:16). The kind of music God has commanded for His church is vocal music only, that is, singing. There is no command or example anywhere in the New Testament for the use of mechanical instrumental music in Christian worship. To add instruments of music to our singing is a sin for it is adding to what God has told us that He wants. No man has the right to do this (Revelation 22:18, 19; 2 John 9-11). We are to "make melody in our hearts" (Ephesians 5:19), the instruments made by God, not instruments made by man!
Neither has God commanded us to have special singers in our worship such as choirs. Every Christian must praise God in song just as every one must partake of the Lord's Supper for himself. The purpose of our worship to God is not to entertain ourselves. Therefore, what we do in worship is not based on that which appeals to our physical senses, but must be based upon what pleases God!
True Christians want to worship God. In fact, it is impossible for a true Christian not to worship God. When we understand God's greatness, His glory, majesty, wisdom, and strength, and reflect upon His infinite mercy in giving His only begotten Son to save us from our sins, our hearts will overflow with a "sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of the lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15)
We are thankful for you! We would love for you to make Hackleburg your home!