THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

CHAPTER 1
THE STRUCTURE OF WORSHIP

Let all things be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40)

The Church at Corinth had a number of difficulties. One area in which they had difficulties was public worship. Their “Order of Worship” was, in reality, a Disorder of Worship. Anyone who wanted to sing, speak in tongues, interpret, and so on, did so whenever and wherever in the worship they wanted. It was chaotic and confusing. Therefore, Paul gave a general principle for the Worship. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
While the core and the context of this chapter deals with speaking: the person authorized to speak, the purposed affirmed to speak, and the place allocated to speak, Paul capsules, captions, and concludes that “all things” (πάντα) that pertain to whatever “be done” (γινέσθω) in public worship on the part of the assembled congregation; whether Paul happens to have mentioned it specifically here or not, should “be done decently and in order.”
When we arrive at the House of Worship, we receive a Bulletin. The Bulletin lists the prepared agenda, the programmed activities, the person(s) authorized, and the place allocated. The first thing we note and notice on the prepared agenda is the “Order of Worship.”
In order for me to do a thorough treatment of this topic and this text, I will have to back into the verse. I will have to preach the verse backwards. So, in consideration of this passage and the program, we have the “Order of Worship” because we need and we want:

I. the Worship to be Planned
… in order (1 Corinthians 14:40)

The phrase “in order” suggests planning because “in order” means in sequence, in succession. “In order” is the disposition of things following one after another. “In order” means there is an arrangement made. The Worship is planned because “all things” do not just fall “in order” on their own or by themselves. So, our “Order of Worship” is planned. Worship is planned because it does not just happen. It is not happenstance. It is not haphazard. It is harmonized. It is planned.
The word “order” is the Greek word taksis. It carries the idea of “something done in a fitting way or something done according to order.” The Jewish historian Josephus used the word taksis when he recorded the orderly way in which the Roman army erected their camps, indicating their camps were orderly, organized, and well-planned. The commanders did not engage in last-minute planning. Their camps were not hastily thrown together but rather set up in an organized and thoughtful manner.
The important thing is that the time of worship should not be something thrown together at the last minute with no thought or organization. After all, we are talking about believers coming together to worship the Almighty God! Therefore, when we plan corporate worship, it should be well thought out and organized.
Planning indicates that it is not just thrown together, but some time, some thought, and some toil was given to this task.
The Worship is planned for:
(1) the Lord to be exemplified
God is a God of order. Look at the order in:
a. God’s World. God’s creation has order. The place and the path of the planets have order. The sun has order. The earth has order. The seasons have order. Days have order. The elements have order. This is an orderly world.

b. God’s Word. The Old and the New Testament are order. There is an order for roles in the Church and in the home. There is an order for regeneration. We have to perceive, believe, and receive. We must admit, commit, and submit. There is an order for requests. We are to ask, to seek, and to knock.

c. God’s Work. God’s order is backwards and before. He sees the ending before the beginning. It is simply “provision,” which means God sees before. Before the problem arises, God has the solution. Before the question is asked, God has the answer. Before man sinned, God had a plan for his salvation.

d. God’s Worship. Because God is a God of order, then our worship must have order so that the Lord is exemplified. We cannot exemplify a God of order in a disorderly worship.

(2) the laity to be expectant
When members come to worship, they should know what to expect. They should know the format, the features, and the flow of the worship. One does not want to be on edge and uneasy, and uncomfortable in my house…

(3) the liturgy to be edifying
“Liturgy” means “order of worship.” Accordingly, we plan worship so that those who come will be edified. We plan the genre for each group that gathers. We want everyone to be blessed while they are here and better after they leave as a result of the worship.