About Us

Tompkinsville church of Christ

500 North Main St.

Tompkinsville, KY 42167

270-487-8366

Elements of Worship

At the end of each sermon, an invitational song is sang for anyone who may want to publicly confess their faith in Christ unto salvation or restoration. During this time, one may also make known requests for special prayers. Should one respond, someone will be present to attend their needs.

Throughout a service, prayers are offered to God whereby thanks is returned and requests are made on the behalf of others and ourselves (1 Tim. 2:1).

On every Sunday, the Lord's Supper is observed after the example of the early Christians (Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Cor. 16:1-2). The Lord's Supper is for Christians to remember the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as we await our Lord's return (1 Cor. 11:23-33).

On every Sunday a free-will offering -- determined by the giver -- is made for the work of the Lord and His church (1 Cor. 16:2). Giving is to be done with intent and in a cheerful manner (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

In the worship assembly, praises are sung to God without the accompaniment of any mechanical instrument. The early Christians worshiped God by singing in this manner. Biblical passages about singing offer doctrinal content to this activity:[1]

1. Song is a way of preaching Christ. Early Christian hymns (e.g., Phil. 2:6-11; 1 Tim. 3:16) have Christ as their content.

2. Song is a confession of faith made by the lips (Heb. 13:15). The word translated “praise” can also be translated as “acknowledge” or “confess.” Singing is how we acknowledge God. This should be done with thankfulness (Eph. 5:19-20; Col. 3:16).

3. Song expresses the indwelling Spirit and word of Christ. Ephesians 5:18-19 associates singing as being filled with the Spirit; Colossians 3:16 parallels singing with teaching and admonishing that expresses the indwelling word of Christ. Singing is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit and of possessing the word of Christ.

4. Song – as praise – is a spiritual sacrifice (Heb. 13:15). Thanksgiving in song was an accompanying sacrifice (Ps. 26:6), an equivalent of sacrifice (Jonah 2:9; Ps. 141:2), and a substitute for sacrifice (Ps. 50:14, 23). The New Testament connects singing with the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:15) and speaks of “spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Therefore, singing is a spiritual activity.

5. Song is for mutual edification. Our singing is not only directed towards God, but also one another (Eph. 5:19; cf. 1 Cor. 14:26). Teaching occurs through song (Col. 3:16).

6. Song exemplifies the unity of the church (Rom. 15:6).

7. Song involves the whole person. Passages previously cited emphasize wholeness: spirit and mind (1 Cor. 14:15); words with the heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) and the lips (Heb. 13:15).

8. Song expresses deep religious emotion (James 5:13).

[1] Everett Ferguson, The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996), 269-72.

Main Navigation