Worship

Central focus; distinctive activity for Christian worship. Worship translated means "to bow down". The worship of God through Jesus Christ is the heart of Christian expression.

New Testament Church; minority movement in a hostile religious enviornment. NT does not offer detailed instruction on leadership for worship.

Christiam assambley met in private homes; On Lord's Day - commemeration of ressurection.

Paul identifies two types of Christian gathering
1. The Lord's Supper
2. The prophetic assembley; singing/thanksgiving, hymns, prayer, vocal thanksgiving & instruction.

Luke & John preserves hymns used in EC. NT does not specify who is to officate at worship. 
Unbelievers attended prophetic assambley, but did not partake in Lord's Supper. 

Jesus at Last Supper; "this is my body..this is my blood.. do this in rememberence of me." bread & wine = presence of Jesus in the church.

Central focus; distinctive activity for Christian worship. Worship translated means "to bow down". The worship of God through Jesus Christ is the heart of Christian expression.

New Testament Church; minority movement in a hostile religious enviornment. NT does not offer detailed instruction on leadership for worship.

Christiam assambley met in private homes; On Lord's Day - commemeration of ressurection.

Paul identifies two types of Christian gathering
1. The Lord's Supper
2. The prophetic assembley; singing/thanksgiving, hymns, prayer, vocal thanksgiving & instruction.

Luke & John preserves hymns used in EC. NT does not specify who is to officate at worship. 
Unbelievers attended prophetic assambley, but did not partake in Lord's Supper. 

Jesus at Last Supper; "this is my body..this is my blood.. do this in rememberence of me." bread & wine = presence of Jesus in the church.

Sacramental actions established by Jesus; foot washing & baptism.
John records Jesus washed feet of disciples as a symbol of loving servanthood they must show to each other.

DIDACHE; contains earliest descriptipon of the eucharist
Order of worship;
Lord's prayer three times daily; describes coming together on the Lord's Day; break bread & give thanks; first confessing sins and then reconciling with neighbours.

follows Jewish forms; grace before & after meals. Emphasis on gathering of church body.

Role of prophets significant; known as high priests; instructions on welcoming prophets and discerning between false & true prophets. Does not specify who is to be the official at the eucharist.

Pliny's Letter
Pliny spoke to Christians who had renounced their faith to learn about worship.
He learned; appointed day, meet before day break; recite hymn; take oath to abstain from theft, adultery, robbery and breach of faith; reassembled later to eat together.
* Pliny only source to specifically mention hymns

Justin Martyr
In his first apology;
Sunday assembley, "in one place". Community gather on Sunday/first day of the week; day of creation & the day Jesus rose from the dead. Services begins with memoirs of apostles (Gospels). Speaker is seated & people stand, as was custom in ancient times. Followed by prayers & celebration of eucharist. Rich give presents to president, who give to the poor.

Justin describes development of Christian Worship
Formal offertory for elements of bread & wine; does not signify gathering of church; Sunday combines service of teachings with the aucharist, those who are not baptised not present for eucharist; they would be dismissed before prayers.