Chapter 31—Planning and Leading Worship
None should neglect the public worship of God—It is a serious
mistake to neglect the public worship of God. The privileges of divine
service should not be lightly regarded. Those who attend upon the
sick are often unable to avail themselves of these privileges, but they
should be careful not to absent themselves needlessly from the house
of worship.—
The Ministry of Healing, 511
.
Church meetings may be made of no effect due simply to a
lack of pure air—The preacher marvels that he has not power to
impress the people, when they, as well as himself, are suffering from
lack of vitalizing air, and are thus rendered incapable of appreciating
the subject upon which he is speaking. The want of the circulation of
pure air in a church makes many a meeting of no effect; for labor is
expended for naught, because the people can not keep awake.—
The
Signs of the Times, September 23, 1897
.
Reverence
Reverence is inspired by a sense of God’s greatness and a re-
alization of His presence—Another precious grace that should be
carefully cherished is reverence. True reverence for God is inspired
by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence.
With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply
impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public
worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is
there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the
feeling that inspires it will be deepened.—
Education, 242, 243
.
The place of worship is as the gate of heaven—“Watch and pray,
that ye enter not into temptation.” One of your strong temptations is
to irreverence. God is high and holy; and to the humble, believing
soul, His house on earth, the place where His people meet for worship,
is as the gate of heaven. The song of praise, the words spoken by
Christ’s ministers, are God’s appointed agencies to prepare a people
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