Planning and Leading Worship
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Worship should not include a bedlam of noise—It is impossible
to estimate too largely the work that the Lord will accomplish through
His proposed vessels in carrying out His mind and purpose. The things
you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me
would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth
thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music,
and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused
that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called
the moving of the Holy Spirit.—
Selected Messages 2:36
.
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Congregational Participation
Where the church is walking in the light, there will be cheer-
ful, hearty responses and words of joyful praise—The Lord would
have His ministers who preach the Word energized by His Holy Spirit;
and the people who hear should not sit in drowsy indifference, or stare
vacantly about, making no responses to what is said. The impression
that is thus given to the unbeliever is anything but favorable for the
religion of Christ. These dull, careless professed Christians are not
destitute of ambition and zeal when engaged in worldly business; but
things of eternal importance do not move them deeply. The voice of
God through His messengers may be a pleasant song; but its sacred
warnings, reproofs, and encouragements are all unheeded. The spirit
of the world has paralyzed them. The truths of God’s Word are spo-
ken to leaden ears and hard, unimpressible hearts. There should be
wide-awake, active churches to encourage and uphold the ministers of
Christ and to aid them in the work of saving souls. Where the church
is walking in the light, there will ever be cheerful, hearty responses
and words of joyful praise.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:318
.
Those who worship should not be responseless listeners—
Through the psalmist God declares, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth
me.” Much of the public worship of God consists of praise and prayer,
and every follower of Christ should engage in this worship. There is
also the preaching service, conducted by those whose work it is to
instruct the congregation in the Word of God. Although all are not
called to minister in word and doctrine, they need not be cold and
responseless listeners. When the Word of God was spoken to the
Hebrews anciently, the Lord said to Moses, “And let all the people