Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

A CONGREGATIONAL PRAISE SERVICE

1. The Psalmist was so filled with praise to God:
   1. That he invoked all creation to praise God, including nature itself - Ps. 148:1-13
   2. He seems to have understood that creation came into being to glorify the Creator - Ps. 19:1-6; 11:1-9
2. There is, therefore, a most important lesson for the church of the living God to gather from our opening text:
   1. That in all the gatherings of God's people the praises of God should be uppermost
   2. That it what heavenly assemblies are doing and it is a privilege for the saints to do the same

1. They were common among God's ancient covenant people:
   1. On special occasions the dedication of the temple - I Kings 8:66; at the time Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground - Ex. 15
   2. In the Sabbath services - I Kings 10:12; 2 Chron. 9:11; I Chron. 9:33; 15:19; Ps. 87:7
   3. The early Christians devoted much of their assemblies to praise the Lord by voice and upon divers instruments - Acts 2:46; 4:24
2. It appears to this writer:
   1. That the modern congregational assemblies lean more to hearing a sermon within a given time - to begin it with a song and a prayer; this is proper
   2. Yet, this writer remembers the time when the Sabbath services were used to sing songs of praises to God, and also have a testimony meeting - people were given opportunity to testify of their experience during the week
3. One wonders if that experience among God's people will ever be renewed:
   1. This we do know that God is interested in praise services - read Acts 4:31
   2. He was interested on the Day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-17

1. The Sabbath services are intended for:
   1. Hearing the word of God - Acts 13:42-44
   2. Meditation in prayer - Ps. 46:10
   3. But, also, for praising the Lord - by the congregation - I Chron. 29:20; 2 Chron. 29:28
2. Impatience by many makes such praise services difficult, if not impossible:
   1. Two hours in Sabbath School and one hour at the eleven o'clock service is normal; anything beyond that is undesirable, saying the least
   2. The midweek prayer services are proverbial for the lack of interest in most churches all this one must regret
3. Some reasons for the present day laxness by God's people:
   1. Modern conveniences are partly responsible for the lack of praise services
   2. The T.V. has replaced much of the congregational leaning by the people - why go to church when you can be entertained by the radio or the T.V.
   3. Three hours in the morning, listening to the teacher and the preacher and to the song services which precedes the sermon are taxing people so they think, too much as it is
   4. A testimony meeting, is desirable; yet when may we have it
4. But, dear friends, I fear that the time will soon be upon us:
   1. When the question of convenience will have disappeared because conditions in the world and in the nation do not permit us to think of convenience - Dan. 12:1
   2. Assemblies of the people of God will be out of the question - forbidden by law - Rev. 12:17
   3. Each one of us will have to stand by himself - no longer can we take comfort in the assemblies of the saints
   4. I wonder whether we shall be like ancient Israel - looking back to the times we woefully neglected to praise the Lord in the assemblies of the Lord
   5. Here is food for careful thinking by all of us. Is it because we have it too good that we are not inclined to come together for a praise service