The Church
Worship
God, the ruler over everything [350], compassionate and gracious [351], claims that He is believed in [352], loved [353], feared [354], praised [355], called on [356], and served by men with all their heart, all their soul and with all their strength [357]. The members of the Church meet and worship Him for this purpose.
God himself ordered and notified by His own will the way to worship Him, far from any human idea or will to worship [358], far from any temptation from Satan [359], far from any image [360]. The worshippers must worship in Spirit and in Truth [361], freely, and being submitted to the Scriptures [362]. The worship is not attached to a specific place or building [363].
As members of the body, we become temples of the Holy Spirit [364], called to build a spiritual house [365]. In the New Covenant, observing religious festivals is cancelled, no special way of worshipping is requested as well, provided that any meeting is held in an orderly and suitable way [366]. Sunday, the day of the Lord, a privileged time when the members of the Church meet, doesn’t however replace the Sabbath [367]. The Sabbath is the shadow of the rest we enjoy every day through faith in Jesus Christ [368].
Worship is addressed only to God, the Father and the Son [369] through the Holy Spirit [370], and not to angels, to saints or to any other created thing [371]; and this only through the Son [372]. It includes prayer and thanksgiving [373], voluntary offering of our bodies [374], setting apart of our deeds and fruit [375].
Blessings and promises to be heard are especially linked to joint prayer [376]. Any uttered prayer must be clear to the people present [377]. Generosity [378], expressing our love towards God [379], is effected in a free way [380], without pressure or sadness [381]. It supplies the material needs of the Church and the work of service [382]; its final purpose is thanksgiving to God [383].