Church Is Not for Worship?

In this episode of Remnant Radio, Joshua Lewis and Michael Rowntree interview Dr. Tom Wadsworth to explore a controversial question: Is our modern understanding of “worship” truly biblical? Dr. Wadsworth, a New Testament scholar, argues that what we call “worship services” today is drastically different from the gatherings of the first-century church. Instead of a primarily vertical act of offering praise to God, he proposes that early Christian assemblies focused on mutual edification – building up one another through teaching, encouragement, and the practical application of the “one anothering” commands found throughout the New Testament. Dr. Wadsworth traces the history of our modern “worship” concept, exploring its roots in the second century and onward, highlighting the influence of Roman Catholic traditions and the evolving understanding of the Lord’s Supper. He also unpacks the crucial distinction between preaching (proclamation to outsiders) and teaching (discipleship within the community), and challenges the assumption that the early church was simply a new version of the Old Testament temple. 0:00 Introduction 7:26 Origin of Worship Language 12:54 Exploring Vertical Lines of Worship in Scripture 18:50 Are We Over-examining the Differences? 26:38 Redefining Worship 33:06 What Did a New Testament Church Look Like? 37:02 A Matter of Purpose? 44:16 Teaching 50:44 Modern Discipleship Practices 53:58 Closing Thoughts ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr. Wadsworth is a New Testament scholar with a PhD from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. @tomwadsworth 📖RESEARCH https://www.tomwadsworth.com/the-christian-assembly Subscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com. Support the show ABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO: The Remnant Radio exists to equip believers who are hungry for the radical middle of both Word and Spirit. Subscribe for twice-weekly content on theology, church history and the gifts of the Spirit. 📧 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER 📚 COURSES & CONFERENCES 🛒 SHOP MERCH 💝 SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY: • Leave a Tip • Become a Patron • Make a Tax-Deductible Donation 🌐📧 Check Out Our Church Pages Josh's Church Miller's Church Rowntree's Church