“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus,” 2 Tim 1:13-14.
The New Testament doesn’t spell out explicitly when, where, and how we are to worship, but this doesn’t mean we aren’t told when and how to worship. As Moses was shown a pattern on the mountain for how he was to construct the tabernacle, in that he was told, “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain,” Exodus 26:30, so we have been shown a pattern in the New Testament for how we are to worship.
The day of the week
There is but one day given prominence in the New Testament, and that is the first day of the week:
It is the day on which Christ arose, Mark 16:9, “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week…”
It is called the Lord’s Day, Rev 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day…”
It is the day on which we are to give of our means, 1 Cor 16:2, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
Lastly, and most importantly, it is when the disciples came together for the purpose of breaking bread, that is, to take of the Lord’s Supper, Acts 20:7, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…”
The example we are shown is to meet on the first day of the week.
What is to be done
We take of the Lord’s Supper, Acts 20:7, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…”
Paul in giving his account of the instituting of it, says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes,” 1 Cor 11:26. In saying, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,” he implies it is to be done on an ongoing basis. As the disciples came together on the first day of the week to partake of it, so it is to be done on every first day of the week.
We give, 1 Cor 16:2, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
We give a message from God’s word, Acts 20:7, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”
We sing, Eph 5:19, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”
We pray, 1 Tim 2:8, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere…”
It is the men who are to conduct the service, 1 Tim 2:8, 11-12, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence,” and again, 1 Cor 14:34-35, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”