From: Preaching and Preachers
A Series of Nine Seminars for Men Led by Stuart Olyott

Questions for discussion:

1. There are two views about what may be included in public worship:
   - Only those elements which Scripture expressly warrants.
   - Those elements which Scripture warrants, plus those elements which Scripture does not expressly forbid.
   Which view is correct? Why?
   
2. In the light of this principle, what elements may be legitimately included in public worship?  Justify your answer from Scripture.
   
3. What should we do when the church where we are preaching has elements in the service which are not biblically justifiable?
   
4. Should we be bound by the suggested order of service, and by local custom relating to the length of the service and the length of the sermon?
   
5. The reading of Scripture: When? What principles should govern our choice of passage?  What advice needs to be given about public reading?  What about accompanying remarks?
   
6. Prayer: What should be included?  How do we avoid becoming repetitious?  In what other ways can our public prayer be improved?  At what point(s) in the service? Length? What language should be used and avoided? Anything else?
   
7. The singing of praise:  Can hymn singing be justified?  What are the characteristics of a good hymn?  What principles should govern their choice for a particular service?  How should we announce them?  Who should choose the music, and on what basis?
   
8. Pulpit decorum: Is it important?  What should be avoided in the pulpit?  Does it matter how I dress?  How I speak?  What about public private-devotions?  How do we deal with misconduct in the congregation? "I" or "We"? Anything else?  What about going to the door afterwards?
   
9. Should visiting speakers administer the Lord's Supper?

The Final Seminar

God Willing, the final seminar will take place on Saturday 25th November.  As usual, coffee will be served from 9.30am, and the seminar will run from 10am to about 12noon.

The last seminar will be a Preachers' Question Time.  We will try and tackle questions raised by the seminars themselves, and also discuss areas that we have not been able to cover.  So please come with your questions ready!  We will start with the questions which are handed in in writing.  There will be no panel, so we will all be involved in answering them.

After the question time we will be having lunch together.  We are very grateful to Swindon Evangelical Church and Bible Institute for organising this, and also for their hospitality throughout this series of seminars.