OUR GOSPEL-SHAPED SERVICE
The Elements of Corporate Worship
God is passionate for His glory! To that end, He has both made Himself known and defined and described how He is to worshipped in His Word. Our corporate service of worship is designed to be God-Exalting, Christ-Centered and Word-Saturated. Animated by God’s grace we gather together in joy, reverence and awe to publicly declare God’s Glory, openly confess our faith in Him, hear His Word proclaimed, mutually encourage one another and offer our lives to Him in response. The worship of the only living and true God requires thoughtful preparation and Biblical reflection to avoid being cavalier in our approach. We must also worship with understanding, knowing what it is we are doing and why. The elements of corporate worship that must be included are the Word, the sacraments (baptism and the Lord's Supper), prayer, and some means of giving the Lord adoration in song. Other parts of a worship service belong to the circumstances and not the essential elements. They may be present or else not, but they must be practiced in a way that is conducive to the gospel-telling function of the essential elements.
Gospel Structure
Structures communicate. So the structure of our service follows the outline of the Gospel. God himself calls His creation to worship Him. Worship begins with God, He initiates relationship with us. So the "call to worship" tells the gospel. The greatness and glory of God’s nature and character are declared in song, as we remember who God is and what He has done. When confronted with the Holiness of God, we are immediately reminded of our sinful unworthiness and are driven to Confession. In response to God’s gracious forgiveness we thank God for His grace and goodness to us in all things. We then come to express our dependence upon Him in prayer, asking for His help and strength to live for Him as we should. We sit under the preaching of His Word, where God addresses His people, teaching them who He is and what He requires of us. Music also follows the preaching as our worship is a response to the good news. The service concludes when we depart under His blessing to serve Him in His world. The "benediction" is given for that purpose. It reminds us that just as God's word of grace invited us in, so His good word toward us remains as we begin our week.
The Elements of Corporate Worship
God is passionate for His glory! To that end, He has both made Himself known and defined and described how He is to worshipped in His Word. Our corporate service of worship is designed to be God-Exalting, Christ-Centered and Word-Saturated. Animated by God’s grace we gather together in joy, reverence and awe to publicly declare God’s Glory, openly confess our faith in Him, hear His Word proclaimed, mutually encourage one another and offer our lives to Him in response. The worship of the only living and true God requires thoughtful preparation and Biblical reflection to avoid being cavalier in our approach. We must also worship with understanding, knowing what it is we are doing and why. The elements of corporate worship that must be included are the Word, the sacraments (baptism and the Lord's Supper), prayer, and some means of giving the Lord adoration in song. Other parts of a worship service belong to the circumstances and not the essential elements. They may be present or else not, but they must be practiced in a way that is conducive to the gospel-telling function of the essential elements.
Gospel Structure
Structures communicate. So the structure of our service follows the outline of the Gospel. God himself calls His creation to worship Him. Worship begins with God, He initiates relationship with us. So the "call to worship" tells the gospel. The greatness and glory of God’s nature and character are declared in song, as we remember who God is and what He has done. When confronted with the Holiness of God, we are immediately reminded of our sinful unworthiness and are driven to Confession. In response to God’s gracious forgiveness we thank God for His grace and goodness to us in all things. We then come to express our dependence upon Him in prayer, asking for His help and strength to live for Him as we should. We sit under the preaching of His Word, where God addresses His people, teaching them who He is and what He requires of us. Music also follows the preaching as our worship is a response to the good news. The service concludes when we depart under His blessing to serve Him in His world. The "benediction" is given for that purpose. It reminds us that just as God's word of grace invited us in, so His good word toward us remains as we begin our week.