“Why?” Isn’t that a great question? It is good to have a curiosity about why things are the way they are. Asking “why” is an important part of learning. Asking “Why?” is also good at church. Why do we do the things that we do? Recently, I have been thinking about why we have the different parts of our worship service. Are we just following tradition, or is there a purpose for each part of our service?
What I have realized is that the structure of our worship service is an important part of being a Christ-focused, Word-centered Family. Let’s review the various parts of our service and think about the purpose of each.
The Call to Worship starts our service with God’s Word to prepare our hearts to worship God.
Throughout the service, we sing songs as a family that are carefully chosen, because they are firmly based on God’s Word and help us focus on Christ.
In our Confession of Sin, we confess together as a church family that we are broken sinners in need of Christ. It is either based on God’s Word or comes directly from it.
It hasn’t been printed in the bulletin, but I usually make a statement of absolution after the Confession of Sin. In this statement, I use promises from the Word to assure you that your sins truly are forgiven because of what Christ did for you.
When we say the Confession of Faith, we are declaring together the faith that unifies our church family. It is a short explanation of what the Word teaches about who God is and how Christ saved us.
When we give our offering, we are joining together as a church family to provide financially for the work of the church to spread God’s Word and share Christ in our community and throughout the world.
As I lead in prayer, our church family prays together with me. God listens to our prayers because of what Christ did for us.
When we listen to the Scripture reading, our church family is placing ourselves under the authority of the Word and learning more about God’s big plan to save us through Christ.
As I preach the sermon, my goal is to clearly explain God’s Word in a way that shows how beautiful Christ is, helps you to trust in Him more, and gives you an excitement to live for Him.
When we say the Lord’s Prayer together, our family is using the prayer that Christ taught us in His Word.
When I give the benediction, I am sending our family out with God’s Word to live our lives for Christ.
As your pastor, it is such a privilege to worship together with you each Sunday as a Christ-focused, Word-centered Family!
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.[1]
[1]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Comments