The Practices Of Public Worship Series

Scripture

Today I want to conclude our study of “Worship Matters” with a look at “The Practices of Public Worship.” Because of the nature of today’s message, I will not be expounding a text of Scripture. However, let me read a text of Scripture as a backdrop for this message. Let’s read Psalm 95:6-7:

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

7 For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:6-7)

Introduction

The way God draws us into his presence is demonstrated in the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Without a lengthy explanation, let me say that our Order of Worship corresponds to the three steps in the sacrifice of the animals (Leviticus 1:1-17). In the sacrifice of an animal there were three steps: (1) cleansing, (2) consecration, and (3) communion.

First, each animal sacrifice was always prepared for the sacrifice by cleansing. This corresponds, naturally, to cleansing.

Second, each animal sacrifice was killed, skinned, cut up and arranged on the altar. This corresponds to consecration.

And third, each animal sacrifice was burnt. The smoke ascended into God’s presence as food, and was sometimes eaten by the worshipper. This corresponds to communion.

This is the sacrificial pathway that every animal, or worshipper, experienced as God brought him near to himself.

The movement of the worship service corresponds then to the way in which God draws us into his presence. The Bible reveals how God graciously draws redeemed sinners into his loving fellowship and this sacrificial way or “order” by which God draws us near and renews his covenant with us informs us of the Order of Worship on the Lord’s Day.

This is also the “gospel order.” It is the historical pattern that churches throughout the centuries have used to order their worship of God.

Lesson

With that in mind, let me explain our Order of Worship.

I. Before the Service Begins

First, let’s examine what takes place before the service begins.

A. Prelude

When the Prelude begins, that is the signal to take our seats, quiet our children, stop all conversations, and engage in silent prayer and preparation.

B. Announcements

Announcements are before the Call to Worship because they have nothing to do with public worship. Announcements are important, but they have no proper place in a biblical Order of Worship.

C. Mission Statement Moment

After the Announcements we will often have a Mission Statement Moment. This is an opportunity for some ministry to give much more detailed information to the congregation.

D. Preparation for Worship

After the Mission Statement Moment, there is focused Preparation for Worship.

II. The Order of Worship

Now we come to the Order of Worship itself. The heart of the Order of Worship is based on the three steps in the sacrifices in the Old Testament (cleansing, consecration and communion).

If we add the call to worship at the beginning and the commissioning by God at the end, we have the following five-fold Order of Worship:

• God Calls Us to Worship Him

• God Cleanses Us from Our Sin

• God Consecrates Us by His Word

• God Communes with Us at the Lord’s Table

• God Commissions Us to Service

A. God Calls Us to Worship Him

1. Call to Worship

God himself calls us to worship. He summons us to assemble. We don’t decide to gather together and then ask him to be present. This is the Lord’s Day. He commands us from heaven to enter into his presence, and we respond in obedience as the Spirit effectually enables us. The pastor, as God’s representative, utilizes some portion of God’s word that contains a clear call to worship, authoritatively calls the congregation into God’s presence.

2. Opening Song

The Opening Song is the first response to God’s words and actions in the worship service. The entire service moves forward as God speaks and the congregation responds. It is a dialogue between God and his people. God calls and we respond. God speaks and we listen. God gives and we receive. God acts and we thank him. This dialogical pattern is found throughout the Bible when people find themselves in God’s presence (Isaiah 6:1-13; Jeremiah 1:4-8; Revelation 4-5). It is the biblical way to approach God in worship. So, here, at the beginning of the service, the Lord calls us to worship him and we respond in praise, which is usually a song.

The first song is a song of praise or thanksgiving and will usually highlight some aspect of the character and/or work of God, thereby giving concrete form to the congregation’s adoration and praise.

3. Prayer of Adoration

A Prayer of Adoration then follows the Opening Song. The pastor extols the Lord’s greatness in this prayer. As a result of this prayer, God’s people should be awakened with a sense of awe and reverence at being in the presence of God.