For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)
Why meet for a congregational worship service? Because it is actually the most important thing a Christian does in faith. It is when the congregation gathers to worship the Triune God, more than at any other time, that God fulfills all His promises to His children. Unbelievers are converted. Children come to faith. Weak Christians grow strong. Wounded Christians are healed. Broken Christians are renewed. In the congregation’s worship on Sunday, we express our love for God, because He pours out His love on us (1 John 4:19). God is glorified (John 15:8) as He fills up our joy (John 15:11).
Worship: Enemies to Avoid, Resources for Faith
We gather to offer God reverent and joyful worship:
- Such worship is submissive to God’s instruction.
- Worship is a conversation between God and His children, those united to Christ by the Spirit through faith.
- In worship God speaks to His children through His word via the means of grace, the Bible, prayers and the sacraments.
- God’s children respond in prayer via their songs and responses of faith.
- We celebrate weekly communion, understanding it to be a means of grace whereby, the Spirit responding to our faith, spiritually feeds us on Christ crucified and all His benefits.
- Such biblically informed worship will be reverent and joyful as God’s children find Him blessing their faith.
This is confessionally rooted worship.
The Gospel provides the pattern for worship
- God calls His children to believe in His Son,
- He cleanses them of their sins through His Son,
- He consecrates them through the Bible read and preached,
- He communes with them in the sacraments, and then
- He commissions them to serve Him in the world.
This is the covenantally patterned worship.
Notes
A bulletin is available each Sunday morning that contains all of the “extras” needed for participating. Here are some additional notes that may help:
- We read and preach from the English Standard Version. Copies are available in the Fellowship area just before you enter the Worship Center.
- As a sign of respect for God, we stand during certain portions of our worship service (items marked with an *). As you are able, please join us.
- Singing in worship is a form of prayer. To help remove distractions and enable you to sing with joy, all the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs used this morning are printed in the bulletin or are projected. You can read more about our special music (HERE).
- Responsive readings are marked in the bulletin, but may also be projected.
- For the Lord’s Supper, the deacons will guide you when to come forward. If you are unable to come forward, please let them know and they will make sure you are served at your seat.
- In the Lord’s Supper, both grape juice and wine are offered (the dark cups are the wine).
- For further advice and helps in worship, please see the section in the bulletin following the postlude.
We would be happy if you could join us on Sunday (10:30am) to worship Him.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! (Psalms 95:6; 105:3)