THE PLACE OF WORSHIP

According to the writer of Hebrews, when the church gathers for worship, we step into the heavenly places but join with the angels and “the spirits of the righteous made perfect” who are perpetually worshiping God "the judge of all" and the Lord Jesus who is seated at his right hand, through whom we offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. (Hebrews 1:3, 12:22–24, 13:15)  This may be hard for some to accept or understand because it's obvious we are still standing on planet earth. We can’t see the angels or saints. How can we believe this? The Word plainly says this is what is happening. We join the heavenly worship service and worship the Triune God with the Church triumphant! We not only enter to offer our praise, prayers and gifts, but to hear from God. 

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THE DIALOGUE OF WORSHIP

Our service begins with God calling all to worship him. Usually this comes from a Psalm. 

We respond to his call with prayer, praise and adoration, confession and attention. We sing songs that are faithful to the Word of God, that exalt Christ. We also confess what we believe as Christians, and we confess our sins. 

We give our attention to Jesus, our Great Prophet who speaks to us in his Word as it is read and explained by his servant whom he has appointed to this task (that would be the pastor). 

We receive his Word with gladness and respond with faith, repentance and new obedience.  

On Sundays when we celebrate the Lord's Supper, Jesus invites his people to his table. He renews his promise to be the savior of his beloved and communicates his grace through the supper. 

God then sends us out with his blessing through the minsiter who pronounces a word of be

 

Music and song

Scripture calls us to sing to the Lord.

 Psalm 101:1 - I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.

Ephesians 5:19 - Sing to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…

Scripture calls for instruments to be used

Psalm 33:2–3 - Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Psalm 150:3–5 - Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

What we sing must be Scriptural

Our singing is a response to the Lord and his call to us to worship him. Therefore, what we sing back to him must be true of how he has revealed himself in his word.

Psalm 96:2 - Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.