B. Basic Views on the Order of Worship

QUESTION: How are we to decide what we include in an order of worship?

     1. Regulative Principal of Worship
          Founded by Calvin, Zwingli. Activities on which the NT is silent are best left out of the worship service all together. If Scripture does not specifically prescribe or command something to be done in worship, then it ought not be done. (Biblical base 2nd commandment)

           -Understand that this principal has the general assumption that all OT worship was inferior to NT worship so that it
             mainly uses the NT to find its commands for worship.

          -Reformed Presbyterians and some Dutch Reformed
          -No musical instruments, only Psalm singing, Scripture reading, prayer, offering, sermon.

     2. Normative Principal of Worship
          Founded by Luther. Activities on which the NT is silent can be used if they are within the boundaries of the general teachings of Scripture. Unless the action is expressly forbidden in Scripture, it may be considered an appropriate expression of worship. (1 Cor. 10:23)

           -Understand that this principal has the general assumption that ALL Scripture is  inspired by God. The OT style of
             worship is not inferior to NT worship and that we use ALL Scripture for guidance as to what we do or don't do in
             worship.

      Most churches today hold to the Normative Principal of Worship. And many of those who don't are not purists and modify the principal to their liking. (some hold to the RPW but use instruments and sing hymns)

      There are many arguments against the RPW but one which is most basis is that no where in all of Scripture is there a statement that says that all worship must be regulated by the direct command of Scripture....so the RPW does not stand up against its own rule.

    I do not want to throw the RPW out. But we must hold it in tension with the NPW and use both to make our worship services honoring to God.

Question: What do you think?

    C. The Character of Corporate Worship
          Next I want to look at what is the essential nature or character of worship. IN other words, what are the guiding theological principals we must hold to when we worship and when we do whatever we do in worship.

 1. Worship is Trinitarian

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Trinitarian?

      It means we worship the Tri-unity of God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

QUESTION: Do you agree that we should do this?

     Trinitarian doctrine, then, is essential to true worship. John 5:23 is the logical conclusion to Jesus' teaching that God was uniquely His Father: "That all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." Honor is a word that implies worship. We're not only to worship the Father; we're to worship the Son as well.18

     We worship the Father, and we worship the Son, but what about the Holy Spirit? Nothing in Scripture directly tells us to worship the Holy Spirit, but worship cannot be separated from His work. It is the Spirit who gives us the confidence to come into God's presence and cry, "Abba, Father," according to Galatians 4:6 and Romans 8:15–16. It is in the Spirit's power and presence that we have access to worship God.

     Within the Trinity, each member has a unique ministry. The Holy Spirit calls us to the Son, and the Son calls us to the Father. And so in a sense our worship involves all members of the Trinity, and all are worthy to be worshiped.19

 2. Worship is Theocentric

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Theocentric?

     Worship is a personal and as we assemble as the church, a corporate meeting with God in which we magnify and glorify Him for His person and His work. Worship is about God.

 3. Worship is Christocentric

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Christocentric

     We worship the Father in and through the work of the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the eternal praise of the Father because of His work of redemption. In worship we proclaim and retell the redemption story of Christ. We proclaim Jesus Christ and His saving reality again and again.

  4. Worship is Ecclesial

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Ecclesial?

     Ecclesial has to do with the church. The corporate worship of God takes place in the community of the church, the body of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit through visible and tangible signs.

  5. Worship is Pneumatological

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Pneumatological?

     Worship happens only by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in those assembled to worship God. The essential function of the Holy Spirit in worship is to enable us to worship. (Phil. 3:3)

  6. Worship is Pistical

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Pistical?

     Pistical has to do with faith. It is unthinkable that worship can actually occur w/o faith and obedience. In trusting wholly on Christ and his work of salvation, we allow Christ to represent us to the Father in Worship. (Heb. 11:6)

 7. Worship is Missiological

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Missiological?

     Worship occurs not only with our lips but also with our lives. Therefore, our worship is to be expressed through willing service to the world.

 8. Worship is Eschatological

QUESTION: What does it mean that worship is to be Eschatological?

     Worship looks beyond the present world and anticipates the eschatological hope of God's people. It raises a prophetic voice against the powers of Satan and expresses the future completion of the triumph of Jesus over sin and death in His 2nd coming.

    D. The elements of corporate worship

      When we examine our Order of Worship what I want us to see is that there is either a  command or description of that particular element in Scripture which supports it's use. Or that there is NO Prohibition of it's use and it fits within the general guidelines and parameters of Biblical truth.

Question: What are the elements in our Order of Worship?

Question: What is the purpose of the Greeting?

  1. The Greeting
       The purpose of the Greeting is to welcome the people of God as they assemble to Worship the One True God. it is to prepare them to hear the Word of the Lord.
           -Ruth 2:4; 2 Thess. 3:17-18; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Peter 1:2

Question: What is the purpose of the Gathering Song?

  2. The Gathering Song
       The Psalms of Ascent (Ps 24, 67, 84, and especially 120–134), originally used by pilgrims as they approached and then entered the Temple in Jerusalem, are a testimony to the importance of preparation for worship.
       -Ps 24, 67, 84, 120–134

Question: What is the purpose of the Call to Worship

  3. The Call to Worship
      The Call to worship is directed to the assembled people. It is a call to focus mind, heart and intention on the worship of God. It is to be brief, emotive. It has the character of acclamation.
       -Matt. 11:28

      In ancient cultures, most people had no timepieces, and even the sundials and water clocks available to some were not very precise. Thus, a community could assemble together for worship only when summoned by a signal or other announcement, as in Muslim cultures today.

      In Israel, the ram's horn and the silver trumpet were used to call the people to festal assembly (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1); musical instruments in general were sounded to call the community together (Ps. 81:2–3).

     In the Psalms, the invitation to worship is frequently verbalized, often including the mention of music. Psalm 150 consists almost entirely of imperatives to praise the Lord with instruments and dance. Psalm 148 is devoted to an invitation addressed to all members of the created order to praise the Lord. Psalm 149 invites the people of God to rejoice in their King:20

Question: What is the purpose of the Hymns?

  4. Hymns
      There is Joy in that we can enter the gates of God's house and come into His presence
It is a time of  great celebration. 1 Chron. 16, Ps. 100, 150

      Writing to the churches in Ephesus and Colossae, Paul assumed that Christians would use a variety of expression in church music. Although we will look at this in greater depth later, the variety is given in Scripture: Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs
          -Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16

Question: What is the purpose of the Invocation?

  5. The Invocation
      The Invocation calls upon God to be present to the worshipping community. It claims the promise of Matt. 18:20. It is to be Trinitarian: that is it is a recognition that Christians worship the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

      References to invocation occur frequently in Scripture: Psalm 105:1; Ps. 116:17; Gen. 4:26; 21:33; 26:25; Pss. 80:18; 99:6; 116:4, 13; Joel 2:32; Zeph. 3:9; 1 Kings 18:24; Pss. 17:6; 18:3; 53:4; 55:16; 88:9; 91:15; 145:18) are biblical synonyms for prayer and worship, indicating that the first act of the worshiper was to invoke the name of Yahweh.

     From the New Testament perspective, the Lord is always present with his people. The worshiping church is the "temple" or dwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21–22), the New Jerusalem in which God dwells with his partners in the new covenant (Rev. 21:1–3; cf. Heb. 12:22–23).4

Question: What is the purpose of the Scripture Reading?

  6. The Scripture Readings
      The first Christian churches followed the synagogue practice of reading both the Law and the Prophets. Paul also instructed the churches to read his letters in the church.
           -Neh. 8:1-8; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; Col. 4:16

       -Responsive Readings:
           -Deut. 27:9-26
            This was a highly memorable responsive reading between the children of Israel and their God. 6 Tribes stood on
            Mt. Gerizim, a fertile land and read the words of blessing. 6 Tribes stood on Mt. Ebal, a desolate land, to read the
            words of God's curse to the people should they not obey God.
               -Ps. 136

Question: What is the purpose of the Prayer of Confession?

  7.  Prayer of Confession
      Prayer of Confession is an act of repentance, motivated by faith and the Holy presence of God. It is characterized by the expectation of forgiveness.
          -Ezra 10:1, 10-12; Lev. 5:5; Num. 5:6-7; Ps. 51; Ps. 32:5, Isa. 6:5; James 5:16; 1 Jn. 1:9