Practice of Corporate Worship

Transcription

1 Practice of Corporate Worship I. Definition of Corporate Worship Our word worship comes from worth ship, which means to acknowledge the worth of someone or something. When we worship God we are seeking to acknowledge the great worth of who God is and what He has done. Worship is redeemed man s striving with all his being to fulfill his highest calling, namely to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In corporate worship, God s people come into His presence to declare the praises of their king (Psalm 47), to acknowledge their sin to Him (Psalm 1), and to hear His covenantal word (Exodus 19:8 25, 20:18 21). Our whole being should be involved in worship (see the descriptive terms used in Exodus 19 and Revelation 4). Such worship glorifies God and edifies His people in the process. Having defined worship, the question arises as to how we are to do it. II. The Regulative Principle Since worship is principally for God s glory, God Himself determines how we are to worship Him. In the Scriptures, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, we find many examples of God s concern with the worship of His people. For example, Nadab and Abihu sinned by offering strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them (Leviticus 10:1). They chose to worship in their own way. The result was that fire come out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord (v. 2). God takes worship seriously! Lest we think this is merely an Old Testament phenomenon, we see in the New Testament that God punished those who abused the Lord s Supper with sickness and death (1 Corinthians 11:27 30). These and many other examples show the high priority God places on being worshipped only as He has commanded. In the Reformed tradition, this has come to be known as the Regulative Principle of Worship. It is expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) XXI, I: But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture. When it comes to worship, it is not enough to have good intentions or to do what we thing would please God. We must discern what God Himself has revealed and conform our worship to his expressed desires.

2 This demands a careful study of Scripture to find God s will for worship revealed by command, example, deduction, and analogy. The Scriptural underpinnings of various aspects of our worship at CRPC are shown in the next section. III. Elements of Corporate Worship A Family Meeting Public worship is the meeting of God s family, so that He may renew his children and rekindle their devotion. It consists of a dialog in which He invites, instructs, and assures them; in response they adore, confess, confide in, and submit to Him. The Head of the household sets the agenda for the meeting, and all aspects of the meeting proceed according to his pleasure and direction (Psalm 50:1 6; Isaiah 48:12 16). Typically a meeting for public worship consists of a number of items, arranged logically to accomplish the purposes of the Head of the household. The Call to Worship The family meeting begins with a call to worship by the Head. Usually a passage from God s own words (From one of the Psalms, for example), is used to call His people together. The call to worship sets the tone of the meeting by describing what God expects from His children as they come together before Him (Psalm 95:1 3). Praise and Invocation As the children of God come together to worship Him, they enter His presence with praise (Psalm 100:1 4), which is a fitting way of acknowledging Him to whom so much is due. Praise is normally accomplished with singing, by which we express not only the reasons we have to adore our God but the tone of our praise as well. Hymns of praise are typically joyful, triumphant, and majestic, reflecting the glories and splendor of the Lord (Psalm 101:1; 98:1 6). After the hymn of praise, the one who has called the family together on God s behalf leads His children in adoring Him and invokes His presence and help, being careful to call on the Holy Spirit to empower God s children to worship as they ought (John 4:23 24).

3 The Confession of Sin When God s family comes into his presence they must always bear in mind that thye come from out of a sinful world. It is, therefore, appropriate that they be cleansed of any lingering defilement. This is normally accomplished by a period of confessing sin, focusing on the holiness of God and our need for cleansing by his Spirit (Nehemiah 9:1 19, 32 37; Daniel 9:1 11; Psalm 51:1 13). The confession is followed by a word from God by which assurance is received that our sins are forgiven and allis well between the family and its Head (1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5). The Offering Out of gratitude for His forgiveness, and His many graces as the Head of the family, the children of God devote themselves as an offering to Him (Romans 12:1 2). AS tokens of their consecration, they also worship by presenting tithes and offerings that express their devotion and commitment to the gathering and perfecting of the saints (Psalm 50:23; Matthew 23.23). As the offering is presented, hymns may be sung to express the family s gratitude and confirm their continued devotion. The Prayers of Intercession It is also appropriate for the members of the household to declare their needs before their Head. God Himself invites this activity, in the form of an invitation in His own words, read by His appointed leader (John 16:24; Jeremiah 33:3). Typically, the members of the family pray along with the minister and other men whom God has designated to lead His family in prayer (1Timothy 2:8). The Word from God A high point in the meeting comes when God instructs His people. This comes in the form of reading God s Word, to which all should pay diligent attention (Nehemiah 8:1 12). The exposition that follows is strictly secondary to this reading, and is designed to explain, clarify, and illustrate the Master s intentions, and to elicit commitment from the family. The Response When the Word of God has been fully read and explained, it is appropriate for God s people to declare that they have received His Word and are determined to carry it out faithfully (Exodus 24:1 7). This is most typically done by singing a psalm or hymn, or by confessing our faith.

4 The Benediction The Head of the household has the final word in this meeting, as He expresses His pleasure with all that has transpired in a word of blessing, i.e., the benediction. This dismisses the people and sends them back to their daily lives and tasks with the assurance that their Head has received their worship and is well pleased (Revelation 22:7; Hebrews 13:20). IV. Suggestions for Corporate Worship at Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church Prior to worship have personal/family time of prayer for worship. Include confession of sin and intercession for those leading the service. Meditate upon the privilege of worshipping the true God on y our way to church and as you enter the sanctuary. Pray that God would grant you a proper sense of reverence, awe, and joy at the prospect of worship. In the time of silent preparation, pray for the Sprit s power to participate actively in every element of worship that all might be done to His glory. When the call to worship is read, remember that this is the great and awesome God of the universe bidding you, as part of the gathered congregation, to worship Him. Remember throughout the service that a dialog is taking place between God and His people. Think about which part of the dialog is represented in each aspect of the service. Is god speaking to us at this time? Are we responding to Him? Engagte your heart and mind appropriately. Concentrate on the words to the songs you sing. The songs were especially chosen for this service because they contribute to its overall theme. Reflect upon why each is appropriate and make each your heartfelt prayer. Give your tithes and offerings out of loving obedience and as a token that you are giving your entire life as a living sacrifice to God. When the men lead in prayer, concentrate on what they say and seek to make their prayers the prayers of your heart, and make an effort to indicate your agreement by joining in the corporate amen. Listen attentively to the reading of the Scripture. Remember that it is God s holy and infallible Word and demands your attention, faith, love, and obedience.

5 Follow the printed sermon outline and add your own notes if you find it helpful. But don t be bound by the outline. Expect God to use the pastor to help you understand and apply the text, but weigh what is said against all the teaching of Scripture praying that the Spirit will give you discernment (Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14). Think of the response to God s Word as an expression of your heartfelt desire to apply the Word just preached as you begin a new week of obedience to Christ. When the service includes a baptism, pay attention to the pouring of the water and remember how the Spirit has been poured out on the Church and of how your sins have been washed clean by Christ s blood. As the vows are made, consider the responsibility you have to this and all baptized members of the church, and renew your desire to live in accord with your own baptism as a faithful recipient of the blessings of God s covenant. (See Questions of the Westminster Larger Catechism and of the shorter. When the Lord s Supper is celebrated, reflect upon the amazing sacrifice of Christ on your behalf. Give attention to the visible signs of the bread and the cup. Remember the benefits that are yours in Christ (your sins are forgiven, Christ s righteousness has been imputed to you, you are a child of God, the Spirit dwells in you, etc.). Let your experience be one of solemn joy and thanksgiving. (Questions of the Westminster Larger Catechism and of the Shorter Catechism may be very helpful in preparing for the Lord s Supper). Look up as the benediction is pronounced. God, through the pastor is announcing His blessing upon you. Receive it with joy in your heart as from the Lord and use the corporate response to bless and thank the Lord in return. Use the final period of meditation to thank God for the privilege of worship and to seal to your heart whatever God may have impressed upon you during the service. To Worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God. William Temple * We gratefully acknowledge the kindness of Timonium Presbyterian Church in allowing us to adapt their publication on this subject for our use.