Let Us Worship God

The first foundation of righteousness is undoubtedly the worship of God. J. Calvin

Our Present Liturgy

God calls us to worship Him (we worship with awe and joy) God calls us to confess our sins (we confess our sins, God forgives us, and we resound with thanksgiving and praise) God proclaims His Word to us (we listen and offer our gifts and prayers) God feeds us at His table (we eat and drink with faith and joy) God commissions and blesses us (we bless Him also and march out to the needy world)

Why go to church on Sunday?

Important questions: 1. Why do you come together with other believers on Sunday morning? 2. Why does the church come together? 3. What is the purpose of the service? 4. What is the purpose of worship? 5. What is suppose to happen?

More Questions
6. Why do we do the things we do on Sunday? To what end? What is the point? 7. On Sunday service, what are you hoping to do? What are you hoping to give? What do you anticipate receiving? What do you expect to be accomplished as a result of your being at church? 8. Everyone comes to church for some reason. Do you come for the right reasons?

Four Answers
Q. What is the purpose of the Lords Day worship? 1. Evangelism 2. Education/edification 3. Exaltation (praise) 4. Experience

Not Manipulation
the purpose (and practice) of our Lords Day worship service must never degenerate into an attempt to engineer or manipulate some desired effect in the congregation. Worship must not be understood as a technique. - Jeffrey Meyers

Not Technique
The charge is feed my sheep not run experiments on my rats. CS Lewis When worship is reduced to pep rally for the pastors latest crusade or to a series of acts that contain the ministers own hidden agenda, our concern for worship is called into question. William Willimon

Not man-centered
Every conception and form of liturgy that focuses on man will eventually degenerate into intellectual or psychological manipulation. J. Meyers

Worship is Covenant Renewal

A covenant is a legal, structured relationship of mutual love, established by God, with attendant blessings (goal aimed at), discipline (towards repentance) and curses (when rebellion is not stopped) In worship, the Lord comes to be with His bride (the corporate church) and renews His covenant relationship with her

Lords Service
The Lord comes to serve His Bride this is the primary action The Bride responds in faith, love, worship and obedience without this reaction, the full blessing offered by the Lord is not appropriated The Lord seeks to renew/strengthen the union and communion He has with His bride

 God calls us to worship Him (we worship with awe and joy) God calls us to confess our sins (we confess our sins, God forgives us, and we resound with thanksgiving and praise) God proclaims His Word to us (we listen and offer our gifts and prayers) God feeds us at His table (we eat and drink with faith and joy) God commissions and blesses us (we bless Him also and march out to the needy world)

Q. What is the purpose of the Lords Day worship?

To renew our covenant with God, which includes the following: Evangelism we hear the good news Education/edification the good news is applied to us Exaltation (praise) we offer praises to God Experience normal, ordinary, but no less gracious or powerful

An Ordinary Experience
God has not made us to live every moment base on the rush of adrenaline Lets admit it: much of our life is lived on the ordinary and uneventful Lets be wary of the effect of entertainment culture and media exciting, dramatic, sound bites, many images

Result of Covenant Renewal

The Groom-Bride relationship (union and communion) is renewed and strengthened Steady growth in maturity The Bride blessed, built up in order to go out into the world, bringing forgiveness and wholeness to every one and every sphere