Worship: God-Centered and Bible-Based

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We believe that God knows best what will glorify Him and what will be best for His people. We believe this about all areas of life, including worship. We believe that God has written down in His Word (the Bible) a way for us to know what will best glorify Him and be best for His people. Thus, we believe that God gives us instruction for how He is to be worshipped in His Word. As we worship according to His Word, God is glorified. 

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According to His Word, we learn of:

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The Motivations for Worship: Everything we do is motivated by something – we have reasons for doing what we do. This includes worship. So, what are our motivations for worship?

• We are eager to worship God because He is our loving Creator, Sustainer, Father, and Redeemer (Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 1:5, Isaiah 44:22)

• We are eager to encourage one another as Christians (Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:25)

• We are eager to hear of the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16)

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The Means of Worship: Means are actions by which we accomplish a goal or engage in an activity. They are simply the parts that comprise the whole. So, what are the means of worship? 

• Call to Worship: God uses His word to call us to His worship (Exodus 13:17-22)

• Confession of Sin: God’s people should confess their sins in His presence (1 John 1:9, Isaiah 1:18)

•  Assurance of Pardon: God’s people should be reassured by His Word, of the victory that is theirs in Christ, over the sins they confess (Micah 7:18-19)

• Confession of Faith: God’s people should raise their voices in His Presence and declare what it is they believe (Jude 3)

• Prayer: God’s people should thank God for all things and bring their requests to him (Philippians 4:6)

• Singing: God’s people should raise their voices together in song (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19). 

• Preaching: God’s Word is to be proclaimed to His people so that they know what to believe and how to live (Acts 10:42, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

• Baptism and Lord’s Supper: The people of God should celebrate the physical means that God has given to them to assure them of His gracious promises (1 Corinthians 11:24, Colossians 2:12-13)

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The Mindset of Worship: Worship is not intended to be a cold, dead, aloof, and mindless exercise. It is quite the opposite. God’s Word speaks of an attitude of Worship (or a mindset) that is vibrant, thankful, joyful, humble, and transparent. This mindset is based on Psalm 100 and Psalm 51:16-17.

 

Psalm 100

1  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

2  Serve the Lord with gladness! 

Come into his presence with singing! 

3  Know that the Lord, he is God! 

It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, 

and his courts with praise! 

Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

5  For the Lord is good; 

his steadfast love endures forever, 

and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

Psalm 51:16-17

16  For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; 

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 

17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 

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