What gives our Sunday Worship A Gospel Shape?

Isaiah 6: 1-8 gives our worship a Gospel-shape.  

Praise | 

In Isaiah’s vision of God, he sees creatures praising God in His holiness and glory.   

CONFESSION |

In response to God’s holiness, Isaiah confesses his sin and seeks renewal. 

RENEWAL |

God speaks His Word to Isaiah. Isaiah receives forgiveness and cleansing.

COMMISSION |

Isaiah then responds by committing to serve the Lord. 

Therefore, we approach God in awe, we see our sin, we hear the good news of what Jesus has done, and we respond in faith and obedience. 

Worship from the Heart |  

God is the only Audience.  Worship must be in spirit and truth (John 4: 23).  The songs we sing are biblical and Gospel-centered, instructing the mind and affecting the heart.  The loudest sound in the worship are the voices of the congregation (see Psalms).  The entire worship team is the congregation. The instruments serve congregational voices.

God cares about our hearts most in our gathering:  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3: 16).   

Evangelistic Worship |

God cares about unbelievers in worship.  Paul said when “an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you” (1 Cor. 14: 24, 25).  

Worship SERVICE TEAM |  

When we set up chairs, banners, sound system or camera without grumbling and complaining, it’s an act of worship to God.  Praying for the people who are going to sit in the chairs, praying for the sound systems to serve rather than distract, praying for banners that they point us to why we do what we do, praying for the camera so that the Gospel goes out and reaches people can be a helpful way to worship while setting up. When Abraham offered to sacrifice his son Isaac, it was an act of worship to God (Gen. 22: 5). 

The various elements in our worship “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” are centered around the Gospel (Act 2: 42).

When we are sent out with Gospel blessings from Monday to Saturday, all of life in our homes and workplace is to be a living sacrifice—an act of worship to God (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 10:31). 

WHY each element in our worship MATTERS.

The Gathered Church

What is at the center of God’s purpose for the universe?

From “Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 4: Church and Last Things.”

“The gathered church is God’s house, where He manifests His special presence on earth. God Himself appears in our midst, and His voice is heard in the preaching of the Word. The church is like a portal between heaven and earth, a Beth-el, or ‘house of God,’ because it is joined by faith to Christ (Gen. 28:10–19; John 1:51).

When we draw near to God in the church’s worship while exercising faith in Christ, we enter the holy places (Heb. 10:19–22). In the offering of worship, the exaltation of Christ, the pursuit of holiness, and the fellowship of saints, the church is an earthly expression of heaven.

What an immense privilege it is to approach heaven while on earth! We should treasure every opportunity to participate in the church’s worship services and prayer meetings. God created all things for the sake of His Son (Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2). He sent the Lord Jesus to redeem His people (Gal. 1:4–5; Titus 2:14). He exalted Christ to the highest place and ‘gave Him to be the head over all things to the church’ (Eph. 1:22).

Therefore, the church stands at the center of God’s purpose for the universe. God’s mysterious plan, ‘which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by J&&&&&&&&&&t,’ is to make known ‘by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Eph. 3:9–11).

It is God’s intent to display His ‘glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages’ (Eph. 3:21). Therefore, God’s purpose for creating the world can be summarized as follows: to display His glory in Christ through the church. This thought should fill our minds with wonder: the purpose of the Creator in making all the universe revolves around the church of J&&&&&&&&&&t.

Since God is sovereign, all things are working together to make Christ the preeminent Son among many redeemed brothers and sisters who bear His image in God’s family (Rom. 8:28–29). If you desire to have a part in God’s great purpose for the universe, be part of His church.” (4: 51–52)

Why Each Element in Our Worship Matters

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Every Sunday, several people come early to set up despite their own weaknesses and struggles. They are truly commendable because they set up to minimize distraction during our worship. We can all relate with Martha who was distracted, anxious and troubled about many things while serving (Luke 10: 41). Jesus said to Martha, “one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42). We see that Mary was commended for sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening (Luke 10: 39). We bring nothing before God but our weaknesses, struggles, heartaches, sins and sufferings. But God’s lavish grace meets us in our mess. The warm welcome of Jesus is for weary, wounded and exhausted sinners. He is not seeking perfect saints and those who have it all together to worship Him. Our restless hearts can now find their rest in Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

For this reason, coming early for corporate worship has certain benefits! In an age of digital distraction our attention span has been drastically cut short. It is easy to miss the various elements in our worship. Therefore, creating that sacred space to catch our breath and reset our minds in prayer before worship starts can be really beneficial! We have one hour and thirty minutes on Sunday to worship together as a church family.

Therefore, it can be beneficial to arrive at least 10 to 5 mins before worship starts and hear the welcome of Jesus and the call to worship. It’s even better if we are able to come earlier to greet people and engage in pre-worship fellowship if God has given us the strength. And/ or stay for post-worship fellowship to reach out to people we haven’t met, to listen to one another, encourage one another and pray for one another. Below is why each element in our worship matters!