“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise!” (Psalm 100)
The worship of God is the response of his people to his saving work. God and God alone is to be the object of our worship. At Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church we seek to worship the Triune God in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:23) by following the Regulative Principle.
Rev. Derek Thomas writes, “Put simply, the regulative principle of worship states that the corporate worship of God is to be founded upon specific directions of Scripture” (Ligonier).
Our order of worship seeks to glorify the sovereign rule of God over all his creation and the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Worship Order
Silent Prayer and Apostolic Greeting
Our worship service opens with few moments of silent prayer as we prepare our hearts to approach our holy God. This time is used to reflect on who God is and who we are as God’s people. After the silent prayer, we are greeted with the promise of grace and peace.
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3).
Call to Worship
The Call to Worship is a brief passage of Scripture, usually from the Psalms, that identifies God as deserving of worship and invites his people into corporate worship. It calls us to turn aside from the cares of the world and to focus on God.
“Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 117).
Hymn of Adoration
Singing is an essential part of the worship of God. Our first hymn is usually a hymn proclaiming his character and work.
“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalm 95:1).
Confession of Sin
We are sinners in need of daily grace. The Confession of Sin is a unison prayer acknowledging our personal sin and repentance before God.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).
Assurance of Pardon
As Christians, we are not condemned by our sins. The assurance of pardon is the bold proclamation of the gospel offered from God’s Word. In the reading of the Gospel, the pastor is not granting forgiveness but simply reminding God’s people of the forgiveness freely offered in Jesus Christ.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Confession of Faith
The confession of faith is the opportunity for the church to declare what it means to be a Christian. It is the common faith that unites all of God’s people around the world and throughout history. We often confess the Apostle’s or Nicene Creeds.
“Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:21-23).
Gloria Patri
The Gloria Patri (Latin for “Glory to the Father”) is a sung response praising the Triune God in whom we have confessed to believe. This short song of praise has been sung by Christians since the second century.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Prayer of Supplication
Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. Through prayer we acknowledge our complete dependence on God for everything in this life. The prayer of supplication is our opportunity as a congregation to bring our cares and concerns before the Throne of Grace.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6)
Lord’s Prayer
We conclude the Prayer of Supplication by praying in unison the words of the Lord’s Prayer. These words, taken from the Gospel of Matthew are Jesus’ own words as he teaches us how to pray.
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)
Psalm Singing
The Psalms are the song book of the Bible and have been sung by God’s people for millennia. The Psalms teach about God’s character and our response to Him. We sing at least one psalm each Sunday.
“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being” (Psalm 104:33).
Scripture Reading
The Bible is God’s revelation to his people. For the Christian, it is the only rule for faith and life. In the Old Testament, God reveals himself through his promises and works for his people Israel. The New Testament brings light to the shadows of the Old Testament as God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We read a portion from both the Old and New Testaments.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Sermon
The sermon is an explanation and application of a passage from Scripture. Our normal practice is to work systematically though one book of the Bible, making connections to all parts of Scripture. Above all, Christ will be magnified and proclaimed in the sermon.
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Hymn of Commitment
Our final hymn is an opportunity to reflect the application of the sermon through singing.
“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” (Colossians 3:16).
Tithes and Offering
The offering is an opportunity for God’s people to worship by giving. We are not buying God’s favor, nor earning our salvation. Our tithes and offerings express our recognition that all we have belongs to God. In so doing, we are supporting the work of the Church as she proclaims Christ.
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!” (Psalm 96:8).
Doxology
The doxology is a simple sung response praising the Triune God.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Benediction
Worship concludes with a blessing for God’s people. The benediction is a promise that God will go with his people until we meet again.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).