Liturgy: A Gospel Conversation
Whether we like to admit it, or not, every church has a liturgy.
While many think of liturgy as a simple order of service, correctly understood, it is much more than that.
At Gospelway have a structured liturgy that we use every week and have designed it, so the entire service functions as a proclamation of the Gospel. A conversation that mirrors the covenant relationship between God and His people. God speaks to us through His Word and sacraments, and we respond in faith, adoration, confession, and thanksgiving. This pattern reflects the gospel itself: God calls, we respond; God saves, we rejoice.
Call to Worship (God Speaks & Calls)
Our worship begins with God’s call. This is not a human initiation but a divine invitation. God speaks, summoning us into His presence. In the Call to Worship, we are reminded that worship is a response to God’s gracious initiative.
Prayer of Invocation (We Respond)
In response to God’s call, we invoke His presence through prayer. This is our acknowledgment of our need for His grace and guidance as we enter into worship. It is a plea for His Spirit to move among us, opening our hearts to His Word.
Salutation (God Speaks)
The salutation is God’s gracious greeting to His people. It is a reminder of His covenant promises and a declaration of His blessing upon us. This greeting assures us of His peace and favor as we gather in His name.
Song of Adoration (We Respond)
In song, we express our adoration and praise to God. This is our response to His character and works, lifting our voices to celebrate His greatness and grace. Adoration prepares our hearts to receive His Word.
Reading of the Law (God Speaks)
The reading of the Law confronts us with God’s holy standards. It exposes our sin and drives us to Christ. Through the Law, God speaks of His righteousness and our need for His redeeming grace.
Prayer of Confession of Sin (We Respond)
Acknowledging our sin, we confess before God, seeking His forgiveness. This prayer is an act of humility and repentance, a crucial part of our response to the Law’s convicting voice.
Assurance of Pardon (God Speaks)
Following confession, God speaks words of pardon and assurance. Through Scripture, He declares the forgiveness found in Christ, restoring us to fellowship with Him and filling us with hope.
Song of Thanksgiving (We Respond)
Grateful for God’s forgiveness, we sing songs of thanksgiving. This response reflects our joy in the gospel, celebrating the grace that has redeemed us.
Confession of Faith (Confession/Catechism)
In confessing our faith, we unite our voices to affirm the truths of the gospel. This confession, often through creeds or catechisms, grounds us in the shared doctrines of the Christian faith.
Psalm & Scripture Reading (God Speaks)
Through the Psalms and other Scriptures, God’s Word continues to speak, revealing His will and works. These readings are the voice of God, guiding and instructing His people.
Song of Preparation (We Respond)
As we prepare to hear the sermon, we sing in anticipation, readying our hearts to receive God’s Word. This song expresses our desire for the Spirit’s illumination and our openness to His teaching.
Scripture Reading (God Speaks)
The reading of Scripture precedes the sermon, emphasizing the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word. In this moment, we hear God’s voice directly through the text of Scripture.
Prayer for Illumination (We Respond)
The prayer for illumination explicitly acknowledges the Spirit’s work in this part of worship by requesting God to act through the reading and preaching of Scripture. This practice emphasizes that the reading itself, not just the preaching, is made effective only by the work of God’s Spirit.
Sermon (God Speaks)
The sermon is the exposition and application of God’s Word. Through preaching, God speaks to us, applying the truths of Scripture to our lives and calling us to respond in faith and obedience.
Song of Response (We Respond)
Following the sermon, we respond in song, reflecting on the message and committing ourselves to live according to God’s Word. This song is a declaration of our response to the gospel message.
The Lord’s Supper (God Speaks)
In the Lord’s Supper, God speaks through the sacrament, reminding us of Christ’s sacrifice. This meal is a means of grace, nourishing our faith and uniting us with Christ and one another.
Song of Thanksgiving (We Respond)
After the Supper, we sing in thanksgiving, expressing our gratitude for the grace we have received. This song is a joyful acknowledgment of God’s provision and love.
Benediction (God Speaks & Sends)
The service concludes with God’s benediction, His blessing over His people. It is a sending forth with His favor, a reminder that we are under His grace as we go out into the world.
As we delve deeper into each element of the liturgy in the coming weeks, may we gain a richer understanding of how our worship is a reflection of the gospel and how it shapes and sustains our faith.
Stay tuned for our next post, where we will dive into the Call to Worship, the moment where God initiates our gathering and invites us into His presence.