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God Calls Us to Worship
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:7). Brothers and sisters, we have gathered here this morning, not because of our own effort or initiative, but because our heavenly Father has drawn us to himself and to this place by his Holy Spirit. We do not call ourselves to worship; God calls us to worship. God has set up this meeting. God is calling out of the world, saying, “It’s time! I’m here!” “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (Psalm 95:6–7). (Adapted from Constancy Cherry)
Call to Worship Based on Psalm 84:1–2
Welcome to the house of God! With the psalmist we say, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Today will be a great day as we sing for joy to the living God! (Constance Cherry)
Call to Worship Based on Philemon 3
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As we worship today, may you experience the renewal of God’s grace and peace. Welcome to worship! (Constance Cherry)
The Risen Lord is Ready to Receive Our Praises
Welcome to God’s house, where the risen Lord is ready to receive our praises! I invite you to add your praise to those of your sisters and brothers as we rejoice together in this day that God has made! (Constance Cherry)
The Day the Lord Has Made
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let’s join together in worshiping our great and wonderful God! (Constance Cherry)
Back Together to Worship
Good morning brothers and sisters, and happy Lord’s Day! I hope that you had a good week in the Lord—that you loved God, loved others, and put into practice the Scriptures and sermon that we heard last week on _________________________. As he does every week, the Lord has called us back together this morning to meet with him, to hear his Word, and to share in his Son at the Lord’s Table. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalm 95:6–7).
Worship the Triune Redeemer (Responsive)
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered to worship the Triune God.
We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.
Glory be to the Father, who planned our redemption before the foundation of the world.
Glory be to the Son, who redeemed us with his precious blood.
Glory be to the Spirit, who sealed us for the day of redemption.
[All:] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Worship in Dialogue With God (Responsive)
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered to worship the Triune God.
We have gathered to praise the Father who loves us.
We have gathered to exalt the Son who redeemed us by his blood.
We have gathered to magnify the Spirit who unites us as one body in Christ.
We gather because Christian worship is not a matter between “me” and God alone.
Worship is a conversation between God and his people.
God speaks to us—through the reading of his Word, the preaching of his Word, and the words of institution at the Lord’s Supper.
The church speaks back—by lifting our voices as one in prayer, praise, and confession of faith.
This morning, don’t be an observer; be a participant.
We will join in the conversation with our whole hearts.
Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy (Responsive)
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered to worship the Almighty, the King of Creation.
He is the Lord, and it is right that we should obey him.
God has commanded, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”
We must keep the times which God has appointed in his Word.
Today is the Lord’s Day, not our day; it is a day for rest and worship.
We will not profane the Lord’s Day or neglect to assemble together.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
A Holy Temple and Priesthood
Brothers and sisters, we have come together as living stones, to form a holy temple, built up in Christ the cornerstone. We have gathered as holy priesthood to offer sacrifices acceptable to God, and to raise to heaven the incense of prayer and thanksgiving. The worship that we offer on this sacred day, the Lord’s Day, is not first and foremost about us. It is about the honor and glory of our great God, before whom the angels cry day and night, “Holy, holy, holy!” (Rev. 4:8). It is about the reverence and awe that is due to him who is seated on the throne, before whom the elders cast down their crowns and say, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power!” (Rev. 4:11).
If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, then this is not a time when you may merely observe, or go through the motions. At our baptism, we were anointed like Levites to be servants of the new and true tabernacle. This public and perpetual worship is our sacred vocation, our solemn and joyful duty. So forget about yourself, and concentrate on him, and worship him. Focus your heart and mind on divine things. Listen attentively to the readings, as if Christ himself was speaking—for that is exactly what happens when the Scriptures are read in the sanctuary. Sing loudly, robustly, and from the heart, as if Christ was next to you—for he is already here, and has promised to be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name. Raise a hand, say “Amen,” and confess the Creed with vigor, as if speaking directly to a brother or sister in need—for you may never know who needs to hear your voice in the congregation of the saints.
“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress” (Ps. 48:1–3).
More coming soon
Worship Passionately
Brothers and sisters, as we enter into worship this morning, I encourage you to pause and think seriously about what it is that we are here to do. We are here to worship the God who spoke the universe into existence. The God who fills heaven and earth. The God who humbled himself to become one of us and suffer and die an excruciating death to save us from death and hell. The God who has come to dwell in us and walk with us and keep us from evil. This time is not just about you, it’s about the glory of the Triune God, and it’s about the good of the people around you.
As Christians, worship is our primary vocation. God is seeking people to worship him in spirit and in truth. How we worship matters to God and to his holy Church. Don’t just go through the motions! Remind yourself of what you believe and why you are here! Stir up your heart and affections to worship God passionately! When there is a responsive reading, respond with a loud voice! When the Scriptures are read, listen with close attention! While the Word is preached, say “Amen” or at least nod your head! When the Creed is said, confess with vigor the truths for which you would die! When sin is confessed, speak from a humble and contrite heart! When the Lord’s Supper is shared, come with godly seriousness—don’t allow your mind to wander! When the benediction and the sending are said, don’t check out—end on a high note! When the songs are sung, sing passionately! Even if some of the songs are new to you, it’s better to sing out and stumble around than not to sing at all! John Wesley said, “Sing strongly and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half-dead or half-asleep; but lift up your voice with strength!”
From beginning to end, remember that you are in the presence of God, and what we are doing here is serious business. Eternally significant. More significant than anything else that’s going on in the world right now. And if the world is more engaged at football games and political rallies than the church is at worship, then we need to get on our knees. Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for being passive worshippers. Help us to be passionate worshippers instead. Help us to put ourselves into the service today and into every single service hereafter. Help me to be a lead worshipper than inspires others around me to worship God with their whole mind, heart, body, and soul. For your glory and the good of your people, we ask these things. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
