Christ-Centered Worship
Our worship service doesn't just lead you to the message of the gospel, it walks you through the gospel. The movements of our service follow the movements of salvation, so throughout the service we are interacting with Our Redeeming God.
The Pattern of the Gospel
Recognizing God's Character
- Prayers and Songs of Praise to God
- Realizing our sinfulness
- Confession of Sin before a Holy God
- Receiving God’s grace and assurance through Christ’s work
- Hearing God's Word Preached and Receiving the Lord's Supper
- Responding by faith with thanksgiving and dedication
- Giving our Offering and Confessing our Faith to God
- Receiving God’s blessing
- Receiving the Benediction from God
This is the pattern of worship in the Bible:
Worship by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-13)
- God’s character recognized (v. 1-4)
- Human character confessed (v. 5)
- God’s grace exhibited (v. 6-7)
- God’s grace assured (v. 7)
- Response of thankful devotion (v. 8)
- Instruction for obedience (v. 9-12)
- Promise of covenant blessing (v. 13)
Worship at Sinai (Deuteronomy 5)
- God’s character recognized (v. 4, 22-24)
- Human character confessed (v. 5, 25-27)
- God’s grace exhibited (v. 2-3, 6)
- God’s grace assured (v. 2-3
- Response of thankful devotion (v. 27)
- Instruction for obedience (v. 6-21, 32-33a)
- Promise of covenant blessing (v. 33b)
Worship in the Temple (2 Chronicles 5-7)
- God’s character recognized (5:1-5)
- Human character confessed (5:6-10)
- God’s grace exhibited (5:11-14)
- God’s grace assured (5:11-14)
- Response of thankful devotion (6:1-11)
- Petition (6:12-21)
- Instruction for obedience (6:22-42)
- Promise of covenant blessing (7:1-3)
- Communion (7:4-9)
Worship in Ephesians
- God’s character recognized (ch. 1)
- Human character confessed (2:1-3)
- God’s grace exhibited (2:4-10)
- God’s grace assured (2:4-10)
- Instruction for obedience (2:11-6:18)
- Promise of covenant blessing (6:23-24)
Common Liturgical Names for this Pattern
- God’s character recognized (Prayer of Adoration)
- Human character confessed (Confession of sin)
- God’s grace assured (Assurance of Pardon)
- Response of thankful devotion (Songs or Prayers of Thanksgiving, Eucharist)
- Instruction for obedience (Sermon)
- Promise of covenant blessing (Benediction)