Worship

Worship

The Sunday morning worship service is, for most people, the initial and primary point of connect with a local church. And this makes sense because the corporate worship of God is the “biggest” thing most churches do! This is no accident: God’s people know that we were created for God’s glory (Isa 43:6-7) and that worshipping the Lord is the highest activity in which we can engage. Understandably, then, corporate worship is highly regarded at Grace Covenant Church!

At Grace... we believe that a sine qua non of true worship is that it must be done “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). This addresses not only the content of worship, but the attitude with which we worship: head and heart matter! If we “do” and “say” the right things, while our hearts are cold and indifferent, we have not offered worship that is pleasing to God (Matt 15:8). Simultaneously, if we claim to have hearts that are “on fire” for God, and yet do not offer worship in accordance with God’s word, our worship is in vain (Matt 15:9).

At Grace... we believe the elements of worship are regulated by God himself in Scripture. This means that we believe God gets to decide how God is worshipped! In Scripture our Lord has graciously revealed the various elements which he has established to bring him glory and to edify his people. Similarly, the content of our worship service: the songs sung, the prayers voiced, the readings shared, the offerings given, the messages delivered, and the sacraments administered are all shaped by a profound dependence and celebration of what God has revealed in Scripture. Thus, we can say that at Grace, the Bible – God’s gracious self-revelation presented and preserved in written record – is essential to our worship.

At Grace... we believe that the spirit with which we worship matters! Scripture is replete with both encouragement and instruction to worship with “joy” and “gladness” – so much so, that failing to do so is seen as not having worshipped God at all! (Deut 28:47-48) The posture that determines our attitude towards God is revealed in Scripture to be whether or not we are grateful, or thankful. So essential is a posture of thankfulness that Paul references thanklessnessas a principal reason behind idolatry (Rom 1:21). Praise emanates from the soul of those who have been rescued from darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13). This gratitude leads us to remember each day, which He has made, and we are to rejoice in it (Ps. 118:24). Worship flowing from an acute sense of gratitude for what God has done, therefore, is joyous! At the same time, it is a serious thing to approach the living God. Indeed, Hebrews 12:29 refers to God as being a “consuming fire.” Worship, therefore, is to be characterized by reverence and awe (Heb 12:28)!

At Grace... we combine the themes of “joy” and “reverence” by saying that our worship should reflect reverential joy. Therefore, corporate worship is the communal expression of reverential joy, delight, and gratitude that come from personally knowing our infinitely glorious and sovereign God and Savior who rescued us from the bondage of our own sin.

At Grace... the goal of our worship services is to direct the congregation to the glorious majesty of God and marvel at the wonder of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do this by means of the reading and preaching of God’s Word, prayer, confession of sins, offerings of thanksgiving, songs of praise and adoration, and the observance of the two sacraments. Our worship services seek to reflect the various truths of Scripture as we bring glory to God and build up the church as we offer worship that engages the whole person in praising and adoring the living God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, at Grace... we believe that corporate worship ought to equip, encourage, and empower believers to engage in a lifestyle of worship in their various vocations and callings, as they offer their bodies as “living sacrifices” (Rom 12:1), giving thanks in “all circumstances” (1 Thess 5:18), and doing “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col 3:17), as we “glorify God in our body” (1 Cor 6:20), serving as “salt and light” in the world (Matt 5:13-14), always prepared to answer anyone who asks for a “reason for the hope” within us (1 Pet 3:15).

 We invite you to join us for worship that is serious about pursuing Spirit enabled reverential joy in our gracious Lord, Jesus, to the glory and praise of God the Father!