One of the ways our worship service is noticeably different from others is found in the fact that our worship services are designed for believers. We do other events periodically that are designed specifically for unbelievers – evangelistic outreaches, debates, etc., but we believe that the primary purpose of Lord’s Day worship is for believers and their families to gather before the Lord to renew covenant. We renew covenant not because the covenant expires or gets old, but we renew covenant because we are the kinds of creatures who grow weary and forget. God does not forget His promises, but we need to be reminded of them.
So our worship service is a Memorial – a service of remembrance: You are Called to Worship to remember that you are God’s people, called out from the world. You are reminded of your need for cleansing, and God’s promise of forgiveness. We are reminded that all of life belongs to God through the Scripture readings and sermon. We celebrate Communion every week, remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus that has made peace between us and God and one another. And we are Commissioned – reminded that we are disciples of Jesus to share the good news and make this world more like heaven.
Now all of that assumes regeneration. It assumes that the people who are gathering, confessing, listening, eating, and being sent out are in fact Christians because those things are what really encourage Christians in their faith and walk. But that doesn’t mean everyone who comes is in fact a Christian. Over the centuries this was in fact one of the great problems in Israel and the Church. It is possible for people to drawn near to the Lord with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. So this is the point: this worship service is designed for believers. There is milk and meat here for those who have been born again by the Spirit of God, but if you are not saved, if Christ does not live in You, then this service will not be encouraging or helpful to you. In fact, it will probably be discouraging and confusing. The Bible says that the gospel is the savor of life for those who are being saved, but it is the aroma of death for those who do not believe.
So right here at the Call to Worship, if you are not sure if you have a new heart, if you’re not sure if Christ lives in You, I call on you as a minister of the Gospel to call on the Lord. Ask the Lord to give you a new heart, to save you from your sins. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And to all of you: call on the Lord so that you may truly enter into worship now.
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
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