Why so formal? The service is formal because we are worshipping the real God who is not just our Friend and our Saviour, but He is also the Ruler of Heaven and Earth. We should never forget who God is and our worship should be done with the respect and orderliness that is due to the King of Kings. Same question as to why receptions for dignitaries such as the Queen, presidents and prime ministers are so formal, except so much more because this is God! Each element of the worship service is now explained for your benefit:
1. Prepatory Hymn and Prelude
As people assemble in the sanctuary (Church hall) for the worship service, they should prepare their hearts for the service. We must remember that God is maker and ruler of Heaven and Earth and is present in the service. The prepatory hymn is a “warm up” hymn that usually someone else other than the worship leader leads. The prelude is when the pianist plays the hymn “The Lord in His Holy Temple”, as a means of reminding the congregation of God’s presence and it also serves as an introduction for the worship leader’s “Call to Worship”.
2. Call to Worship
The worship leader calls the whole congregation to worship the Lord, usually by proclaiming a verse from the book of Psalms and then introduces the opening hymn.
3. Opening Hymn and the Invocation
The opening hymn is usually a hymn of praise. Why Hymns? Unlike many of the contemporary counterparts that instill great emotion without much instruction, hymns have deeper meanings, enabling God to instruct, encourage or admonish Christians through the singing of hymns. This contributes to a more constructive worship than just being overwhelmed by the love of God. Set aside their dates of origin and you will come to appreciate why hymns are still being sung despite being sometimes hundreds of years old.
The invocation is a prayer which usually has the contents of praise to God and thanksgiving for the privilege of worshipping God and for His help and blessings in the past week. The prayer will also ask God to lead the congregation in worship. Usually, this will be followed by the congregation reciting the Lord’s prayer.
4. The Lord’s Prayer and Gloria Patri (also known as “Glory be to the Father”)
The Lords Prayer is a prayer that Jesus taught His disciples and only serves as an example of how we should pray.
“Our father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us of our trespasses. As we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.”
The Gloria Patri is sung straight after the Lord’s Prayer. It is a short hymn that is sung to give praises to the triune God (God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ] and God the Holy Spirit).
5. Collection of Offerings
In the Old Testament, the term “offering” usually refers to animal sacrifices brought to the tabernacle. This was to represent the promise that God made to the people before Jesus Christ, that a coming Saviour will shed blood and die in their place for their sins. In the New Testament, which is relevant today, we do not bring offerings of that sort to God, since Jesus has given His life as the sacrifice for our sins. We do, however, give gifts to God for His Church, as a token of our appreciation of God’s love and provision for us as His children. The tithing (giving 10% of one’s earnings) and offering (giving extra, based on additional blessings that God has provided in the past week) is a tangible way of worshipping God with our possessions. If you are a believer, you inevitably have experienced God’s blessings and therefore it is a privilege for you to give back something to the Lord. If you are not a Christian, you should not feel obliged to give as you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ and therefore have not experienced God’s gift of eternal life or God’s blessings. However, you are free to give if you want.
6. Doxology (“Praise God from whom all blessings flow”)
The Doxology is essentially a hymn of thanksgiving, adoration and worship to God for supplying our needs. That is why it is sung straight after the offering is collected. It is a humble recognition, from a thankful heart, for the providence and protection of God in our lives in the past week.
7. Scripture Reading and Pastoral Prayer
A member of the Church will come up to read a passage from the Bible, usually the passage from which the following message will be based on. The pastoral prayer is a representative prayer by the minister on behalf of the congregation. It is a united prayer for the Church. The congregation is to follow the prayer carefully. It is a time when the entire Church comes before the God’s “throne of grace”, pleading to the Lord as one, for the mercies, gracious assistance and sustenance for the Church.
The Lord’s Supper
On the first Sunday of the month, the Church observes the “Lord’s Supper”. It is a time when the Church remembers the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. All believers who are baptized in a Bible believing Church are invited to take the cup and bread. It is important to remember that if you are participating, you should take time to reflect on and confess your sins before God before you take the Lord’s Supper. If you are not a Christian, please do not take the cup or the bread. It is instructed in the Bible that a person who drinks of the cup or eats of the bread unworthily will be judged by God (1 Corinthian 11:27).
8. Message/Sermon
One of the chief elements of the early church worship service was the teaching of the Apostles’ doctrine. This is why the pulpit is right in front of the congregation, to underscore the centrality of the preaching of God’s Word. There is much to learn about God and His will for each of us in our lives, so we are to listen attentively to the message, to seek to understand it so that we can apply it in our daily life. God often speaks to the heart of a believer during the sermon, making it clear to the individual that the message applies particularly to that person. Therefore, it is very important to listen carefully and take down notes if possible.
9. Why Benediction and Threefold Amen?
It is a pronouncement of God’s blessings by the minister, normally taken from the Bible. This is followed by the “Threefold Amen”. The word amen, “so may it stand,” or “so be it,” is a frequent response in Scripture. It is the way people express their agreement with what is said.
Conclusion
Although the order of worship is not given directly in the Bible, the principles and elements of worship are given, such as orderliness, holiness, reverence, and the elements of praise, prayer, preaching the Word, offering and so on. While there is no prescribed form of worshipping God in the Bible, we believe that this method of worshipping God stays true to the respect, attitude and reverence that God deserves.
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