Have you ever wondered why Christians gather to worship God?
Here is one answer: To re-present and respond to the great story of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save sinners like us.The one word that summarizes this story is “gospel” which means good news.
There is a distinct gospel structure to every part of our worship service:
Adoration: We adore and praise God for His greatness and grace.
Confession: We acknowledge our sin and need for the Lord’s grace.
Like Isaiah says: “All of us like sheep have gone astray…” (Isaiah 53:6).
Assurance: We experience anew God’s provision of grace found in “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Thanksgiving: We respond with thanksgiving for God’s grace by offering to Him all that we are and have (II Corinthians 9:7).
Intercession:We express our dependence upon the Lord and His grace by prayer (I Timothy 2:1-2).
Instruction: We hear the Word read and preached so that we might “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).
Communion: We celebrate communion weekly in worship (during at least one service each Sunday).
This helps us to remember the costly grace of the cross that unites us with Jesus Christ and His people (I Corinthians 11:23-26).
Charge and Benediction: We are challenged to live in light of God’s grace and are sent forth to serve in the strength of that grace (Hebrews 13:20-21).
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