What guides us as we determine what we do in our worship services? Is there a place in Scripture that gives us the ideal service outline, telling us where to put the announcements, how many songs to sing, or what instruments to use? Despite the inclusion of a 150-chapter hymnal in the center of the Bible (Psalms), any reference to corporate worship leaves us without specific details regarding the look, feel, order, structure, or sound of our worship gatherings.
However, the Bible does give us very clear principles that we can and should use as guidelines for corporate worship. These guidelines are what I would like to refer to as the “Essential Elements of Worship.” Through a careful examination of several key passages, and the context of these within the full counsel of Scripture, five distinct “non-negotiables” that we must prioritize in our acts of corporate worship emerge.
The primary reference for many of these concepts is Isaiah 6:1-8. In this passage, Isaiah describes his encounter with the Lord. Isaiah’s encounter with God tells us much about God himself and how he desires us to communicate with him. First, Isaiah sees the Lord, and his vision is accompanied by the praise of the angels (vv.1-3), which is itself quotation of Scripture. Then, Isaiah’s immediate reaction is to recognize his lowliness in comparison to God, and confess his sin and unworthiness (vv.4-5). The Lord’s response is grace, as the angel offers to Isaiah redemption through the sacrifice of the altar (vv.6-7), an image that is clearly reminiscent of our salvation through Jesus Christ.
Throughout the Psalms, expressions of praise are abundant, but also expressions of thanksgiving for God’s providence and redemption of His people. As New Testament believers, heirs in the new covenant, what greater act of providence can we attest to than the provision of a savior? Indeed, we celebrate the ultimate act of God’s redemption as we recall and proclaim the Gospel Story.
Finally, Isaiah hears God’s call to service, and in light of the grace he has received, unquestioningly responds in enthusiastic commitment (v. 8).The essential elements of Isaiah’s encounter with God, as well as other instances in Scripture, include praise, Scripture, confession, celebration, and commitment. In the coming months, we will explore each of these elements more closely, discovering what each of them means in terms of what and how in our corporate worship gatherings together.
However, the Bible does give us very clear principles that we can and should use as guidelines for corporate worship. These guidelines are what I would like to refer to as the “Essential Elements of Worship.” Through a careful examination of several key passages, and the context of these within the full counsel of Scripture, five distinct “non-negotiables” that we must prioritize in our acts of corporate worship emerge.
The primary reference for many of these concepts is Isaiah 6:1-8. In this passage, Isaiah describes his encounter with the Lord. Isaiah’s encounter with God tells us much about God himself and how he desires us to communicate with him. First, Isaiah sees the Lord, and his vision is accompanied by the praise of the angels (vv.1-3), which is itself quotation of Scripture. Then, Isaiah’s immediate reaction is to recognize his lowliness in comparison to God, and confess his sin and unworthiness (vv.4-5). The Lord’s response is grace, as the angel offers to Isaiah redemption through the sacrifice of the altar (vv.6-7), an image that is clearly reminiscent of our salvation through Jesus Christ.
Throughout the Psalms, expressions of praise are abundant, but also expressions of thanksgiving for God’s providence and redemption of His people. As New Testament believers, heirs in the new covenant, what greater act of providence can we attest to than the provision of a savior? Indeed, we celebrate the ultimate act of God’s redemption as we recall and proclaim the Gospel Story.
Finally, Isaiah hears God’s call to service, and in light of the grace he has received, unquestioningly responds in enthusiastic commitment (v. 8).The essential elements of Isaiah’s encounter with God, as well as other instances in Scripture, include praise, Scripture, confession, celebration, and commitment. In the coming months, we will explore each of these elements more closely, discovering what each of them means in terms of what and how in our corporate worship gatherings together.
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