The first commandment given to God’s people at Sinai was, “you shall have no other gods before me” (Exod 20:3). While there may be a host of debates to be had among Christians about the perpetually binding aspects of the ten commandments, there is not one Christian in the world who would say that this commandment is up for grabs.
All people everywhere were created to worship God, and Christians have been those called from darkness and into the light. Not only are we commanded to worship, but we have been given the Holy Spirit who aids us in such worship towards God. So let us consider how we are to orient our lives so that we are better able to worship God.
One Day Out of Seven
In creation, God has given all people a pre-fall pattern of work and rest. This pattern differs from the five days of anxious labor and two days of recreation that most Americans observe. God exemplifies a pattern, for he himself has no need for rest, when it is said:
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” (Gen 2:2–3)
This pattern of rest and worship is a creational good. From the beginning of the world until we arrive in glory, just like marriage, it is a common gift of God’s grace. Under the Old Covenant this day was set aside as the seventh day of the week (Saturday) and under the New Covenant this day is now the first of the week (Sunday).
The Westminster confession of faith says,
“As it is of the law of nature that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord’s day.” (WCF 26.7)
Preparing to Worship
We are not just told what we must do on that day, but wisdom would dictate that we set our affairs in order so that we can have a day of rest—not a day of holy procrastination under the guise of keeping the Sabbath.
So what does this look like? If I can glean the parts that pertain to worship in the confession, “This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand…are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship.”1
We must then get ready for our worship services. This goes beyond showing up on time although it certainly includes that.
First, we should read the passage ahead of time and consider what it means. This will allow us to pay attention to the emphasis of the preacher or to be on the lookout for difficulties in the text. If you have a family, read the passage with them. Simplify the message and seek to make young children aware of what to expect from the worship service.
Second, we should pray for the Lord to bless the worship service. Pray for your pastor to preach clearly. Pray for your songs and prayers to be a sweet aroma to God. Pray for guests who may not know Christ, or be distant from him, to be convicted and brought to a sense of need. Pray for those who are weak to be encouraged. Pray for yourself to hear the word and to do it.
Thirdly, set your affairs in order. Wake up with sufficient time to get ready. Ensure you can arrive on time. Pack snacks and quiet toys for children to play with. Have your bible ready to go.
What to Expect in Worship
So, having prepared your heart and your affairs so you can engage with God in worship, what should you expect from a service?
Liturgy
At Ruah we have a liturgy that we follow. It isn’t perfect, but it has many of the core elements that are prescribed to us in Scripture. The many elements should all hammer home one major idea—worship is not a spectator sport. We are all engaged in worshipping God, not outsourcing that worship to the professionals.
Call to Worship. We hear God call us to worship him and we respond to his call with a song of praise.
Confession of Sin. After we are called to worship the holy God we remember that we are not holy. We therefore confess our sins before God and ask for his pardon, for the sake of his Jesus Christ.
Assurance of Pardon. Every service should remind us of the gospel, and this time is a guaranteed way to remember that we have been forgiven of our sins. God pardons our iniquities and he remembers our sins no more. We fittingly sing a song which proclaims these truths and rejoices over them.
Prayer. The voice of one man serves here as the voice of the congregation to make their requests known before God. Prayers are offered for a variety of needs in the church and the congregation is lifted up to speak with their God.
Confession of Faith. The congregation will often recite some creed or confession which connects our faith to that of the many saints that have gone before us. In confessing what we believe we are summarizing and clarifying the truth of God’s word, not adding to it.
Preaching. When we gather in worship in the protestant tradition the preaching of the word is the centerpiece of our worship. Everything else we do culminates in this moment. We hear the voice of God speaking to us to encourage us, convict us of sins, and remind us of what we believe and how we ought to live in light of our beliefs.
Communion. If preaching is the centerpoint of our service then the natural culmination of the preaching of the word is communing with Jesus at the table. We renew our covenantal vows to God and partake in the body and blood so that we can be assured of the peace which God provides to us.
Musical Worship. While the whole service is an act of worship, the music that follows the preached word and the Lord’s table is designed to proclaim those truths aloud. We sing in order to praise God as a way to complete the joy of our worship.
Benediction. At the close of every service we hear God pronounce his blessing over us. These words are often drawn from scripture and give us a reminder of the good word which God speaks over us as we walk in covenant with him.
Children
Another core aspect of worship at Ruah is the very many noises. Children are present for all aspects of our worship. While I will defend this practice at some later point, for now just know they are there intentionally.
If you are a mother or a father make sure you prepare to have your kids in the service. Teach them discipline so they might grow in their capacity to sit still, to listen carefully, and to understand what is happening around them. There is no magic to this process. It involves willpower and resolve.
Women, if you are going to be wrangling children, or perhaps helping someone else to wrangle their children, you may be served to know two different things.
One, there is no need to remember everything from the sermon. Each sermon should have one major point. Remembering that point will serve you even if many of the details escape your grasp. The idealistic notion that you need a complete set of notes as ‘proof’ that you were listening is only suited for those who are in a very fleeting season of life—namely those without children or those who are now empty-nesters.
Two, because we live in the age of sermon recordings, you can always listen back for details you fear you might have missed. While sermon recordings are only the echoes of sermons, they can still be of great benefit to your soul if you listen back later in the week.
Fathers, make sure your wife does not bear the sole responsibility for your children in the service. Seek to help out where you can to enforce discipline, hold a child, and serve your family. If you need to stand in the back with a fussy child do not be frustrated.
Parents, if children are particularly loud or fussy, then use discretion to remove them from the service temporarily. If one parent has to leave with a child it should ordinarily be the mother, so the father can hear and teach his family at home. But recognize the difference between a normal amount of noise that children make and those cries which would be distracting to the congregation. Generally you should sit towards the end of a row or towards the back so you can make a quick escape if a child decides that this is the perfect moment to lose their mind.
Conclusion
As you prepare yourself to worship God and as you engage in the worship of God, know that God is shaping you. We all become what we worship (Ps. 115). To set aside time to worship God is to make a value statement. We are to serve God above all else. This is not for his good, but for our own good. It helps us to be conformed into the image of his son and to be inoculated to the snares of this world. In worship, we experience a foretaste of glory and the ongoing praise that surrounds the throne of God at all times. Let us remember the words, “You shall fear the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Deut 6:13, LXX).
Discussion
How do you currently set apart the Lord’s day for worship?
What do you do to prepare for church on Sunday?
Do you follow-up the church service with discussion about what was preached?
How can you improve in preparing for Sunday?
Do you and your wife have a plan for how to train the children up in corporate worship?
Westminster Confession of Faith 26.8.
