We can all agree that worship is the greatest privilege and the greatest calling which the Lord has bestowed upon the church. Nonetheless, there seems to be various principles and beliefs when it comes to the doctrine of worship. At Covenant Community, we take worship as the most important thing. So let us give you our philosophy and our beliefs about worship:

Sample Sunday Bulletin

I. God-Centered Worship.

A. God's Glory

The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Worship, thus, is nothing more and nothing less than glorifying and enjoying God. Worship ultimately reveals God and man: The sovereignty of God and the depravity of man.

B. With Awe and Reverence

The proper attitude is required in worship. The doctrine of God and the holiness of God, the doctrine of man and his depravity, the doctrine of Christ and his sacrificial atonement, and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and his effectual application of redemption, together prompt Christians to come into God's presence with holy fear.

C. The Regulative Principle

Worship is regulated by God's Word. We do not worship by human traditions, methodologies, or inventions but instead we worship by, through, and in God's word. 2. We believe in the simplicity and centrality of the Scriptures as the only basis of worship. Thus, we only worship according to what is prescribed in the Scriptures.

II. Worship is Covenantal.

A. "I will be your God and you will be My people" (Gen 17:7; Jer 31:33; 2 Cor 6:16; Heb 8:10; Rev 21:3). This is the heart of the covenant.

B. God is our God and we are His people. This is the basis of our worship. Worship is a re-enactment of the covenantal relationship between God and His people. In addition, a covenantal worship means a family-centered worship. The children of the believers are holy; thus, they are the children of the covenant. We do not neglect our children in worship but we as a family participate in worship together.

III. Worship is Dialogical.

A. Worship, simply put, is a holy conversation between God and His people. Thus, there are two parts in worship: those which are performed on behalf of God, and those which are performed by the congregation.

B. Worship, thus, is anything but passive. In fact, the Bible knows nothing of such a passive dimension in worshipping God. This dual dynamic of worship is what makes worship so powerful and significant. Thus, we actively participate in worship.

IV. Worship is the Gospel.

A. Covenant theology provides the "gospel logic" in public worship. First part begins with the vision of God and His glory. His greatness leads to an awareness of our unworthiness; thus, leading into a "cycle of confession." And this unworthiness leads to growing in faith, into a cycle of worship that employs the means of grace. Lastly, God's people respond with thanksgiving to God for His grace and mercy.

B. So the worship follows "Guilt-Grace-Gratitude" structure which is patterned after the gospel which is consistent with the Scriptures.

III. Covenant Community Church Order of Worship

Guilt

*Call to Worship (God here directly speaks to the congregation. The church gathers but it is the Lord himself who calls the church to enter into His presence of worship.)
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn of Wonder
*The Law of God (God here reveals the depravity of man through His law.)
*Prayer of Confession (We as a congregation confess our sins together both corporately and privately.)

Means of Grace

*Receiving of His Pardon
*Confession of Our Faith (We confess our faith in one voice through either the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed.)
*Hymn of Joy
*Praying the Psalms (We read the psalms responsively, to here God's promises and to learn how to pray.)
*Intercessory Prayer
*Shepherd's Prayer (The Lord himself intercedes for His people.)
*Reading of the Word of God.
*Preaching of God's Word
*The Sacrament of Communion

Gratitude

*Offering
*Offering Prayer
*Hymn of Commitment
*Benediction

(The RED parts are where the congregation responds to God. This is how we incorporate the covenantal, dialogical, and gospel aspects into our worship)