Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

e. By kneeling before God , Ps. 95.6-7a

B. Through our liturgy

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Definition: Liturgy = those particular order of services where we declare the Word of God and celebrate together at the Lord’s table. When we look at the evidence of early Christian worship, we see that it differed from religions in the Roman world in that it claimed no cult statues, temples, or regular sacrifices. It was oriented around the Word, like its close historical connection to synagogue Judaism. Yet early believers did gather and practice particular kinds of rituals. Believers met to fellowship, to eat, and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, to hear the Scriptures read and preached, to pray and sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God, as well as to baptize new believers and to pray for healing. These practices were not tied to any particular place, and were done informed by the Christian story. The word “liturgy,” is the term given to the service calendar that congregations use as they worship together.

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1. When the Church gathers, we worship God through the preaching of the Word of God.

a. The liturgy, or worship schedule and calendar, reenacts and rehearses the great works of God in history.

b. The Church through its liturgy recalls and reflects upon the one, true, and great story of God in Scripture.

c. And as we preach and teach the Word of God as God’s story, we are led to worship God, to express our wonder and celebration at what God has accomplished through his people and through Jesus Christ.