Emmaus Church Distinctives: Liturgy

[Editorial Preface: This talk was given on September 08, 2019 at a church planting vision meeting for Emmaus Church, White Bear Lake. The talk was followed by a time of group Q&A. If you have questions about liturgy in the church or about Emmaus Church, please send them to me at Tom.Boyer@Bethlehem.Church. For further considerations on liturgy, I recommend Desiring the Kingdom by James K.A. Smith, The Worship Sourcebook 2nd edition, and Reformation Worship edited by Jonathon Gibson]

Introduction

In May, we held an informational meeting. At that meeting, we worked through a basic information sheet for the church plant. The sheet is meant to give you a general sketch of the church plant.

The majority of what you read on that sheet is pretty typical for a Bethlehem church plant. But there are a few distinctives that stick out and prompt further explanation. I want to address one of those distinctives tonight—let’s talk about liturgy in the local church.

What is liturgy? Here’s a basic definition as it relates to a worship service:

An intentionally ordered sequence of events and actions that are meant to shape our attitudes and desires.

For the majority of modern Evangelicals, liturgy is a rather foreign word. But all churches have a liturgy. All churches have some structures in their service. But most modern liturgies can be defined as liturgy of spontaneity, or liturgy of irregularity, or even a pragmatic liturgy.

It is a real shame that modern evangelicalism has paid so little attention to the topic of liturgy. How we worship matters. A pragmatic worship service is based more on American ideals than it is based on Christian ideals. We need to consider what the Bible has to say about the topic of liturgy!

There are numerous passages in the Bible that have helped to shape the historic liturgy of the Christian church. Isaiah 6 may be the most helpful. In Isaiah 6, the Prophet Isaiah encounters God. Let’s consider that encounter between God and man (Isaiah). And as we consider Christian worship—where we corporately come together to encounter God—we will see how the Bible helps us know what our encounter should look like.

Isaiah 6 and Liturgy

You may be wondering how Isaiah 6  connects to a modern worship service. It is definitely not a step-by-step manual, but the passage gives us a sketch of what it looks like to encounter the living and true God. Other passages in Scripture give further layers to what a worship service should look like, but let’s start the conversation by looking primarily at Isaiah 6, while also considering additional passages.

Call to Worship - The first thing we see is that God has given Isaiah this vision (6:1). God always initiates! In a church service, we start with a call to worship! We remember during this time that God has called us here. This is meant to humble our hearts and our general disposition. God has called us here! In a Sunday morning service, we may have a reading and recitation that reminds us of this truth.

Adoration - In light of his call, we rejoice in the splendor and holiness of God (6:2–4)! There is a moment of awe. We see that from Isaiah, and especially from the angels as they call out ‘Holy, Holy, Holy.’ In a Sunday morning service, it is appropriate to sing a song that fits this mood of adoration and wonder.

Confession - That moment of adoration is then stopped by a realization of God’s worth and our neediness. Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me.” Before God we see our sin, our inadequacy, and our neediness (6:5). In light of that, we confess to him. During a Sunday morning service, this is often done by a time of quiet and corporate confession.

Assurance of Pardon - God and his steward [here the angels] respond to this confession. It is from the altar that God brings an atonement to the confessor (6:6–7). This is a very important moment in the passage, and it should be a very important moment in a Sunday morning worship service. We are reminded of our pardon in Christ Jesus. God has atoned for the sins of his people through the cross of Jesus Christ. In a Sunday morning service, this is the time that we are reminded of this reality. We remember what God has done for his people through Jesus Christ!

Consecration: Word, Creed, Law - God then speaks (6:8–13). Isaiah listens. God’s Word declares a right order to life. In God’s Word, we see a vision of the good life. It’s God’s Word that guides us—not our own desires or felt needs! This moment in the service is vital. It is here that we remember that God redeems us and points us toward the path of life. Historically, in a worship service, there is often a reading of the law, or the sermon on the mount, or even an early Christian Creed, like the Apostle’s Creed. This time is important, because it reminds us that God’s Word is our guide. We know truth, because God has spoken into history.

Consecration: Sermon - That leads naturally to a sermon, where God’s Word is further explained and taught to the people of God. We see the prophets teaching Israel from the earlier portions of the Old Testament. And we see the Apostles teaching from God’s Word as well (Acts 2:42). We put ourselves under God’s guidance.

Communion - This is a new covenant incorporation (Matt 26:26–29) not seen explicitly in Isaiah. Paul elaborates on the importance of partaking in communion regularly in 1 Cor 11:17–34. Luke does as well in Acts 2:42. Partaking in communion is both a victory celebration and a time of spiritual nourishment.

Response/Offering - As God speaks and leads, we respond with by offering our full-selves. The offering is a concrete response to God’s call. He acts first—by redeeming his people and feasting with his people. We respond with tangible thanksgiving.

Benediction/Commissioning - We see Paul end his letters with these benedictions. We see similar types of blessings in the Old Testament. An entire church service shapes the people who are present, and then after being shaped, God sends us into our communities to be ambassadors of his kingdom.

Liturgy in Five General Movements

There are five basic movements that shape the encounter in Isaiah 6 and in Christian worship.

1. We see a call to worship and a response (the adoration).
2. We then see a time of confession followed by an assurance of pardon.
3. We then see a time of consecration. We as God’s people, put ourselves under God’s Word.
4. That is followed by communion. His Word guides us and his acts bring us into fellowship with him! How do we celebrate that fellowship, by feasting together on Christ!
5. And the service ends with a commissioning. We respond to God with our gifts and with ourselves. We go as he sends us.

Conclusion

You can take a step back and see the gospel played out in a worship service that looks like this! Intentional liturgy matters! 

Liturgy helps to shape us as believers in Christ, and because of that, this church plant is concerned with being faithful in our liturgy. Seeking to follow a biblical and historical pattern for this church. Because how we worship matters.