Gospel Shaped Worship Planning
As I prepare for worship each week, I first of all spend time time in prayer and ask for direction and guidance from the Spirit as I plan every element of the service. I also make sure that the songs we sing and the elements of worship are not chosen at random but follow an intentional rhythm or structure. I do this because I believe the way that a worship service is structured ultimately shapes our views and understanding of God.Why Gospel Shaped Worship?
- Corporate worship is a Christian’s expression of authentic devotion towards God (Psalm 148:13)
- Corporate worship is a divine dialogue between God and His people (Isaiah 6)
- Corporate worship is profoundly formative (1 Cor. 14:40)
Structure of Gospel Shaped Worship
Call to Worship
- Worship always begins with God speaking to us. He speaks, and we respond
- Practical:
- Reading a passage of Scripture (Psalm 100:1-4)
- Repeating phrases such as “worship begins with God”, “God speaks, we respond”
Adoration and Praise
- Adoration and declaration of War
- Goal- Put the glory of God on display
- Adoration provides the language and images of God’s glory for God’s people
- Practical:
- Ask what songs in your library are about what God has done, not what we do.
- Take an inventory of songs and compare them to a list of attributes about God.
WE ARE SINNERS- THE FALL
Confession (and/or) Lament
- Involves recognizing (1) the world is not the way it was meant to be (2) we as a church are not the way we were meant to be (3) I am not the way I was meant to be
- Practical:
- Can be sung or prayed: “Give Us Clean Hands” // Praying through Psalm 51
- Pray for both corporate and individual sin
JESUS SAVES US- REDEMPTION
Words of Assurance
- After recognizing our sin and the fallenness of the world, we hear an answer from the Lord that assures us, “It is finished”
- Practical:
- Songs about the cross and forgiveness of sins
- Doesn’t always have to be long, but simply a reminder that God has heard us, and in Christ, He’s forgiven us
The Peace
- Paul begins almost all of his letters with a greeting of peace. It’s a peace that flows directly from God. It is a natural result of the gospel.
- Practical:
- Make the greeting time more meaningful by connecting it with the gospel
- Occasionally give more time to the greeting
- Scripture Reading : John 13:34
Giving/Offering
- Giving also flows directly from the gospel (2 Corinthians 8-9)
- The primary motivator for giving us the transforming power of the gospel
- Practical:
- Seize the opportunity to point out ways the giving is a call to worship
- Allow the Scriptures to make the hard call to give
- Be thankful
Pastoral Prayers
Instruction: The Sermon
JESUS SENDS US- CONSUMMATION
Communion
- A beautiful, tangible, concrete gift where we can physically remember the gospel story.
- In a single act it remembers the past, embraces the present, and hopes for the future.
- Practical:
- Thoroughly discuss your church’s theology and ecclesiology pertaining to this issue
- Understand that communion can by celebrated a variety of ways
Commitment/Preparation for Sending
- Our attention is brought to the future.
- Practical:
- Repeat or reaffirm what was taught in the message
- Historic confession of faith
- Songs: “O Church Arise”
Benediction
- Sending or blessing
- “Worship like creation, ends as it began: with God’s blessing”- James K.A Smith
- Practical:
- The Call to Worship and Benedictions are like book ends to the service. Consider connecting the two in some way
- Make clear that the benediction is offered by God
Additional Resources on Gospel Shaped Worship:
- Christ-Centered Worship- Brian Chapell
- Rhythms of Grace- Mike Cosper
- Story Shaped Worship- Robbie F. Castleman
- Imagining the Kingdom- James K.A. Smith
- You Are What You Love- James K.A Smith
- Gospel Shaped Worship- Jared Anderson
- The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology- Nicholas Wolterstroff
