For those unaware: I am the senior pastor of Logos Church of Chatsworth. We are a Pronomian church that meets every Saturday at 10:30am for coffee and 11:30am for our official worship service. If you’re in the area, please consider dropping by and visiting. If you’re not local, you can catch us on YouTube at 11:30am for our service stream.
What you are about to read is a handout we have available at Logos concerning our worship service and how it is structured.
Introduction
Welcome to our worship service! You may have noticed that our service follows a specific structure each week. This pattern is designed to guide us in a meaningful and biblical way of worshiping God. Here’s an overview of what we do and why we do it, following the five C headings: Call, Confession, Consecration, Communion, & Commission.
Call to Worship
Purpose: To gather us from our everyday lives into a focused time of worship.
Scripture Basis: “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2, ESV)
The Call to Worship invites us to leave behind our daily concerns and enter into the presence of God together. It is a time to remember that we are the church, called out from the world by God to worship Him. This moment sets the tone for our entire service, reminding us that we come together not by our own initiative, but by God’s kingly summon. The structure of our worship service follows what we call a covenant renewal pattern. The Holy Spirit gathers us up and escorts us into the heavenly realms, together with all the saints.
Confession of Sin
Purpose: To acknowledge our sins and seek God’s forgiveness.
Scripture Basis: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)
We know that we have sinned in various ways, and so the first thing we do at the doorway is confess our sins. We do not want to enter into the holy place in an unholy condition with unholy attitudes. Confession is an essential part of our worship. It is a time to reflect on our shortcomings and sins, both individually and corporately. By confessing our sins, we acknowledge our need for God’s grace and mercy. This act of humility prepares our hearts for the rest of the service, ensuring that we come before God with clean hands and pure hearts.
Consecration
Purpose: To dedicate ourselves to God and His purposes.
Scripture Basis: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV)
During Consecration, we offer ourselves to God. This part of the service includes the reading of Scripture, preaching, and prayers of dedication. It is a time to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as we hear God’s Word and respond in obedience. This segment reminds us that worship involves our whole lives, not just what happens on the Sabbath. We consecrate ourselves by hearing the Word read, reciting our memory verses, by listening to the sermon, singing our hymns to God, and much more.
Communion
Purpose: To remember and celebrate Christ’s sacrifice.
Scripture Basis: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)
God invites us to sit down with Him and commune with Him in a sacred meal. Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is a central act of Christian worship. It is a time to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and to celebrate our unity as His body. By participating in Communion, we receive spiritual nourishment and reaffirm our commitment to live as followers of Christ. This sacrament is a powerful reminder of God’s love and grace, sustaining us in our faith.
Commission
Purpose: To send us out into the world to live as Christ’s ambassadors.
Scripture Basis: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19, ESV)
The Commission is the final part of our service. It sends us back into the world with a blessing and a mission. We are reminded that our worship does not end when we leave the church building; rather, we are called to live out our faith in our daily lives. The Commission empowers us to be ambassadors of Christ, sharing His love and truth with those around us. After the covenant is renewed in this way, you all are commissioned in the benediction, and sent out into a dark world to be the light of the world, who is Jesus Christ.
The Biblical Pattern of Worship
These three elements—confession, consecration, and communion—follow the structure of worship in the Old Testament. There were three different kinds of sacrifices, which, when they occurred together, always followed this order. There was the guilt offering, which is our confession. There was the ascension offering or whole burnt offering, which is our time of consecration. This offering of dedication resulted in the whole animal ascending into heaven in the column of smoke. Then there was the peace offering, our communion, after which the worshiper sat down and shared the meat of the sacrifice with God.
Conclusion
Understanding the structure of our worship helps us to engage more fully and meaningfully in each part of the service. Each element—Call, Confession, Consecration, Communion, and Commission—serves a distinct purpose, drawing us into a deeper relationship with God and equipping us to live out our faith. As we worship together, let us embrace this pattern with hearts full of gratitude, humility, and joy, seeking to glorify God in all that we do.
Biblical Foundations of Our Worship Practices
In addition to understanding the structure, it is essential to know the biblical basis for the various elements of our worship. Below are the specific practices commanded in Scripture and how they are integrated into our worship services.
Essential Elements Led by Pastors (Elders)
- Public Reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Exhortation (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Teaching (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 6:18)
- Preaching the Word (2 Timothy 4:2)
- Rebuking and Encouraging (2 Timothy 4:2)
- Guarding Doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 1:9)
- Correcting and Rebuking (1 Timothy 5:20)
- Encouraging and Rebuking with All Authority (Titus 2:15)
- Teaching Sound Doctrine (Titus 2:1)
- Administering the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
- Baptizing Believers (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41)
- Overseeing the Use of Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14)
- Anointing the Sick with Oil (James 5:14)
- Leading in Singing and Worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
Essential Elements for Laypeople (Congregation)
- Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1)
- Confession of Faith (1 Timothy 6:12)
- Holding to Sound Teaching (2 Timothy 1:13)
- Participating in Suffering for the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:8)
- Being Subject to Rulers and Authorities, Being Obedient, Being Ready to Do Whatever is Good (Titus 3:1)
- Showing True Humility Toward All Men (Titus 3:2)
- Avoiding Foolish Controversies and Quarrels (Titus 3:9)
- Partaking in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
- Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41)
- Exercising Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14)
- Singing with Thankfulness (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
- Offering a Sacrifice of Praise (Hebrews 13:15)
- Praying for One Another (James 5:16)
- Giving and Offering (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
- Gathering Regularly (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Encouragement for Participation
The apostle Paul commended the church in Colossae for their order and steadfast faith, saying, “For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order (τάχις) and the firmness of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:5, ESV). This word τάχις is a military term, implying a regimented and disciplined structure. In being regimented like this, we are not quenching the Spirit; the Spirit is quenching us. God regulates our worship, and that’s why we need order; God commands us not to worship Him the way the heathens worship their pagan deities but only by how He prescribes us to worship Him.
This structured approach to worship is designed to help us grow in faith and live out our calling as the body of Christ. By understanding and participating in each element of the service, we align ourselves with the biblical model of worship and open our hearts to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for joining us in worship. We pray that you find our services enriching and that you grow in your understanding and love for God through this time together.
Summary of Categorized Elements
Call to Worship
- Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving (Opening) (1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 6:18)
- Confession of Faith (1 Timothy 6:12)
- Gathering Regularly (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Confession of Sin
- Confession of Sin (1 John 1:9)
- Praying for One Another (James 5:16)
Consecration
- Public Reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Teaching (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Exhortation (1 Timothy 4:13)
- Preaching the Word (2 Timothy 4:2)
- Guarding Doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 1:9)
- Correcting and Rebuking (1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:2)
- Encouraging and Rebuking with All Authority (Titus 2:15)
- Teaching Sound Doctrine (Titus 2:1)
- Overseeing the Use of Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14)
- Giving and Offering (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
- Anointing the Sick with Oil (James 5:14)
- Avoiding Foolish Controversies and Quarrels (Titus 3:9)
Communion
- Administering the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
- Partaking in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
- Offering a Sacrifice of Praise (Hebrews 13:15)
Commission
- Baptizing Believers (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41)
- Being Subject to Rulers and Authorities, Being Obedient, Being Ready to Do Whatever is Good (Titus 3:1)
- Showing True Humility Toward All Men (Titus 3:2)
- Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving (Closing) (1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 6:18)
