TOPIC 21 OF 47
Public Worship
Christ serves us with grace, and we answer with praise.
THE MAIN TRUTH
The public worship gathering of a church is where the Lord Jesus is present to give us the redeeming love of the Father through the preaching of his Word and the partaking of his body and blood in Holy Communion.
The teaching
From the book · pages 63–65
The public worship gathering of a church is where the Lord Jesus is present to give us the redeeming love of the Father through the preaching of his Word and the partaking of his body and blood in Holy Communion. Through these means of grace, the Holy Spirit renews our baptismal faith so that we may live in the worship of our King.
Christ gives the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life for us to receive by faith, with praise and thanksgiving. We sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We pray together and confess the faith. Everything that is done is grounded in God’s Word. This gathering has historically been called the Divine Service—the Triune God is present to serve us with his gifts of grace, and we, in response, serve God in joyful worship, prayer, and praise.
Jesus mandated this Divine Service when he instituted the Lord’s Supper with the words: “Do this in remembrance of me.” The life-giving Gospel of Jesus is the heart and substance of public worship. The Church inherits a Scripture-inspired heritage of liturgy, hymns, and the church year, which it freely uses and adapts along with what is new, to serve the Gospel.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
These passages place God’s gifts at the center of the gathered Church. Hearing, receiving, singing, praying, and encouraging one another belong together as faith responds to Christ.
13 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 14:25 ↗
[Jesus:] “In fact, where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am among them.” “God is really among you!”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 02
Acts 20:7 ↗
“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul spoke to the people.”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 03
Colossians 3:16-17 ↗
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom . . . ”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 04
Ephesians 5:18-21 ↗
“. . . be filled with the Spirit by speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord), by always giving thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. . .”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 05
1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2 ↗
“. . . devote yourself to the reading of Scripture, to encouraging, and to teaching.” “Preach the word . . . Correct, rebuke, and encourage, with all patience and teaching.”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 06
1 Timothy 2:1 ↗
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. . .”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 07
Acts 6:4 ↗
“…we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
Book page 64
SCRIPTURE 08
1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:18 ↗
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ.” “. . . when you come together in an assembly. . .”
Book page 65
SCRIPTURE 09
Hebrews 13:10,12-13; 1 John 1:7 ↗
“We have an altar . . . Jesus suffered . . . to sanctify people by his own blood. So then let us go to him.” “. . . we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
Book page 65
SCRIPTURE 10
Hebrews 12:22-24 ↗
“. . . you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God; to the heavenly Jerusalem; to tens of thousands of angels in joyful assembly; to the church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven; to God, who is the judge of all; to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect; to Jesus, the mediator of a new testament; and to the sprinkled blood. . .”
Book page 65
SCRIPTURE 11
Luke 22:19,27; Mark 10:45 ↗
“Do this in remembrance of me . . . I am among you as one who serves.” “. . . the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . ”
Book page 65
SCRIPTURE 12
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 ↗
“. . . we preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God . . . ”
Book page 65
SCRIPTURE 13
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 14:26 ↗
“Do not extinguish the Spirit . . . But test everything. Hold on to the good.” “Let all things be done in a way that builds people up.”
Book page 65
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
How does worship change when we begin with what Christ gives?
How do Word and Sacrament shape the congregation’s response?
How can inherited and new forms of worship both serve the Gospel faithfully?
A prayer
Lord Jesus, meet us with your gifts when we gather. Renew our faith and receive our praise, thanksgiving, and prayer through your saving mercy. Amen.