WHAT IS A WORSHIP SERVICE?  by Rev.Larry Wilson

Of the various kinds of meetings we have, a worship service is unique. It is qualitatively different from any other kind of meeting on this earth because, above all else, public worship is a meeting between God and His people.

God called His Old Testament people to gather for public worship at a central sanctuary (the tabernacle or temple) - even when it meant they had to travel great distances! Why? Because that's where God was! That is, that's where He revealed His presence in a special way. In Bible shorthand, His "Name" was there. The Lord commanded, "But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His Name for His habitation; and there you shall go" (Deuteronomy 12:5). He also promised, "In every place where I record My Name I will come to you, and I will bless you" (Exodus 20:24).

But now Jesus Christ has come! He has fulfilled and transformed the Old Testament forms! When a Samaritan woman asked Him where God was to be worshiped–on Mt. Gerizim (as the Samaritans said) or in Jerusalem (as the Jews said)–Jesus answered, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:21-22). That is, the Jews followed the Old Testament form of worship and it was correct–for the time of the Old Testament!

"But," Jesus continued, "the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament and ushered in the New Testament.

Because of the completed work of Jesus, God no longer limits His Church to one nation (Israel). Now we're an expanding, international community. Because of Jesus, we no longer worship in "shadows" (temporary Old Testament forms that pointed to and prepared for Christ). Instead, we worship in "truth" (John 4:23-24; cf. 1:17). Because of Jesus, we no longer go to an earthly sanctuary in Jerusalem to meet with God. Now we go to the heavenly sanctuary, because that's where Jesus is! That's where we can approach the Triune God. In the Old Testament, only the priest could go into the presence of God. Now, all God's people are priests who can go into God's very presence through Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5).

Now we worship "in Spirit" (John 4:23-24). God is a Spirit, and now - by His Holy Spirit we approach Him in His heavenly sanctuary (Philippians 3:3). In this way, we "come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24).

At the same time, our Lord comes to us in our earthly worship assemblies, just as He promised, "for where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). Just as God put His Name in the Old Testament temple, so now He puts His Name in the New Testament temple. And the church is that temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:19-22)! Now Jesus declares God's Name in the midst of the church (Hebrews 2:12)!

This is why a church worship service is different from all other meetings. Public worship is first and foremost, a meeting between the Lord and His people. This is why we preach rather than discuss God's Word in worship. The minister of the Word–one formally recognized by the church to serve officially as God's herald–represents God as He comes and speaks to His people by His Word and Spirit. This is also why worship services are not sharing sessions. Worship is not merely a meeting of people with each other. Above all else, worship is a meeting of God with His people.

Each Lord's Day, then, as you gather with your church in the Name of Jesus Christ, remember that you gather first and foremost to meet with God. "Come before His presence with singing ... Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:2,4). Listen attentively to His voice as His Word is proclaimed and don't harden your heart against it (Psalm 95:78). "Give unto the LORD the glory due His Name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Oh worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!" (Psalm 96:8-9).

Rev. Larry Wilson, was formerly Pastor of our church in Columbus, Ohio; then served as General Secretary for the Committee on Christian Education for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He now serves as Pastor of Christ Covenant OPC in Indianapolis, Indiana.