Our Theology of Worship

Our theology of worship describes from a biblical perspective why we do what we do when we gather for worship.  It guides each part of our service whether its our worship in singing, preaching, praying, testimonies, the Lord's Table, or anything else we might do when we are gathered together.  

• Godward:  Worship is toward God and for God. He is the audience, not the congregation.  Our ultimate goal is to honor and glorify God through our corporate expressions of worship which include public prayer and scripture reading, preaching, congregational singing, giving, and the celebration of the ordinances (Psalm 96:7-8).

 

• Biblical:  Scripture regulates worship.  Everything we do in worship is grounded in and governed by biblical truth (John 4:24).

 

• Edifying:  God’s people are edified through corporate worship. In order to be edifying, worship must be intelligible and orderly (I Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 10:24-25; I Corinthians 12:7, 14:6-12; 40). 

 

• Witness:  Worship witnesses to unbelievers. The church gathered for worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers who may be present (Matthew 5:16; I Corinthians 11:26; I Corinthians 14:23-25).

 

• Giving our best: As Almighty God; our creator and Savior, God deserves the very best we have to offer (I Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23).

 

• Participation: Congregational singing is led in such a way that encourages and facilitates participation rather than passive observation. Even in the expression of individual spiritual gifts, when one is ministering to many, there is a corporate element which ministers to the body for the common good edifying others and drawing theme into God’s presence.  (I Corinthians 12:7; Psalm 95:1,6,7; Ephesians 5:19; Psalm 111:1; I Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Colossians 3:17).

 

• Rational and relational:  Worship is both rational, engaging the mind and relational, engaging the heart.  We desire to know God’s truth as well as to experience God’s love (Psalm  105:3; Psalm 95:1; John 4:23-24).

 

• Old and new:  We believe there is value in the time honored music of the past as well as the music of the present (Psalm 96:1; Psalm 98:1). 

 

•  Expectancy:  It is our expectation that as we gather to worship God, He will draw near to us in order to make known His powerful presence and continually transform us into the image of His Son  (James 4:8).

 

• Enthusiastic:  Knowing God, our creator and Savior, is the most incredible thing that we could ever experience.  Therefore, it is with wholehearted enthusiasm and joy that we enter into corporate worship (Psalm 138:1; Psalm 103:1-5; Psalm 95:1-3).