Worship is a Conversation with God

Brothers and sisters, one of the things I’ve learned in the last decade (almost!) of pastoral ministry is that communication is key. Nowhere is this more important than when it comes to the church’s liturgy. At North Park Presbyterian Church, our liturgy is rooted first in the holy Scriptures. From the call to worship to the benediction, we are journeying together up Mt. Zion. Every aspect of the service (confession, Scripture reading, preaching, celebration of holy communion, etc.) is something we find biblical precedent for. We’re also gleaning from the wisdom of 2,000 years of church history. The hymns and creeds of the universal Christian church serve as necessary “bumper” rails which keep us centered on Scripture and the triune God.

There’s a lot I could say about our liturgy, but I want to focus in on one aspect of Christian worship that is often overlooked. It’s what’s sometimes referred to as the dialogical principle of worship. Throughout the course of the worship service, there’s a conversation taking place between God and his people. The very structure of our liturgy helps to make this clear:

  • God speaks, calling us to worship.
    We respond to the divine summons with a song of adoration.

  • God speaks, reminding us of his holy law which both humbles us, and gives us direction for how to live.
    We respond by confessing our sins to God silently, and then corporately out loud.

  • God speaks, declaring through the Gospel his forgiveness on penitent sinners (absolution).
    We respond by singing the gloria patri and extending God’s peace to one another within the church.

  • God speaks to us through Holy Scripture in the Old and New Testament readings.
    We respond by offering up our prayers for his continued blessing upon the church.

  • God speaks to us through the preaching of the word in the sermon.
    We respond by declaring our faith in the holy Trinity and affirming his work of redemption by the recitation of the Nicene Creed. Thereafter, we give ourselves to the Trinity through our tithes and offerings.

  • God speaks, calling us to ‘stand aright’ with holy fear as we prepare to receive the Lord’s Supper in faith.
    We respond by joining the angels in heaven gathered around God’s throne crying out, “holy!” and praying that God would sanctify his gifts of grace for our nourishment.

  • God the Son speaks, saying to us, “Here’s my body! Here’s my blood! Take; eat, drink!”
    We respond by eating with faith and singing a hymn of doxology to the holy Trinity, inviting all creation to worship the God who alone deserves our praise.

  • God speaks, blessing us with the light of his countenance and sending us out into the world for his service (benediction).
    We respond by living throughout the week as “the baptized” men and women who have God’s law written on their hearts, and his Spirit living within the temple of their bodies.

Friends, we’ve all been in a one-sided conversation. Think of the times you’ve sat with someone over coffee, or lunch, patiently waiting until it was your turn to contribute, only to find that that turn never came. Worship isn’t a one-sided conversation. God speaks, and he calls you to respond to his speech. Whether it’s by song, or prayer, your participation in the service is a key part of the dialogue.

So here’s my exhortation to you: don’t leave God, or your brothers and sisters hanging. Lift up your voice! “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!” (Ps. 81:1) “But I don’t really know the tune to that song…” you say?  I have good news for you! Every week I send the liturgy out several days in advance so that you can see what we’re singing, and prepare for the meeting with God atop Mt. Zion. This is a conversation you should be getting ready for each Sunday. Your participation doesn’t just bless you, or the LORD, but it also blesses the rest of the body. Paul said that we’re to “address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with our hearts.” (Eph. 5:19) So come ready to sing, and to pray, and to respond with the words like, “and also with you.” Or “thanks be to God!” Biblical worship is a covenantal conversation, and it’s our duty as the covenant people of God to participate in the dialogue.

Adriel Sanchez