The Church
"To Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
(Romans 15:7)
(Romans 15:7)
What to expect when you visit The Church
Biblical Worship
". . . we will worship at his footstool." (Psalm 132:7)
What is Biblical Worship?
O Come, let us Worship and bow down before our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and God.
Biblical worship is reverent, humble adoration to the one, undivided, matchless, Triune God of sacred Scripture. The word "worship" comes from the ancient Hebrew verb that means "reverence or to humbly beseech." Biblical worship is genuine reverence described by the writers of the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 5:7, 29:1-2, 95:6, 99:9, 138:2).
Biblical worship in Christ's invincible church is Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, Gospel-focused and reverential adoration to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For Christians, Biblical worship is a privilege that is transformative, humbling, faith-building, and instructive in the ways of holiness. It is imperative for Christians to approach worship of Almighty God by casting off all personal preferences most often fuel by their fallen expectations in worship so that the Word of God and the ancient, Biblical church teachings may pevial in your hearts as you seek Him ui Spirit ands in truth. Worship and is an individual experience that also involves the entire Church.
O Come, let us Worship and bow down before our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and God.
Biblical worship is reverent, humble adoration to the one, undivided, matchless, Triune God of sacred Scripture. The word "worship" comes from the ancient Hebrew verb that means "reverence or to humbly beseech." Biblical worship is genuine reverence described by the writers of the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 5:7, 29:1-2, 95:6, 99:9, 138:2).
Biblical worship in Christ's invincible church is Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, Gospel-focused and reverential adoration to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For Christians, Biblical worship is a privilege that is transformative, humbling, faith-building, and instructive in the ways of holiness. It is imperative for Christians to approach worship of Almighty God by casting off all personal preferences most often fuel by their fallen expectations in worship so that the Word of God and the ancient, Biblical church teachings may pevial in your hearts as you seek Him ui Spirit ands in truth. Worship and is an individual experience that also involves the entire Church.
The Liturgy
LITURGY
St. Paul taught the Corinthians that in God's house all things should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), and he wrote to Timothy so that he and his disciples would know how they ought to behave in the household of God--the church of the living God, which he called "the pillar and ground of the truth."
The word "liturgy" literally means "work of the people," within the Christian Church, [1] and it describes the shape or form of the Church's corporate worship of God. Derived from a Greek word which means "the common work," liturgy is a term that describes all the public acts of gestures of adoration that takes place as God draws His people into proper, Biblical worship. In the Old Testament, God ordered and ordained a "liturgy" or specific pattern of worship and we find it described in great detail in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. In the New Testament, we find the New Testament church carrying over facets of the ancient Old Testament worship as expressed in both synagogue and temple, adjusting them with their fulfillment in Christ.
The Liturgy at THE CHURCH is not dependent upon the impromptu purposes of men nor does it come from the ever-changing, subjective preferences of Protestant congregants. Liturgy and THE CHURCH is the form of worship that grew in grace over millennia of faith and deep devotion, while retaining that ancient shape of reverent worship. The central elements in the Liturgy include the singing of Psalms, ancient Christian hymns, the reading of the Old Testament Scriptures, New Testament epistles, the proclamation of the Gospel of God's mercy and saving grace, the recitation of ancient creeds, corporate prayer, and of course, the Eucharist itself.
St. Paul taught the Corinthians that in God's house all things should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), and he wrote to Timothy so that he and his disciples would know how they ought to behave in the household of God--the church of the living God, which he called "the pillar and ground of the truth."
The word "liturgy" literally means "work of the people," within the Christian Church, [1] and it describes the shape or form of the Church's corporate worship of God. Derived from a Greek word which means "the common work," liturgy is a term that describes all the public acts of gestures of adoration that takes place as God draws His people into proper, Biblical worship. In the Old Testament, God ordered and ordained a "liturgy" or specific pattern of worship and we find it described in great detail in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. In the New Testament, we find the New Testament church carrying over facets of the ancient Old Testament worship as expressed in both synagogue and temple, adjusting them with their fulfillment in Christ.
The Liturgy at THE CHURCH is not dependent upon the impromptu purposes of men nor does it come from the ever-changing, subjective preferences of Protestant congregants. Liturgy and THE CHURCH is the form of worship that grew in grace over millennia of faith and deep devotion, while retaining that ancient shape of reverent worship. The central elements in the Liturgy include the singing of Psalms, ancient Christian hymns, the reading of the Old Testament Scriptures, New Testament epistles, the proclamation of the Gospel of God's mercy and saving grace, the recitation of ancient creeds, corporate prayer, and of course, the Eucharist itself.
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Biblical Worship
Biblical Worship is Psalm Singing
The Book of Psalms in our Bibles was God's inspired songbook for His old covenant people, Israel, and it served them in worship to Yahweh for centuries corporate worship. These same holy Psalms were embraced by the first century churches, who adopted them as their beloved catalogue of praise music!
St. Paul, to the church in Ephesus wrote: ". . . speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" (Ephesians 5:18b-20), and to the church in Colossae, this great Apostle wrote: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).
When you visit THE CHURCH, you will (like ancient Israel and the ancient church) sing Psalms but also the great ancient Christian hymns and spiritual songs of the faith like, "O Gladsome Light," "Oxyrhynchus hymn," "Trisagion," "Gloria Parti," "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," "Holy, Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty," etc).
Biblical Worship
Administering the Sacraments
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are two central sacraments in the church appointed by the Lord Jesus and are to be continued in his church to the end of the age. Sacraments are more than mere reminders or memorials, they are sacred signs and seals of God's covenant of grace instituted by Him for our blessing.
The living experience of the Christian sacramental and liturgical life is the outworking of Biblical Christian truth. The Word of God is at the center of the Church’s life and the Divine Liturgy (common action) and the Holy Eucharist (the sanctified bread of thanksgiving and the fruit of the vine) are living portraits of Christ in His Gospel. The Christian Eucharist is a ceremonial meal that emerged from the Passover meal of the Old Testament. Jesus transformed the Passover repast into a meal in remembrance of Him. While sharing the Eucharist we call to remembrance Christ's perfect finished work in our redemption: His sinless life, and His sufferings, atoning death, and glorious resurrection. In this sacrament we celebrate God the Son--the Son of God as our New Covenant Passover Lamb who has delivered us from the slavery of sin and death and transfers us into the everlasting Kingdom of God. Early Christians began calling the Eucharist "the medicine of immortality" because they recognized the great grace of God that was received in it.
According to the Scriptures, at the supper Christ took the bread and the wine and He shared them with His disciples, telling them to eat and drink it as His own Body and Blood. This sacrament then became the center of the Christian life as the experience of the real presence of the Risen Christ in the midst of his People (see Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 6 and 13; Acts 2:41–47; 1 Cor 10–11). By eating the consecrated bread and drinking from the consecrated cup, we enjoy genuine communion with God through Christ who is Himself “. . . the bread of life” (John 6:26-51). The supper of the Lord Jesus is a perpetual ordinance in His churches as well as a remembrance and illustration of our Lord's sacrifice of himself in his death, and is our bond and pledge of communion with Christ and each other as His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
Administering the Sacraments
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are two central sacraments in the church appointed by the Lord Jesus and are to be continued in his church to the end of the age. Sacraments are more than mere reminders or memorials, they are sacred signs and seals of God's covenant of grace instituted by Him for our blessing.
The living experience of the Christian sacramental and liturgical life is the outworking of Biblical Christian truth. The Word of God is at the center of the Church’s life and the Divine Liturgy (common action) and the Holy Eucharist (the sanctified bread of thanksgiving and the fruit of the vine) are living portraits of Christ in His Gospel. The Christian Eucharist is a ceremonial meal that emerged from the Passover meal of the Old Testament. Jesus transformed the Passover repast into a meal in remembrance of Him. While sharing the Eucharist we call to remembrance Christ's perfect finished work in our redemption: His sinless life, and His sufferings, atoning death, and glorious resurrection. In this sacrament we celebrate God the Son--the Son of God as our New Covenant Passover Lamb who has delivered us from the slavery of sin and death and transfers us into the everlasting Kingdom of God. Early Christians began calling the Eucharist "the medicine of immortality" because they recognized the great grace of God that was received in it.
According to the Scriptures, at the supper Christ took the bread and the wine and He shared them with His disciples, telling them to eat and drink it as His own Body and Blood. This sacrament then became the center of the Christian life as the experience of the real presence of the Risen Christ in the midst of his People (see Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 6 and 13; Acts 2:41–47; 1 Cor 10–11). By eating the consecrated bread and drinking from the consecrated cup, we enjoy genuine communion with God through Christ who is Himself “. . . the bread of life” (John 6:26-51). The supper of the Lord Jesus is a perpetual ordinance in His churches as well as a remembrance and illustration of our Lord's sacrifice of himself in his death, and is our bond and pledge of communion with Christ and each other as His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
Biblical Worship
Teaching of the Faith
An important part of Worship is the teaching of the Faith from the Sacred Writings (the Old Testament, the four Gospels, & the New Testament Epistles). There is a very close relationship between the worship and the teachings of the Church (1 Timothy 4:1-11). The Divinely inspired texts of Scripture teach us about God, help us to worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 16:12-14; 1 John 4:5-6), and instruct us to hold fast to the faith and traditions taught to us by oral tradition and written letters (2 Thess. 2:15, 3:6). Faith is expressed in worship, and worship serves to strengthen and communicate Faith. For this reason, the prayers, hymns, and liturgical ordinances in worship all serve as sacred objects of teaching and edification.
Acts 2:40-43 "And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles."
Acts 2:40-43 "And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles."
The Bible speaks of fellowship among God's people and the recurring word we find in the Biblical text is the Greek word "κοινωνία" (koinonia). Koinonia, often translated "fellowship" in many versions of the New Testament speaks of close relations between church friends where sincere, gracious dialogue and mutual concern are active and felt. Christian fellowship is rooted in our union with Christ (1 John 1:6-7). At The Church, we are our brother's keepers and we strive to live as Paul instructed the church of Rome in Romans chapter 12 and Philippians in chapter two verse twelve, which says,
The Bible speaks of fellowship among God's people and the recurring word we find in the Biblical text is the Greek word "κοινωνία" (koinonia). Koinonia, often translated "fellowship" in many versions of the New Testament speaks of close relations between church friends where sincere, gracious dialogue and mutual concern are active and felt. Christian fellowship is rooted in our union with Christ (1 John 1:6-7). At The Church, we are our brother's keepers and we strive to live as Paul instructed the church of Rome in Romans chapter 12 and Philippians in chapter two verse twelve, which says,
- "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any κοινωνία (fellowship) of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." (NKJV)
- Our common confession of faith by the entire body of the Church (the Scriptures)
- participation in the same sacraments; and
- submission to the same creed and ecclesiastical decrees.
Proverbs 11:30 says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." The Lord instructed His disciples go and make disciples of all the nations, and to baptize these new believers in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Once the Holy Spirit wins a soul to Christ with the Gospel, we must teach them to obey all the commands He have given to us. Here at The Church, we seek opportunities to share Christ with a dying world and help them grow to maturity in the faith.
"To Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."