In this series of essays pastor Keith will seek to explain aspects of our ministry at Trinity Chapel. May the Lord use these to give you greater clarity about our work and encourage you to participate further in this gospel ministry!
What is the call to worship?
In many of life's events, something designates the starting point. The starting gun signals the runners to start running. A man getting down on one knee in front of his girlfriend indicates that a certain question is (probably!) coming. Corporate Christian worship also has a designated starting point, which comes in the call to worship.
Before the announcements on Sunday, I get up and welcome you to church; that isn't the beginning of the worship service. After the announcements a musician plays a brief piece of music; that isn't the beginning of worship. One of the men then rings a bell three times; this ALSO isn't the beginning of worship! These are all preliminary actions to worship. Worship begins when God speaks through His word and summons us to come into His presence with praise.
Why does the call to worship need to come first? Because God is the instigator of worship. He created us for worship and sought us in Christ to be worshipers. "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." (John 4:23) The call to worship is the reminder to us that we are coming to God in response to Him. Worship isn't our idea, nor does it come out of our hearts until God plants the seed of His word in us. He invites us out on the dance floor; we take His hand in response.
This is also why the call to worship is always taken from the Bible. With confessions of sin, confessions of faith, certain prayers, and even songs, we may use words that are Bible-based, but not explicitly taken from Scripture. In the call to worship we hear the very voice of God, speaking through His ordained minister, summoning His redeemed people to praise. This should only be done through the words God gives us in the Bible.
The call to worship also sets the tone for worship as a dialogue. Although it is the pastor's voice you hear, it is God who speaks to the worshiper. Throughout the service, God and His people speak, promise, praise, and bless one another. Worship is not a performance of the people, nor is it all an act of God. It is a relational interaction between the two: God initiates, His people respond. He calls; we reply.
The call to worship also reminds us of our calling as we go into the world again. Just as God calls us to worship at the beginning of the service, He also sends us out into the world at the end of the service to call all those around us to come worship Him. Just as we have been called, so He sends us out to call others. "Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples." (Psalm 96:2-3)
As we look forward to this coming Lord's day, let's settle in our souls now that, when we come to God's house together, we will come attentive, ready to hear the voice of our Savior as He calls us.
