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Why Do We Worship Like We Do?

Worship is central to the life of every believer.  We all worship something.  For the Christian, we worship Jesus as God.

  • The Apostle Paul says, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1)  Worship happens daily in everything we do.  We are to present our lives each day as worship.
  • Hebrews 10:25 says, "do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." Gathering together as the church to worship (like we do on Sundays) is not optional or secondary, but at the heart of our faith and the rhythm of our lives.

So why do we as The Crossing worship like we do?  

Is it just some songs, preaching, and then off to lunch?  No.  The way we worship, the order, the song selections, the prayers, scripture, and messages are thought about deeply, prayed over, discussed intently, considered long and hard, and chosen for a very specific purpose.  That purpose is for us all to honor Jesus in a way that reflects the gospel.

Worship at The Crossing isn’t a show performed by a few on stage that we watch, but a joyful celebration that we offer to God. We want worship to tell a story. Actually, we want it to tell The Grand Story of God in the Bible that causes our hearts to long to celebrate God as we gather together and in our daily lives.

With that in mind, here is why worship flows the way it does and the reasons behind it…

  • The Grand Story begins with who God is and how He always graciously acts first in all things. Therefore, we start worship by focusing on how great God is and the great acts of God’s grace. Our first song is about God’s greatness, power, holiness, and majesty.
  • Coming face to face with God is both an amazing moment and a reality check. As The Grand Story unfolds we see that we fall far short of the glory of God. This is why we confess our sin and our need to God next in worship.
  • It might seem hard to say we need God and can’t fix ourselves. But the good news is that The Grand Story tells us of salvation in Jesus.  Jesus came in the midst of our sin and need, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to bring forgiveness to all who call on his name. So our worship rejoices over the saving work of Jesus.
  • At the center of our worship is the gospel of Jesus as told in the Bible. Studying God’s Word together is core to our church and worship. Therefore preaching is placed in the center, time wise, of our gathering.
  • The Grand Story of God finds joy and hope in Jesus’ resurrection. It proves God’s promises can be trusted. This time of our gathering celebrates the resurrection and new life in Jesus. It is a time to respond through faith by giving, singing, praying, and often communion.
  • The final part of worship is being sent out to live The Grand Story daily. We share ways to do this with next steps, announcements, a closing prayer, and sending.

So, worship reflects the gospel back to God, and it shapes us to live out the gospel story everyday in our lifestyle of worship.  Worship is rehearsing The Grand Story of God each week so we can remember and relive it each day.  We are so prone to forget the gospel, that worshipping God based on the gospel story helps remind us, form us, and shape us.

See you Sunday for worship!