Guiding Biblical Principals

Guiding Biblical Principles for Worship at Lombard CRC

The congregation together offers worship to praise, remember and call on the Triune God.
We value worship that intentionally awakens us to the presence of God through liturgy, the
preaching of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments.
Worship is both traditional and contemporary. We desire worship to be rooted in the context of
the global Christian church and the church of all ages, while also being authentic and
expressed in the present.
Our worship gatherings will be hospitable, accessible and inclusive to all, and will inspire,
encourage, and send us out to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, love our
neighbor as ourselves, and love one another, the church, as Jesus so loves us.

1. Our worship focuses on the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Initiated by
the Godhead, worship is a dialogue — and we commune with the Father who creates,
the Son who redeems, and the Spirit who sanctifies. After God speaks to us, we as
God’s people respond. (John 4:23-24, Psalm 96:7-9, Psalm 100:4-5).

2. Our worship, as all true worship, necessitates participation. Worship is a verb.
Recognizing different expressions and styles in worship, we value the full, conscious
active participation of all worshipers because the Holy Spirit leads and involves all
worshipers in the actions, words, and meaning of worship. Participation includes singing,
reading, praying — not merely by the pastor or church staff but by the entire body of
believers, including men and women, young and old. (1 Cor 14:26, Rom 15:1-2)

3. Our unity is found in Christ. We are united in God’s mission, and through Christ, we
have been adopted as children of God. As one family, we look beyond what divides and
look to the cross of Christ — surrendering, even sacrificing, our preferences for the sake
of the gospel. We affirm that worship is not centered around us but Christ, and in Him,
we recognize one faith, one Lord, and one baptism. (John 15:12-13; 1 Cor 12:4-7; Eph.
1; Rom 12:10)

4. Prayer is foundational to worship. May our church building be known as a “house of
prayer.” We encourage participation by all, including young and old, through prayers of
confession, adoration, intercession, and commitment — before, during, and after the
worship service. To signify God’s presence and to obey scripture’s teachings, some
services will include laying on of hands by church elders and anointing with oil. (Mark
11:17; James 5:14-15; Lord’s Day 45, QA 116)

5. Our worship both recognizes and resists our cultural environment. Worship is
contextual, embracing the cultural situation/location of the congregation — recognizing
that the Spirit works within our time and place. Worship is also cross-cultural in that we
embrace outsiders and reach beyond our own context — recognizing that we are part of
a kingdom not a clan. As is the entirety of Christian faith, worship is also transcultural
and counter-cultural. Practical examples of these four dynamics are provided in the
endnotes. (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Rom 12:1-2)

6. We will be hospitable in worship. Christian worship is immeasurably enriched by
warm, Christ-centered hospitality (not merely accepting but giving preference to the
stranger) for all people. Because God is and makes himself known as the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we will look for ways to worship inter-generationally and
break down barriers of culture and disability. At the same time, we seek to celebrate how
God works within various cultures, even those very different than our own, recognizing
that we mutually benefit from diversity. (Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, Acts
3:13, Ephesians 1)

7. The gospel of grace is central to our worship. Christian worship is immeasurably
enriched by deep engagement with Scripture through reading, prayers, preaching,
music, sacraments, and visual arts — not generally but specifically focused on God’s
revelation, including divine grace and mercy. (1 Cor 1:23-24, Isaiah 6:5-7)

8. Worship is guided by the Word of God. Not only does scripture prescribe what
worship is, but as Protestants, we understand that worship should be centered around
scripture. Thus, worship songs should be biblical in not only wording but also emphasis,
and worship services should not only connect to the sermon but be (in varying degrees)
formed by the sermon.

9. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper confirm our faith. Our
celebrations will be both joyful and solemn, remembering the sacrifice of our Savior for
our forgiveness. As stated in the Belgic Confession (Art. XXXIII), we will be “satisfied” by
these two sacraments. (Luke 24:30-35)

10. Our worship awes us by God’s greatness. Our worship cultivates a vivid awareness
of the beauty, majesty, mystery, and holiness of the Triune God. Elements will be
chosen that connect with either the theme for the day, the liturgical season, the sermon
series, or the appropriate worship action for the moment (praise, thanksgiving,
confession, faith response, etc). (Psalm 96:9, 2 Cor 13:14, Isaiah 6:1-4, Col 3:16)

11. Our worship will send us out as witnesses. In obedience to our Lord, we are called to
make disciples of all nations; worship continues beyond the worship hour on Sunday.
One practical way to implement this is through application or “sending songs” following
the sermon. (Matthew 28:17-20, Isaiah 6:8)

12. We view worship as formative. Worship should increase our faith, and we will be
transformed holistically so that we may carry out God’s will day to day. Worship is not
merely a Sunday activity; it is a lifestyle and mindset that occurs throughout each week
so that our hearts are prepared in anticipation of Sunday morning; thus, preparation for
worship before Sunday is spiritually beneficial. As we journey through life, we are called
to submit our will and desires so that we may worship “in spirit and in truth.” (Rom 12:1-
2, Lord’s Day 25, Q 65)

Scripture references:

1 - John 4:23-24 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father
seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Psalm 96:7-9 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and
strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his
courts. 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his[a] holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Psalm 100:4-5 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him
and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his
faithfulness continues through all generations.

2 - 1 Cor 14:26 - 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a
hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be
done for the strengthening of the church.
Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

3 - John 15:12-13 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love
has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different
kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same
God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Romans 12:10 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above
yourselves.

4 - Mk 11:17 - 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a
house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Lord’s Day 45, Q & A 116, Q. Why do Christians need to pray? A. Because prayer is the most
important part of the thankfulness God requires of us.

5 - Eph 5:19 - 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make
music in your heart to the Lord, see also Col 3:16
Romans 12: 1,2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will.

6 - Mt 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the
God of the dead but of the living.” other places - Mk 12:26, Lk 20:37, Acts 3:13

7 - 1 Cor 1:23, 24 - 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.
Isaiah 6:5-7 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live
among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs
from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your
guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8 - Luke 24:30-35 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke
it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him . . .
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them
when he broke the bread.

9 - Psalm 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness . . .
2 Cor 13:14 - 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and
exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six
wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two
they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds
shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with
all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in
your hearts.

10 - Matthew 28:17-20 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then
Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Isaiah 6:8 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for
us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

11 - Romans 12:1,2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2 Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will.

Lord’s Day 25, QA 65 Q. It is through faith alone that we share in Christ and all his benefits:
where then does that faith come from? A. The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts by the
preaching of the holy gospel, and confirms it
by the use of the holy sacraments.

1 Worship should consider the surrounding culture and be:

• transcultural (examples where worship is beyond cultural boundary: the gospel and
message of grace apply to all peoples, all are called to pray, each is commanded to be a
steward, etc);
• contextual (examples where our worship reflects the culture we live in: our worship
behavior and many practices reflect the pastoral concerns of our local community:
starting on time and being time conscious, the way we pray, what we emphasize, our
musical, artistic and dramatic preferences);
• cross-cultural (examples where we are called to worship in a way that breaks down
barriers of culture: welcoming the stranger, being sensitive that our language and the
way we refer to matters doesn’t exclude some people, being concerned for needs
beyond our suburban environment, making room for the poor); and
• counter-cultural (examples when worship resists the idolatries of its cultural context:
offering times, confession times, discerning use of media and technology, even the
gospel message).