Pilgrim Ev. Lutheran Church Wauwatosa, WI

Worship

Why come to church to worship? There are two reasons: God commands it and He promises to use it. But what is worship? Unlike many Christians, Evangelical Lutherans believe that worship is primarily God’s action. Our Lutheran Confessions state, “the chief worship of God is to preach the gospel” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV: Justification, BC 129.42). That gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, is preached in order to be heard and received by faith: “This is how God wants to become known and worshiped, namely, that we receive blessings from him, and indeed, that we receive them on account of his mercy and not on account of our merits” (BC 130.60). What are God’s gifts? They are the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in Jesus Christ. Worship happens, then, when sinners receive God’s good gifts through Word and sacrament. If we come to church to receive God’s gifts, why wouldn’t we come as often as we can?

God’s gifts do not leave us unchanged, though. He shapes us by them, forming our thoughts, words, and deeds. This is the other side of worship, as St. Paul writes, “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). God pours His gifts into us and shapes us by them that we might respond by pouring these same gifts into the lives of others. “In summary, the worship of the New Testament is spiritual, that is, it is the righteousness of faith in the heart and the fruits of faith” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV: The Mass, BC 263.27). If God is so gracious in dealing with us, why wouldn’t we respond by daily serving those neighbors He gives us?

So, worship is much more than our weak attempts to praise and serve God. This is Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, who has made His way to us by His Word and Spirit and is present and active for you and all people. How awesome that we can gather to receive Him and His gifts and respond to Him with our lives until the Day we join the Church universal and triumphant in worship around the throne of God forever.

“Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord”

For blessing on the Word (2), LSB Collect 150

Bible Study

The Psalmist declared, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119.105). Jesus, the Light of the World, said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5.39). St. Paul, preacher of Christ, wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1.16). Therefore, we study the Scriptures, the living and active Word of God (Hebrews 4.12), for the sake of faith in Christ and life in His name both now and forever (2 Timothy 3.14–17).