Order of Service
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Worship Order of Service
Scotty Shelton
DR. ROBERTS
CHRM2304
September 17, 2022
INTRODUCTION
Baptist churches are among the practices that are frequently described as "non-liturgical"
in terms of collective worship. This can be confusing because, properly speaking, every Christian
church and tradition, regardless of how formal or casual, "scripted" or "free-flowing," or even
historically significant, adheres to a liturgy or liturgies. In other words, they practice their
communal worship in line with fundamental and defining convictions and values. This is true in
the Baptist tradition. Within the tradition, because of the autonomy of each local congregation,
there is no standard order of service or liturgy prescribed by a higher or overarching
ecclesiastical authority. Thus, each Baptist congregation is free to formulate corporate worship as
common among Baptist churches. (“Worship and Devotion in Daily Life” 2022) In this essay, I
will discuss those exact common characteristics. I will also lay out an order of service that can be
used in most all Baptist churches today. The order will consist of an opening prayer, worship,
Scripture reading, sermon, and altar call.
Opening Prayer
So why do we or should we pray before we start service? Good question. Prayer helps us
connect our hearts and minds in gratitude, humility, and love for God. When we come into the
church house with hearts and minds filled with regret, fear, anxiety or any number of things,
prayer helps us calm those feelings right from the start so that we have a clear mind to serve God
with.
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.
(Psalms 5:3 CSB)
Worship
When we sing songs of praise and worship, we confess our problems and the relief that
comes from knowing that God is in charge. We sing to honor God and express our gratitude to
Him for all the mercies and benefits He bestows upon us daily. We sing to demonstrate that we
serve God above everything else.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD. They said:
I will sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
he has thrown the horse
and its rider into the sea.
(Exodus 15:1 CSB)
Scripture Reading
“The public reading of Scripture is an essential element of Christian worship for the
covenant people of God. Indeed, it is arguably the most foundational element of worship because
all other elements of worship (such as prayer, praise, preaching, and the sacraments) come in
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response to the hearing of God’s Word.” (“Don’t Forsake the Public Reading of Scripture |
Tabletalk” 2020)
“Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, and to teaching.”
(1 Timothy 4:13 CSB)
It's not difficult to see the value of preaching and teaching, but what about public Scripture
readings? Because so few people could read, the public reading of Scripture served as most of
the people's access to the Bible throughout the ancient era. Even if it is less popular now, this
practice can help us feel more connected to our Christian faith and our place in God's family.
Sermon
I believe some people would argue that the only purpose of the sermon is to spread the
“Good News” of our risen Savor. But it’s more than that to me. Yes, I would agree that it is used
for that as well, but I also believe that it is far more than that. I believe that the sermon is also a
time that should teach Christians how to think, feel, and act in a way that reflects their heavenly
father. The issue is that most preaching uses a technique that encourages people to read the Word
but not to do the Word. We provide information and facts so that people are informed but never
really changed.
Good Order in Worship
26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one[a] has a hymn,
teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.
(1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB)