Cross to Crown Blog

  • Worship Services According to the New Testament

    Our primary source for learning how to worship Christ must be the New Covenant Scriptures (i.e. the New Testament), because they contain the full and final revelation of Christ. They are the substance of which the Old Covenant Scriptures are but shadows and types. They reveal the teaching of the Lord Jesus regarding what our worship goals and objectives should be in light of the gospel of His grace. We should not draw our approach to worship from the Old Covenant any more than we should draw our approach to pastoral ministry from the Aaronic priesthood. They are different designs, in different covenants, intended for different purposes. God's prescriptions for worship under the Old Covenant are not intended to be the blueprints for New Covenant corporate assemblies.

    Here are the elements and goals of worship as laid out in the New Testament:

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  • Worship Principles? Pshaw!

    Who needs to wrestle with "principles?" Just do it the way the apostles did it. Ananias and Sapphira spring to mind. Then there's music - the Apostles' Hymn - Just As I Am. Continue until all are either dead or sanctified.

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  • Christian Worship That's Not Very Christian

    Before addressing what should drive our corporate worship services, I think it might be helpful to mention some things that should not drive them. It is oftentimes helpful to gain a clearer understanding of what something is by contrasting it with what it is not.

    For Christian worship services, the center and climax and focus and object of everything we do should be Christ. If we emphasize anything or anyone else, we run the risk of either missing the point or leading our people into idolatry. The consequences of both are significant.

    Consider the kinds of services that are not Christ-centered:

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  • The Gospel Should Form Our Liturgy

    Why are egg cartons and milk cartons shaped so differently? Obviously, because of their contents. Eggs wouldn't do very well in a milk carton. And can you imagine trying to pour your milk from an egg carton? It's the same with most items—the shape of the container conforms to the stuff inside.

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  • This Week's Topic: Corporate Worship

    Here's the question we put to our contributors this week: What NT principles should underlie a corporate worship service, its order of service, structure, components, length, etc.? We will post their responses throughout the week.

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