8 Thoughts On Reformed Worship
A GRN Series for Pastors

Editor’s Note: The following is the first of a series of GRN articles highlighting “eight brief thoughts” on various matters related to Reformed Ministry.

Introduction

Perhaps, like me, you’ve spent a lot of time thinking and learning about Lord’s Day worship. After all, it’s what pastors are called and trained to do. I recently calculated that over the years I’ve prepared liturgies for, and led, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2200 worship services! Some of you have led far more services, and others are just getting started. What a privilege we’ve been given!

The following eight brief thoughts on the subject of Reformed Worship are not all matters of equal importance. Far from it! They are simply meant to get pastors and sessions thinking about different ways that we can improve our worship services according to Scripture, the Reformed Confession, and the good and necessary consequence of both.

Ordained Officers Should Lead the Worship Services

Lord’s Day worship is the apex of a local church’s congregational life. It is the workshop of the Holy Spirit and the theater of Christian discipleship. Worship is the sacred preoccupation of heaven (Rev. 7:9-12). It’s the most important thing the church does. There’s nothing quite like it! Is it any wonder, then, that until recent decades Reformed worship was ordinarily led by ordained ministers and elders? The ordained leadership of the church are called, trained, and set apart to oversee and lead congregational worship (Acts 2:42; 6:1-4; I Tim. 4:13; I Pet.5:2; I Cor. 4:1). Why has this become so controversial?

Worship leadership should not be delegated to laypersons (female or male). Indeed, if ever there was a special occasion for the ordained leadership to pastorally and skillfully lead their congregation, exercise ministry gifts, and fulfill their sacred calling, it’s in the context of Lord’s Day worship. I would even argue that it’s normally the expectation and desire of most Christians to be led by their Pastors, elders, and ordinands in Lord’s Day worship. Isn’t that what they’ve been called, gifted, and trained to do? Most congregations are eager to hear their shepherds skillfully read scripture and pastorally pray in the services (WLC 156). I would guess that most believers would prefer to receive the Lord’s Supper from their elders who know them, love them, and oversee their souls. Perhaps it’s time for PCA sessions to rethink the democratization of worship leadership, and recover this important feature of pastoral leadership and care.

Give the announcements before, not during, the worship service

Perhaps, like me, you’ve experienced it. The worship service is moving along marvelously. The congregation is being led through a rich and edifying liturgy. It’s filled with scripture reading, prayer, and congregational praise — all leading gloriously to the preaching of God’s Word and the administration of the Lord’s Table. The Holy Spirit is tilling up hearts. The gospel is present in the liturgy, and the congregation is drawn into sweet communion with God. So far so good! Then suddenly, and unexpectedly, someone stands up to share an announcement about an upcoming men’s retreat, a bouncy castle at next month’s church picnic, and the need for more workers in the toddler nursery. What just happened?

I understand church leadership wanting latecomers to hear the church announcements. It’s good for everyone to be informed about church life. However, wouldn’t it be better to guard sacred worship from such an unnecessary diversion? Church announcements are not an element of biblical worship. They are best done before the call to worship.

Refrain from using white grape juice for the Lord’s Supper

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper the night before His crucifixion and death on the cross. After giving His disciples bread (representing His body), Jesus took a cup and gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:26-29).

The red wine in the cup represented Christ’s blood. Jesus’ blood was, and still is, red. Therefore, the innovation of using white grape juice at the Lord’s Table unwittingly misrepresents the blood of Christ. If for pastoral reasons a session approves unfermented grape juice in place of — or in addition to — red wine at the Lord’s Table, the grape juice should be red. Red is the color of Christ’s blood, and it’s His precious, atoning, cleansing blood that He wants us to meditate upon in the Supper.

“And now, when I go to behold Christ dying and bleeding in this holy representation, even the lamb of God sacrificed and slaughtered for my sins; Lord, touch my heart that it may be suitably affected with the sight, so as intensely to love my blessed Savior, and to hate my cursed sins.” (1)

Include Metrical Psalms in Worship

The Psalms are the divinely inspired hymnbook of the Church. They are set right in the middle of our Bibles. Unsurprisingly, God’s people are exhorted to sing them (Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:19). The Psalms are intended to be central to the church’s piety and worship. They speak to every aspect of our human experience, and point us to our loving God and His unfailing promises. Therefore, why would we not purposefully incorporate the metrical Psalms into our Lord’s Day worship services? What a profound spiritual blessing they are to the people of God!

In the preface to his commentary on the Psalms, John Calvin writes:

I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, ‘An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul;’ for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated.

Dear pastor, take time to consider how you might incorporate at least one or two metrical Psalms into your Lord’s Day services each week. In addition to hymns and songs, your congregation will be exceedingly blessed to sing the Psalms.

As the heav’ns are high above, all the earth which God has made.

So to those who fear the LORD is his lovingkindness great.

Far as east is from the west, he removes so far from us,

In his great, abounding love, all our guilt and wickedness. (2)

Pastors and Elders — Dress for the Occasion

In former times there may have been too much emphasis placed upon appearance at church. Today, however, it seems that the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Non-verbal communication is real. According to research it constitutes about 85% of communication! Whether we like it or not, how pastors and elders dress for public worship communicates something to the congregation (and visitors) about the occasion. Isn’t worship a meeting with our sovereign, glorious, and majestic King? Shouldn’t this influence our appearance as leaders in the public worship of God?

This isn’t an appeal for Genevan Gowns, three piece suits, and bow ties. It’s a simple encouragement for church leaders to dress as fits the occasion, not unlike we would take care to dress for other special occasions (e.g. weddings, funerals, job interviews, graduations, etc). “Disregard for physical appearance on the one hand and obsession with it on the other are two ditches that Christians should avoid.”. (3)

Provide a Warm Greeting Time before the Service

The Bible encourages us to “greet one another” in the Lord (Rom. 16:16; I Cor. 16:20). Therefore, provide a few minutes before the worship service for the congregation to greet one another, and welcome new visitors. I have found that the greeting time can have an outsized impact in people’s lives. For some, it may be the first time all week that they’ve received a warm greeting or a kind word of welcome and encouragement.

After the greeting time you may want to plan a brief musical interlude for the congregation to prepare for the call to worship — a minute or two to still their hearts, focus their eyes of faith, and reverently prepare to enter the presence of God.

Recover Lord’s Day Evening Worship

For centuries, evening worship was common practice across most Christian denominations. It certainly was for Reformed and confessional churches. I would maintain that it still should be today. It’s sad to see so many sanctuaries dark and empty on Lord’s Day evenings.

Morning and evening worship bookends the Lord’s Day, guarding it from becoming the Lord’s morning, the Lord’s hour, or just another day to recreate and run errands. I wonder if some reading this article right now might consider starting or recovering evening worship in their churches. There are many good reasons to do so that I’ve shared in this brief GRN video here and brief article here.

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare you steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” (Psalm 92:1-2 | A Psalm for the Sabbath)

Proclaim the Gospel at the Baptismal Font and Lord’s Table

The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are God’s visible words of love (Mt. 28:19-20; 26:26-29). They are signs and seals that “preach” the gospel to all our senses. Along with the Word and prayer, the sacraments are means of grace that communicate Christ and His saving benefits to the church. They are foundational to Christian discipleship. It’s not hard to understand, then, why the Reformed tradition has made them central in the piety and worship of the church. Dear friends, so should we (WCF 27-29; HC 66-82).

Be careful not to marginalize the rich theology and practice of the sacraments because of the potential to offend visitors and prospective new members who are of a different sacramental persuasion. Indeed, rather than minimize the sacraments, provide regular and warm instruction on them from the lectern, pulpit, font, and table. Regularly teach your congregation that the water, bread, and wine are symbols designed to exhibit Christ and His astonishing love for sinners. It is my experience that this not only strengthens the faith and piety of the flock, but also convinces the hearts of new members from non-Reformed backgrounds.

Conclusion

Dear pastor, like you, I have many more thoughts on Reformed worship than what I mention above — thoughts on preaching, music, vows, congregational singing, confession, fencing the table, offerings, etc. However, it is my prayer — that these few brief thoughts will spark engaging discussion in your session and, in some cases, elicit positive change.

(1) John Willison, Sacramental Meditations (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1851), 153.

(2) Quoted from Psalm 103C; Trinity Psalter Hymnal.

(3) Aaron Garriott, A Word Fitly Spoken, 118