Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church): Worship and Liturgy
1. The Church in the Plan of God
Ecclesiology begins with the conviction that the church is God’s creation, not a human invention. Jesus promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
The church exists in two dimensions:
Universal: “He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body” (Ephesians 1:22–23).
Local: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).
These dimensions are inseparable. The universal reality of the body of Christ finds its visible expression in the local gatherings of believers.
The church also carries an eschatological purpose. John heard the voice of the one seated on the throne declaring, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Ecclesiology is therefore both present and future: the church displays Christ’s reign now and points forward to his consummated kingdom.
2. Worship in Scripture and the Gospel
Worship is central to the life of the church. The biblical word leitourgia (“service”) reminds us that worship is both directed toward God and formative for the people of God.
Worship flows from the gospel. Paul exhorts believers, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). Worship is not a human achievement but a response to God’s mercy in Christ.
The pattern of worship in the Bible reflects the story of redemption:
Call to Worship – “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalm 95:1).
Confession of Sin – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).
Assurance of Pardon – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Proclamation of the Word – “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Response and Sending – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Worship is therefore not random or man-made; it follows God’s revealed pattern and centers on Christ’s saving work.
3. Liturgy as Theological Witness
Liturgy, the structure of worship, is never neutral. It teaches the church what to believe and how to live.
Old Testament Patterns
Temple worship: sacrifices, prayers, and feasts (Leviticus 9).
Psalms as songs of praise and lament: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” (Psalm 103:1).
Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus as the true temple: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).
Jesus as the final sacrifice: “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
New Testament Practice
The word of Christ dwelling richly: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another… singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16).
Anticipation of the kingdom: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).
Thus, liturgy is both vertical (directed toward God) and horizontal (shaping the community). Every act of liturgy is a proclamation of the gospel and a rehearsal for the new creation.
4. Word and Sacrament
At the center of the church’s worship are the ordinances Christ gave—baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are visible signs of the gospel, grounding the church’s faith in God’s promises.
Baptism
Union with Christ: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Public identification: baptism marks entry into the covenant community, confessing Christ as Lord.
The Lord’s Supper
Proclamation of Christ’s death: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Anticipation of his return: the Supper looks ahead to the messianic banquet of the kingdom.
Word and sacrament together keep the church from drifting into empty ritual or cultural gathering. They continually anchor the people of God in the cross, resurrection, and promised return of Christ.
5. Witness and Service
Ecclesiology also shows that worship extends beyond Sunday gatherings. The church is called to be a light in the world, embodying the gospel through both witness and service.
Witness
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). The gospel rehearsed in worship is the gospel proclaimed in daily life.
Service
James reminds us, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). True worship bears fruit in acts of mercy and justice.
The church’s worship, liturgy, and ordinances shape a people who live out God’s kingdom in every sphere of life.
Conclusion: Worship and Liturgy in the Life of the Church
Ecclesiology teaches that the church is the body of Christ, shaped and sustained by worship and liturgy. Through Scripture, God reveals the pattern of worship. Through liturgy, the church confesses its faith. Through Word and sacrament, the gospel is proclaimed visibly and repeatedly. Through witness and service, the church embodies Christ to the world.
In all of this, the church lives in the present as a community formed by the cross and resurrection while looking ahead to the consummation of God’s kingdom, when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Bible Verses on Worship and Liturgy
Matthew 16:18 — “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Acts 2:42 — “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Romans 12:1 — “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Psalm 95:1 — “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”
1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 — “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Colossians 3:16 — “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another… singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.”
Hebrews 10:10 — “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Revelation 19:9 — “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
James 1:27 — “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”
