2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” There is no better news in all the world than this simple sentence. Christ came into the world to remove the guilt of our sin and give to us new life for this world and the world to come. This good news, the Gospel, releases us from spiritual ruin. But it does even more. The Gospel also enlivens our hearts to pour out all sorts of thanks and praise to God. For this reason, the entire Christian life is a life of worship. All we do is in service to the God who mended our broken souls.
Sunday worship, therefore, serves a very important role in the Christian life. It is in worship that we find regular and full expression of this Gospel relationship we have with our God. In worship we hear God speak to us through his Word. It is in his Word that we hear of the sinfulness that separates us from God. It is in his Word that we hear the good news that Jesus Christ has removed the sin that once separated us from our Lord. Without this good news, without Jesus we would have no reason to join together for worship each week. But thanks to Christ, we joyfully gather together to open our hearts to the Word and to return to God our thankful praise and service.
This regular cycle of receiving from God and giving to God is the hallmark of the Christian life, and therefore is the distinctive feature of worship at St. Stephen Lutheran. To accomplish this, we use a form of worship that traces its roots to the Apostles themselves. It’s called liturgical worship.
Christ is at the center of liturgical worship. Some parts of the liturgy stay the same each Sunday. This is to make sure that Christ is proclaimed and praised during every service. Some parts of the liturgy change every week. These changes are based on the calendar of the church. This regular schedule of lessons and readings makes sure we cover all the key teachings of the Bible as well as the events of the life of Christ each and every year. Liturgical worship also obligates all involved to take an active role in praising God and proclaiming the Gospel. Through congregational hymns, spoken responses, Bible readings, psalms, and Gospel-rich sermons, fellow Christians join together to remind one another of God’s mercy and grace.
Join us Sundays at 9:30 AM for worship. Come as you are. Bring your family. Spend an hour this week learning about the Lord who loved you and sent the Savior. Enjoy a new beginning in Christ.
