Trinity Lutheran Church of Taylor

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TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH (C) 2010 | PRIVACY POLICY

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TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Taylor, Texas

WHAT IS THE DIVINE SERVICE?

Although much about worship seems similar throughout Christianity, Lutherans have a unique perspective on the question "What is worship?" The Lutheran understanding of worship is expressed in the Divine Service. Divine ServiceThe Athanasian Creed teaches us that true Christian worship can be recognized in two ways. First, we worship the God who is triune, that is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The second way we recognize Christian worship is that it is centered on Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Our worship is "divine" because it is Christ-centered. Divine ServiceThe Lutheran Confessions teach us about the "service" of the Divine Service: "So the worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive gifts from God" (Ap. AC, Art. V, par. 189). In the Divine Service, God comes to serve us with His gracious gifts of Word and Sacrament. People often think that worship is primarily about what we do for God. The reality is quite different. In the Divine Service, God is providing His service for us first and foremost. In the reading, preaching, and singing of His Word and in His Sacraments of Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion, God delights to serve His people the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation.The Divine Service and the Historic LiturgyIn the Divine Service, God gives His grace, and then we respond with thanks and praise. In order to give voice to this response, the Lutheran Church has retained an historic order for the Divine Service. We follow this order not because we believe it is the only right way but because we believe this ancient pattern of worship most clearly and beautifully serves the purpose of the Divine Service, which is to deliver the gracious gifts of God.adapted from Scot A. Kinnaman. Worshiping with Angels and Archangels. St. Louis: CPH, 2006.