The Call to Worship

Most Christian worship gatherings begin with a "Call to Worship". What exactly is this part of the service, and what does it mean? 

A "Call to Worship" is just that: God calling us out of the world {thus making us an ekklesia}; summoning us out of the ordinary and mundane into the extraordinary and mysterious privilege of worshiping him. This favor is only by grace – God’s full-blooded love for us in spite of what we deserve. This honor is solely by God’s invitation through Jesus Christ (“No one can come to the Father but by me”). This God-imparted kindness is singularly by the plentiful empowering of the Holy Spirit (“For through {Christ} we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”). In other words, worshiping God is utterly of grace. 

This means (1) that we must lay aside any sense of self-assumed entitlement or me-generated prerogative with regard to worship. (2) To ignore that call is dangerous and deadening, for it is snubbing the graciousness of God. And (3) every aspect of our salvation – including worship – is by grace alone, through Christ alone, received by faith alone, directed by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

Remember, a "Call to Worship" is the Sovereign King's  summons to us, to draw near, and enter his courts with praise.
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Mike

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