There is perhaps nothing more necessary in Christian worship than the Word of God. As we continue to look at what worship is, and why we do the specific things we do, we need to take a look at the Word of God. Worship (as we talked about at the beginning of this series) is about receiving God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. In worship we receive God in our ears and in our mouths, and as we receive him, we receive all that he has done for us.
Of course, none of this is possible without the Word of God. The Word of God is central to worship, specifically in the Scripture readings and the sermon, but even in other parts of the liturgy.
First of all, the Word is our source for information about God. Without the Word, we do not know God. To an extent, God reveals himself in creation, but this general revelation of God is limited to the Law, and our ability to interpret it is severely corrupted. Without the specific Word of God, we know nothing about God with any certainty. We do not know his Name. We do not know what he is like. We do not know his disposition toward us. And, most importantly, we do not know what he has done for us in Jesus Christ. In short, without the Word of God, we haven’t a clue of the Gospel.
So when it comes to worship, the Word informs us of what we can and should say about God or to God, and it also informs us of what God says to us. Much of our liturgy comes straight out of Scripture, and everything else is certainly informed by the Word of God.
But the Word does not merely inform our worship; it also animates it. The Word gives life to our worship, literally. What I mean is, the Word does what it says. It calls into being that which it requires. It is alive, and it does things. The Word of God has a unique power. It is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12). It is “able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15). The Word does not merely tell us what we should believe, but it actually creates the faith it calls for. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
Whether it is in Scripture readings, sermons, or other parts of the liturgy, the Word of God is a unique kind of speech.
During high school I occasionally competed in speech. There were several different categories of speech, but only three in which you could prepare a speech beforehand and deliver it: speech to inform, speech to persuade, and speech to entertain. I always did speech to inform, but I secretly wanted to do speech to entertain. The problem was that I wasn’t very entertaining (please avoid comments about how this is apparent from my sermons). Anyway, when it comes to sermons, they certainly should be informative. Ideally, they might also persuade you of something. And on the rare occasion they might even be slightly entertaining.
But the Word of God really falls into another category—a fourth category that is unique to Scripture and preaching. The Word of God is speech to operate. Regardless of what we may want the Word to do, and often in spite of a preacher’s abilities, the Word of God does things to us. It creates faith and life in us. Our confessions put it this way:
“So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given [John 20:22]. He works faith, when and where it pleases God [John 3:8], in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake.” (Augsburg Confession, Article V).
This biblical truth is a comfort to us when we gather for worship and when we hear the Word in other settings. God’s Word works. It give us what we need. It brings Christ down to us. It creates faith in us. It gives us the forgiveness of sins. Praise God for this marvelous gift.
The peace of Christ be with you all,
Dan