Liturgical Principles

The determining factor for liturgical principles is the conviction that God determines what happens during worship service. This article discusses worship in the Old and New Testament, looking at how the principles of Old Testament worship influenced the liturgy of the New Testament church. The author then draws conclusions for what this means for our worship today.

Liturgy – A Matter of the Churches in Common

Does the order of the liturgy lie with the local body of elders, or is it a matter that belongs to the churches in common? This article discusses this question, looking at church history, and advocates for some uniformity in our liturgies. It argues that being bound to a specific order does not mean losing your freedom as a local church, and explains how this is so.

Appearing in God's Presence: Liturgy and the Worship Service I

This article discusses various matters pertaining to the worship service. It explains that such a service falls within God's covenant and is a celebration of it. It goes into some detail on what the liturgy is, as well as the origins of the Reformed liturgy. Finally, it describes the so-called liturgical movement, a phenomenon in the 1800s.

Liturgy and the Preaching Roster

Should the church follow the liturgical year in her structuring of liturgy? This article shows that following the liturgical year is not the way to go. Instead, church liturgy can be arranged in such a way that Christian feasts can be accommodated through thematization. This method of following preaching themes can be adopted for catechism classes also. The author discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this.

The Festive Meal in Christ's Congregation

The Lord's Supper should be celebrated with joy, since in it we experience the presence of Christ, a reminder of the coming feast of the Lamb, and the fellowship of believers. It must be a festive meal, and should have a special place in the liturgy. This article also looks at the celebration of the Holy Communion in the early church and at the time of the Reformation.