Lifestyle Evangelism is . . . Worship Helps.

God works through means, in particular, the means of Grace, the Word (the Bible) and the Sacraments (Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper). Our worship is liturgical because the liturgy is the Word of God. We do so because we worship best when we say back to God what He has given us to say; after all, how much better can we speak to God than to speak back the very words which He has given us in the first place. Again, our worship is liturgical, which means that our worship is permeated with the Word of God.

During worship we speak back to God with His Word as He speaks to us through His Word. Some, especially for those who do not have a background in liturgical or Lutheran liturgical worship, may need a little help in the actual practice of worship or in understanding our liturgical worship. Thus, lifestyle evangelism is helping those unaccustomed to liturgical worship, not only in their practice of worship, but also in an understanding of why we worship the way we worship.

Our worship is not a “here today and gone tomorrow” worship (set in and with time), but because our worship is liturgical and Biblical, it transcends time. When we worship the way we worship, our worship is with the saints who have gone on before and with those yet to come (thus, it transcends time). When we take the time to explain the why and how of liturgical worship, we open doors for others so they, too, may share in the richness and appreciation of our worship experience.

What a wonderful witness we can make in helping others in worship and what a wonderful witness our Lord makes through His means of grace as these means permeate our worship service. It is through these means that God first works faith and continues to strengthen and keep us in faith until Christ comes again. What a wonderful witness we make as we hear these means give the answer for the hope that we have in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

31 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs