A Work Of The People
The word “Liturgy” sounds foreign to some of us. The word is often used today in reference to the formal order of worship in church. Some people assume that such language came from the Roman Catholics or Anglicans. However, the word liturgy is a biblical word. It comes from the Greek leitourgia, which is the combination of two other words: “people” (laos) and “work” (ergon). A liturgy then, is a “work of the people,” or perhaps more helpful, a “public service.” Therefore, at the most basic meaning, “liturgy” refers to the order of a corporate worship service.
In the New Testament, the word liturgy is used broadly to speak of our service to God (Rom. 12:1–2) or our service to others (Phil. 2:30). It is also used narrowly to speak of service in relation to the formal worship of God when his people gather together (e.g. Heb. 9:21; 10:11).
Christ-Centered Liturgy
All churches from every denomination have an order of worship. Sometimes we think “liturgical” is only an appropriate adjective for churches that meet in cathedrals. But this is simply not true. If a church worships, it has a liturgy. Churches that claim to be “non-liturgical” all follow a pattern of worship. Since we are all liturgical, the question to ask is what kind of liturgy do we have? What should our services look like? At Grace Hill Church, our goal will continually be to exalt Christ throughout our liturgy on a Sunday morning. While every Sunday liturgy may differ in the elements, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will forever remain at the center of all we do when we gather.