The LITURGY of The WORD+ . . . a Personal Discipline of Worship through The SCRIPTURES

The LITURGY of The WORD 

~  How the Early Christians Worshipped ~

A LITURGY is an order of worship to be used for morning or evening prayer, individually or in a family or with a group. It is designed for PARTICIPATORY worship. That is, no-one goes to sleep nor has time to let his mind wander away from worshipping The LORD. 

This 30-minute liturgy ( worship ) is taken directly from the Life-Giving Scriptures which have been selected around certain themes of worship. These themes are purposefully selected to LEAD worshippers into a closer communion with The Living LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Some of these themes include: 

Proclamations of WHO+ HE+ is and Affirmations of WHO+ HE+ is towards His+ Followers from the mouth of the Prophets and Apostles.

His+ Judgments, Repentance, Renunciations, Declaration of Intent, Supplications, Exhortations, Reassurances, and the Invitatory ( Invitation to CHRIST) are also included.  

Some of these verses may be chanted with an uncomplicated chant melody, such as raising each phrase by a half-step or one pitch. Changing from “proclaiming” to chanting a short section of the Verses seems to make it more meaningful. Plus, a simple chant or repetitive melody line helps us to remember these anointed, GOD-breathed Words of Life. 

In between the Verses, worship phrases are included, taken from praises found in Scripture, and Pre-Nicene Hymns like the “Lift up Your Hearts” , now known as the Sursum Corda. 

This ancient hymn was sung during Communion Services and was recorded as early as  part of the worship during Cyprian’s time , 200-258 AD. It is also found in Book 8, Section 12, in the Constitutions of the Holy Apostles. 

[ SEE: Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5, Treatises of Cyprian,Treatise IV, Paragraph 31, pg. 455, American Edition, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA, June 1995, 2^nd Printing , Reprint edition originally published in the United States by Christian Literature Publishing Company, 1886. 

SEE: Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Book VIII, Section XII, pg. 486, same edition as above. Date of Book VIII is circa 4^th Century, Introductory Notice, pg. 388. ]

If used collectively or in a group, the Verses in the Liturgy are said or sung by the leader; the worship phrases are said or sung by the other participants. 

This liturgy follows the liturgical worship form of the Ancient Jewish Temple, according to records, with all things being done in decency and order. The Ancient Temple worship was NOT done in an impromptu way, but was kept very formally and totally within the confines of HOLY SCRIPTURE.

Although not impromptu , the Liturgy of The WORD is personally effective, as we praise The LORD through His+ Word, to move us away from a  dullness of spirit and lethargic state of being into a state of meaningful, PERSONAL worship and praise in an orderly but meaningful way.  

 

The Liturgy of The WORD involves about 30 minutes of time, if all sections are done, orally, and individually, in one’s prayer room. Group worship takes a bit longer, understandably. The Liturgy of The WORD will be published in sections. 

Worshipping through the Liturgy of The WORD provides a way to increase Spiritual discipline which , in turn,  STRENGTHENS the Followers of JESUS.  The WORD feeds our spirit, especially if taken in daily in an attitude of prayer and worship of The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

May The LORD add His+ Blessing 

to the reading 

of His+ Holy WORD.

+  +  +

All 12 Sections will be  published separately.