Theological Term of the Week
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 9:05PM 
liturgy
An established or customary pattern for a public religious service. It may include prescribed content for readings and prayers, and/or designated times for hymns, responsive readings, scripture readings, prayers, the Lord’s Supper, and teaching, etc.
- From scripture, a few element that should be included in an established order of service:
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13 ESV)
- From Philip Schaff’s History of the Church, a description of John Calvin’s liturgy:
The service began with an invocation, a confession of sin and a brief absolution. hen followed reading of the Scriptures, singing, and a free prayer. The whole congregation, male and female, joined in chanting the Psalms, and thus took an active part in public worship, while formerly they were but passive listeners or spectators. This was in accordance with the Protestant doctrine of the general priesthood of believers. The sermon came next, and after it a long general prayer and the Lord’s Prayer. The service closed with singing and the benediction.
Learn more:
- Got Questions.org: What does the Bible say about liturgy? and What are the ingredients to a truly biblical worship service?
- Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries: What is liturgy?
- R. Scott Clark: Two examples of liturgies: Heidelberg 1563 and Strasbourg 1545
Related terms:
Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.
Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.
