Overall Theology of Worship
God-centered worship, worship in general and communal worship, and the Sabbath and Lord’s Day.
Adult Sunday Studies · Class archive · Fall 2026
The Wonders of Communal Worship
Explore the theology and practice of communal worship through class recordings and PDF handouts.
A study of the theology, practices, and gospel-shaped movements of worship, from gathering to benediction.
A 7-week roadmap
Distinctives of Communal Worship
Elements and forms, God’s presence, the regulative principle, and Trinitarian worship.
The Purposes of Communal Worship
Communion with God in Christ across cultures, incarnation & ascension paradigms, and gospel-shaped styles and forms.
The Structure of Communal Worship
Biblical patterns of worship, entering God’s presence, the covenantal gospel arc, and the logic of liturgy.
Hearing from Christ in Communal Worship
How God speaks to his people through his Word in communal worship.
The Sacrament of Communal Worship
The Lord’s Supper as the visible Word and a means of grace, nourishing communion with Christ.
The Conclusion of Communal Worship
Coronating Christ our King, the benediction, overall review of the gospel arc and liturgy, and living the Sabbath.
Class recordings & materials
Overall Theology of Worship
September 13, 2026
Laying the foundation: worship starts and ends with God. God-centered worship reflects who God is, creation's purpose to worship Him, Old Testament temple presence fulfilled in Christ and the Church, and why the Sabbath rest points toward the new creation as an eschatological sign.
The Distinctives of Communal Worship
September 20, 2026
The when, how, and what of worship. Examining why we worship on the Lord’s Day, the 7 core principles of communal worship, the regulative principle (Word-prescribed elements: songs/prayers, Word, sacraments, fellowship), and distinguishing God's prescribed elements from culturally directed forms. Jesus is our elder brother, high priest, and true Worship Leader.
The Purposes of Communal Worship
September 27, 2026
Expanding on how the Word becomes flesh with the purpose of drawing all people into communion with God in Christ by the Spirit. Contrasting true communion against revivalism/decisionism and duty/works-based worship, understanding the incarnation and ascension paradigms, and considering gospel priorities for culture, language, and doxological evangelism.
The Structure of Communal Worship
October 4, 2026
What happens when people enter God’s presence? Examining the biblical patterns of worship (Isaiah 6, 1 Kings 8, Nehemiah 8–11, Revelation 4–5), the gospel arc (Praising God’s Glory, Confession of Sin & Pardon, God Speaks, Communion with Christ, Coronation of Christ our King), and how liturgy trains our hearts for communion with the living God.
Hearing from Christ in Communal Worship
October 11, 2026
How God speaks to his people through his Word in communal worship, and how communication from God becomes communion with God.
The Sacrament of Communal Worship
October 18, 2026
Explore the Lord’s Supper as the visible Word and a means of grace, and how the sacrament nourishes the church’s communion with Christ.
The Conclusion of Communal Worship
October 25, 2026
Coronating Christ our King, the biblical blessing of the benediction, an overall review of the gospel arc and liturgy, and poems on the Lord’s Day.