Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW)

“But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.”

Biblical Worship

The Lord’s Day

The Bible teaches us that since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the first day of the week (Sunday) is to be kept as the Christian Sabbath. And as there is no other day in calendar that is sanctified (declared holy) by the Lord for all ages other than the Sabbath, we gather together for worship regularly only on the Sabbath, though we have informal meetings on other days. We do not observe any other holy days apart from the Christian Sabbath, which is the Lord’s Day or the Day belonging to the Lord.

WSC 58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.

Dt 5:12-14

WSC 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weehly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.

Gen 2:2,3; 1 Cor 16:1,2; Acts 20:7

WSC 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day,  even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the publick and private exercises of God’s worship,  except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.

Ex 20:8,10; Ex 16:25-28; Neh. 13:15-22;Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7; Ps 92:title; Isa 66:23; Mt 12:1-31

Elements and order of worship

The Bible teaches us that we must worship God in the way that he has appointed in His Word and in no other way. As such, on the Lord’s Day, our formal public worship comprise only the elements which we are convinced are appointed in the Scriptures, especially prayer, reading of Scriptures, singing of inspired Psalms (without instruments), biblical preaching and administration of the sacraments. A typical order of worship which we follow is presented below.

Order of Worship

Call to Worship
—
Opening Prayer
—
Opening Psalm
—
Scripture Reading (serial)
—
2nd Psalm (serial)
—
Sermon Scripture Context Reading
—
Pastoral Prayer
—
Sermon
—
Applicatory Prayer
—
Closing Psalm
—
Benediction

Singing of Psalms

WSC 50. What is required in the Second Commandment?
A. The Second Commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in His Word.

Dt 32:46; Mt 28:20; Acts 2:42

WSC 51. What is forbidden in the Second Commandment?
A. The Second Commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, —or any other way not appointed in his word.

Dt 4:15-19; Ex 32:5,8; Dt 12:31,32

WCF 21.1b But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.

Dt 12:32; Mt 15:9; Acts 17:25; Mt 4:9–10; Dt 4:15–20; Ex 20:4–6; Col 2:23