TAKE THE NEXT STEP — Worship
Psalm 95:6; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

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Main Idea

Worship is our right and appropriate response to God’s revelation of Himself—and that revelation is made vividly clear at the Lord’s Table.

Worship is more than attending a service or participating in familiar elements. True worship flows from seeing who God is and responding rightly. In Communion, God reveals Himself through His crucified and risen Son, calling His people to a holy, grateful, and faith-filled response.

What Is Worship?

Worship is not driven by:

• Personal preferences
• Emotional experiences
• A religious performance

Worship is our response to God’s self-disclosure, most clearly seen in Jesus Christ—crucified and resurrected.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6, ESV)

Communion as Visible Worship

At the Lord’s Table, worship becomes visible, tangible, and participatory.

Communion is:

• Present worship (what we do now)
• Rooted in history (the cross)
• Pointing to eternity (Christ’s return)

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)

What God Reveals at the Table

The Bread — Christ’s Body Given

“This is my body, which is for you.” (1 Corinthians 11:24, ESV)

In the Bread, God reveals:

1. The Incarnation God did not save from a distance—He came in the flesh. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
2. The Suffering Savior Christ’s body was beaten, pierced, nailed, and buried. “He was pierced for our transgressions.” (Isaiah 53:5)
3. The Substitutionary Gift Jesus suffered for us. “The righteous for the unrighteous.” (1 Peter 3:18)

The Cup — Christ’s Blood Shed

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” (1 Corinthians 11:25, ESV)

In the Cup, God reveals:

1. The Cost of Forgiveness Sin is serious; grace is costly. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22)
2. The New Covenant Grace written on hearts, not stone. “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
3. The Depth of God’s Love The cross declares love beyond measure. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Our Right Response to God’s Revelation

At this Table, worship calls for a response:

• Humility — We did not earn this; it is grace alone.
• Gratitude — Salvation is God’s gift, not our achievement.
• Surrender — What we gain in Christ, we gain by yielding to Him.
• Confession — We do not hide sin; it is washed away by Christ’s blood.
• Faith — We trust God’s promise, not our performance.
• Joy — Forgiven much, we rejoice deeply.
• “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven.” (Psalm 32:1)

Invitation: Take the Next Step

We do not come to the Table to go through motions, but to encounter the living Lord and worship Him in spirit and truth.

Your next step may be to:

• Repent and believe the gospel
• Be baptized
• Become a member of this local church
• Begin a daily time of prayer and Bible reading
• Begin a consistent time of prayer and Bible reading with your family

This evening, you are invited to take the next step.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6, ESV)