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FAITH
Corporate worship is the expression of the congregation's joyful satisfaction in all that God is and all He
has done for us in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we desire our worship to be God-centered and for His glory.
Corporate worship at Community Baptist Church is based upon God's covenantal faithfulness and graciousness
toward us in Jesus Christ. Our worship is a dialogue between God and His people in the context of law and
gospel in a covenantal renewal service. He speaks to us through the preaching of the word and sacraments. We
respond to Him in singing, prayer, confession of our sin and the confession of our faith.
PRACTICE
The format of dialogue in our weekly Lord's Day worship, based upon the covenantal patterns established in
Scripture, looks something like this:
God Calls Us: Through Christ and the Holy Spirit we have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). So we draw near to the throne of grace with confidence in
God's covenantal promises realized in the blood of Christ and applied by the Holy Spirit. We draw near to God
to receive grace and mercy from Him and ascribe the glory due His name (Hebrews 4:16; Psalm 29:1-2).
God Cleanses Us: Through God's law, we are reminded that we are unfaithful covenant breakers in
need of forgiveness. We confess our sins, believing that "He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" for the sake of Christ (1 John 1:9). And we reaffirm our loyalty to Christ and His kingdom to
the glory of God.
God Communes With Us: Through the preaching of the pure gospel and administration of the
sacraments, God communes with His people, further sanctifying them in the truth and by the Holy Spirit
(John 17:17; 16:5-11; 2 Corinthains 6:16).
God Commissions Us: Through Christ's authority as the head of His church, He has sent us into the
world to preach the gospel of repentance and faith, make disciples of all the nations, and teach them to
observe all that He has commanded. As the people of God we proclaim Christ to the world, worshipping together
and living together in such a manner as to present an embodiment of what the kingdom will be in
consummation.
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