The Elders, with much thought and prayer, have developed the following

While God meets with individuals in their private devotion, we believe that an awareness of the presence of God in corporate worship provides an essential dynamic unavailable in private worship. “God inhabits the praises of His people.” (Psalm 22:3)

God requires this corporate encounter of us, as He alone is worthy of our praise. “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10) “And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion, forever and ever.’” (Revelation 5:13)

Our access to the Throne is through the person of Jesus Christ, not through a methodology. Our access to truth is through the written word of God and the person of the Holy Spirit.

A believer’s worship service may also be used of God to bring an unbeliever to saving faith. (cf. I Corinthians 14:23-25)

So, without compromising the message of Christ and the authority of the Bible, it would seem that the style of worship is at our discretion to fit within the following parameters of a corporate body experience:

Reverence and Awe. “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29) “Remove the shoes from your feet, the ground you are standing on is holy.” (Exodus 3:5)

Celebration. Overwhelming joy in the presence of a forgiving, accepting, and loving God. David demonstrated this joy when he danced before the Lord with all his might, to the dismay of some onlookers. (2 Samuel 6:12-23)

Diversity. Variety and mutual respect for different tastes. (Philippians 2:3-4) God’s ears obviously enjoy variety, it was His idea! (Revelation 5:9)

Abundance. Giving of all we can. Psalm 150 refers to all the instruments apparently available to God’s people. Habbakkuk 2:20 emphasizes ‘silence’ as one of those instruments that pleases God.

Excellence. Not perfection, but doing the best with the resources God has entrusted to us. Following the Exodus, God called for gifted musicians and singers to lead the assembly in praise. Worship should not be haphazard, but planned and practiced.

Based on congregational input, study over many months, and prayer for God’s direction, the Elders have determined our worship style will be mainly contemporary, but will include some traditional to reflect the diversity among God’s people at CrossView Church.

We are not to come as spectators. We are to enter the Sanctuary of God as full participants, offering our very lives to the King of Kings in worship. (Romans 12:1-2) Come joyfully into His presence, and pray that our corporate worship is pleasing to our Lord.