To the question of how we can “know the way to the place where I am going” —
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
—John 14:6
The Rev. Dr. Eugene Peterson writes: “The Jesus way wedded to the Jesus truth brings about the Jesus life.”[1] In his book entitled, The Jesus Way, he refers to the verse above from the gospel of John (14:6). It is a paradigmatic statement by which followers of Jesus are formed and reformed in Christ. As Jesus’ disciples in journey by faith following the leading of the Spirit of Christ along the way, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind with the Word of truth.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
—Romans 12:2
Our spiritual formation as worshipers in the reformed tradition is signified through liturgy in the order of service. As such being reformed in Christian community, worshipers of the Lord our God continually abiding in Jesus Christ through prayer are so led by the Spirit according to the Word. The Latin saying, “lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi” can be thought of in this way:
As we worship, so we believe, and so we live— that is,
As we prayerfully worship in spirit and truth, we are continually formed and reformed in our way of thinking and belief in accordance with Word and Spirit so that our lifestyle and living is then affected and effected in the way, and the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ.
The outline of the order of service in the bulletin/program/worship folder may also be viewed as being aligned with the A.C.T.S.of prayer — Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication — aspects of the life of prayer by which the liturgy is reformed and being reformed continually in accordance with the Word and Spirit.
Various items in the order of service involve key elements of worship pertaining to these particular aspects of prayer interweaving throughout the liturgy. These may at times sequentially include the Gloria Patri and Prayer of Praise (Adoration), the Prayer of Confession (Confession), the anthems/hymns and the Offering/Doxology/Prayer of Dedication (Thanksgiving), and the Prayers of the People/Intercession (Supplication).
As we venture upon the Lenten season throughout these lengthening days of spring following the vernal equinox, may our prayers through the very worship of God be blessed anew with depth of intimacy, reverence and awe to the glory of the Lord enthroned on the praises of the people.
As the liturgically responsive saying goes,
O Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer….
Soli Deo Gloria,
Rex Espiritu
[1]Eugene H. Peterson. The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way(Kindle Location 58). Kindle Edition