What Is the Call to Worship?
In the liturgy of Christian worship, few elements are as profound yet often overlooked as the call to worship. For many, it may seem like a simple opening line or a liturgical formality—a way to begin the service and quiet the congregation. But from a Reformed and biblical perspective, the call to worship carries deep theological significance. It is not merely the pastor saying, “Let’s get started,” but rather God Himself summoning His people into His presence for worship in spirit and in truth.
The Biblical Foundation
The call to worship is grounded in Scripture. Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to gather before Him in worship. A few examples:
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! (Ps. 95:6)
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. (Ps. 29:2)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise! (Ps. 100:4)
These passages do more than encourage personal devotion. They demonstrate that worship is a divine summons. It is not a human invention or a self-directed activity. Instead, worship is a covenantal dialogue—God initiates and speaks, and His people respond. The call to worship is therefore not the pastor’s idea, nor is it an optional “warm-up.” It is the recognition that the triune God has called His people together to meet with Him by His Word and Spirit.
The call to worship sets the tone for the entire service—it is God-centered, not man-centered. We are not attending a performance or religious event of our own design. We are responding to the living God who draws near in truth and grace.
God Speaks First
One of the hallmarks of Reformed worship is the conviction that God always initiates and speaks first. Just as God spoke creation into being, spoke His covenant promises to Abraham, and spoke His law at Sinai, so too He speaks to His church today. Our worship is always a response to divine initiative.
The call to worship reflects this principle. Before we sing God’s praises, pray, confess our sins, hear God’s Word, or commune at the Lord’s Supper, God summons us. This protects worship from becoming self-focused or entertainment. It reminds us that the church gathers to listen and respond to God’s voice. This is why the call to worship is appropriately read directly from Scripture rather than something composed by the pastor. God, through His Word, summons, declaring with authority: “Come before Me, My people, and offer acceptable worship with reverence, awe, and joy.”
Theological Significance
From a Reformed perspective, several key truths are embedded in the call to worship:
- God is sovereign. Worship begins with His initiative, not ours. We gather because He calls.
- Worship is corporate. The call is addressed to the gathered assembly of the people of God, not merely to isolated individuals. Worship is covenantal and communal.
- Worship is a holy encounter. In the call, we are reminded that we stand before a holy God. We do not enter His presence casually, but reverently through Christ.
- Worship is response. The call shapes the rest of the service. The prayers, songs, confessions, and preaching are all responses to God’s invitation and prescription.
Practical Outworking in Worship Services
In most Reformed congregations, the call to worship comes immediately after an opening greeting or prelude. The minister reads a passage of Scripture, such as Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 100, or Isaiah 12, and then he calls upon the Lord to inhabit the praises of the people.
When the call to worship is read, we are reminded that it is through Christ’s blood and righteousness that we can draw near with confidence before the throne of grace.
Some churches use responsive calls, where the minister reads a verse and the congregation responds. Take Psalm 99:1–2, 5, 8–9 as an example:
Leader:
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
People:
Exalt the Lord our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!
Leader:
O Lord our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
People:
Exalt the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy!
This practice reinforces the responsive and dialogical nature of worship. The people of God are not passive spectators but rather active participants in the dialogue.
The call to worship also serves a pastoral function. In a distracted world, it gathers scattered thoughts and hearts. It reminds believers that they are stepping into a sacred space and sacred time. It is similar to when God commanded Moses to remove his sandals at the burning bush because the place on which he was standing was “holy ground” (Ex. 3:5). It wasn’t the dirt itself that was holy, but rather God’s presence made it a holy place and holy time.
Christ, Our Worship Leader
Ultimately, the call to worship points us to Christ. Hebrews 2:12 pictures Jesus as the One who stands in the midst of His people, singing praise to the Father. He is the true worship leader, the Mediator who brings us into God’s presence.
When the call to worship is read, we are reminded that it is through Christ’s blood and righteousness that we can draw near with confidence before the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16; 10:19–22). The call to worship is not only a command, but an invitation to grace. In Christ, God is not a distant Judge but a loving Father who delights in the worship of His people.
The call to worship reminds us that worship is not our invention. Rather, it is God’s gracious initiative. It frames the service as covenant renewal, where God speaks and His people respond. Far from being a mere formality, the call to worship is an essential act of grace. It is the moment when the Lord of heaven and earth says to His redeemed people: “Come, draw near, and worship Me.” And by His Spirit and through His Son, we answer with obedience and joy.
