What are liturgy and liturgical practices?

DEFINITION AND ORIGINS

The term “liturgy” comes from the Greek word λειτουργία (leitourgia), meaning “public service” or “work of the people.” Historically, it has denoted a structured form of worship within a faith community, often involving prescribed prayers, readings, and rituals. In the context of Christian worship, liturgy refers to an orderly response to God, centering on Scripture and the remembrance of God’s mighty acts. It arises naturally from the biblical principle of offering reverent, communal worship to the Creator.

OLD TESTAMENT ROOTS

Biblical liturgical practices can be traced to Old Testament worship, including the tabernacle and temple ceremonies. God gave Moses specific instructions for worship in the tabernacle, such as in Exodus 25–31, which outline priestly duties, clothing, sacrificial details, and festivals. These practices aimed to cultivate holiness and honor the presence of God in the community (cf. Exodus 29:43–44).

Archaeological findings have confirmed the historical credibility of structured Old Testament worship. Excavations of altars and temple remains in the region of ancient Israel reveal clear indications of a prescribed form of public worship, reflecting an orderly pattern that resonates with biblical descriptions (e.g., the remains of a small temple complex at Arad). The Dead Sea Scrolls found in Qumran also illustrate attention to ritual purity and communal gatherings consistent with Old Testament instructions.

NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONS

In the New Testament, early Christian communities, once primarily Jewish, continued patterns of communal worship that included reading Scripture, singing hymns, praying, and teaching. Acts 2:42 states, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This portrays elements of liturgy—focused time of prayer, the Lord’s Supper, and the preaching of the Word.

Passages like 1 Timothy 4:13 highlight the importance of public reading of Scripture: “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.” These structured components shaped a liturgical rhythm in the earliest assemblies. Records from early church writers, such as Justin Martyr (2nd century AD), reinforce these practices, including weekly gatherings for the Word and the Lord’s Supper.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

Over time, liturgy evolved under varying historical, cultural, and regional influences. By the fourth and fifth centuries, churches in different regions (such as Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome) had distinctive liturgical forms. Yet core elements—confession of sin, reading Scripture, singing praise, prayer, and celebrating the sacraments—remained consistent. Ancient Christian documents, like the Didache (early 2nd century), provide snapshots of orderly patterns of worship, including thanksgiving meals and baptisms.

Despite denominational differences today, these foundational elements—rooted in Scripture—still shape Christian liturgical traditions. The variety in modern liturgies reflects both cultural expression and fidelity to the biblical framework of worship focused on Christ’s atoning work, as underscored in Revelation 5:9: “And they sang a new song: ‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’”

KEY ELEMENTS OF LITURGICAL PRACTICES

1. Scripture Readings

Centered on the authority of God’s Word, public reading of Scripture has always been integral. It fosters spiritual growth and ensures that worship remains grounded in truth.

2. Prayers and Confession

Both private and corporate prayer, along with the confession of sins, acknowledges human dependence on God’s grace and keeps hearts humble and repentant (cf. 1 John 1:9).

3. Music and Hymns

The Psalms in the Old Testament model a rich musical tradition, influencing Christian hymnody and responsive chanting. Ephesians 5:19 exhorts believers to be “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”

4. Sacraments/Ordinances

Practices such as the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are liturgical in nature, following the institution set forth by Christ (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19).

5. Preaching and Teaching

Proclamation of the Word has always been central, ensuring believers grow in knowledge, doctrine, and godliness.

6. Benedictions

Concluding blessings or benedictions, modeled on Old Testament priestly practice (Numbers 6:24–26), encourage the assembly to depart in the Lord’s peace and favor.

PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Liturgy serves to unite believers in worship, keeping them aligned with core doctrinal truths passed down from generation to generation. It reminds worshipers that they stand in a long line of faithful witnesses from Old Testament Israel to the apostles and onward (Hebrews 12:1). Structured worship also ensures that primary themes—atonement, resurrection, hope of eternal life—are consistently communicated.

Because Scripture reveals that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33), liturgy reflects the order and reverence fitting for worshiping the Creator. Formal practices help believers embody reverence and continuity. Far from being mere ritual, liturgy draws hearts together in unified responses of praise, confession, and devotion.

MODERN EXPRESSIONS

Contemporary churches exhibit a multitude of worship forms, from very formal and traditional to less structured “free worship.” Nonetheless, many modern liturgies maintain the biblical essentials: reading Scripture, corporate prayer, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, and offering praise. Even in informal services, key liturgical elements shape the worship order, highlighting humanity’s need for forgiveness and God’s redemptive work in Christ.

Across many cultures, pastors and church leaders find that purposeful liturgical patterns not only bring a sense of continuity with the historic church but also guide congregations into thoughtful, reverential worship. They allow core doctrines—creation, redemption, and hope in the risen Christ—to be proclaimed regularly.

CONCLUSION

Liturgy and liturgical practices have deep scriptural foundations and rich historical continuity. The pattern of worship given in both Old and New Testament examples demonstrates a God-honoring, orderly approach that has extended through centuries of Christian history. Whether highly structured or more fluid, liturgical elements direct believers’ hearts toward the greatness of God, the grace offered in Christ, and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.

In every era, the core purpose of liturgy remains the same: to ascribe glory to the eternal Creator and to remind the faithful of God’s redemptive mission in Christ, who “has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).