8. Simple, Spiritual, and Substantial

Simple, Spiritual, and Substantial

I like the threefold characterization of Scriptural worship given in the Introduction to the book, "Leading in Worship," edited by Terry L. Johnson.

After carefully defining the truth that all worship must be "according to Scripture," the Introduction goes on to say, "Worship that is so defined will of necessity be simple, spiritual, and substantial."

These three terms are further defined and explained by saying:

• "Simple, because the New Testament does not prescribe a complex ritual of service as is found in the Old Testament;

• Spiritual, because when Jesus removed the special status of Jerusalem as the place where God was to be worshiped (John 4:7-24), He signaled the abolition of all the material forms that constituted the typological Old Testament system including not only the city, but all that gave the city significance - the temple, the altars, the priests, the sacrificial animals, the incense;

• Substantial, because the God of the Bible is a great God and cannot be worshiped appropriately with forms that are light, flippant, or superficial; He must always be worshiped with 'reverence and awe' (Hebrews 12:28)."            ("Leading in Worship," edited by Terry L. Johnson)

This is a great way to characterize Scriptural worship.

This is why worship that is Reformed in the classical sense of the word seeks to be known by being simple, spiritual, and substantial. 

This is why we plan our worship services at New Covenant Presbyterian Church to be known by simplicity, spiritual depth, and substantiality.  Such are the marks of worship that is Scriptural.


"We are convinced that the true need of the hour is precisely what Presbyterians have always had - simple, spiritual, substantial, reverent worship featuring expository preaching, free prayers, great hymns and metrical Psalms, and anchored in fixed forms of time-proven quality and worth."(from "Leading in Worship," edited by Terry L. Johnson)

"Today as much as ever we must stand for simplicity, purity, fidelity to Scripture, and Christ-centeredness in our worship because we want to worship God in the way He has prescribed, so as to have Christ and His Gospel flourishing at the center of our church's life.  And thus we must clearly reject the proposed reintroduction of the medieval, Roman Catholic Church Year with its attendant ceremonies"

(from an article that originally appeared in the "Presbyterian Journal in November 1979, and written by Douglas F. Kelly)

See the full article here.

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