At Soma, we want our entire service to be a picture of God’s story. Every movement of our service comes together to tell of a great God and a great Savior. We do this by partaking in historical liturgies. Liturgy is simply an order of service. We believe that the gathering is formational. We partake in these liturgies to shape our lives around the gospel of Jesus Christ.
CALL TO WORSHIP (GOD IS HOLY)
At the beginning of our service, we always want to bring our attention to God who is holy and spoke creation into existence. In our call to worship, we are reminded that God is the one who initiates everything and He alone deserves our praise and affection. God speaks; we respond.
See Gen. 1:1, Rev. 4:8
CONFESSION (WE ARE SINNERS)
The confession is a direct response to the holiness of God. Once we see His holiness, we are immediately disturbed by our sinfulness. The congregation then responds to the promise of God that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.
See Isa. 6:3-5, 1 John 1:9
LAMENT (THE WORLD IS BROKEN)
The word lament means to grieve or express sorrow. All throughout the Psalms we see lament taking place. This is a time in our service where we acknowledge and grieve the brokenness of the world. When we lament, we cry out to God: how long will He wait to redeem it all? While we express our sorrows, it simultaneously brings us to the hope we have in Christ and His coming.
See Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51
ASSURANCE (JESUS SAVES US)
Once we see the holiness of God and our sin, we naturally long for a Savior. Every single week we remind each other that Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. God has provided redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ.
See Rom. 5, Eph. 2: 4-5
PRAYER OF RENEWAL
Through Jesus Christ, we have an opportunity to approach God and beg Him to work. We are a church that is for the renewal of our city and the world. Each Sunday, we will pray for our city and the world. We pray in faith that God will use us and others to change the world through His Son and for His glory.
SCRIPTURE READING
The Word of God is essential to the Christian faith. Every part of our service is shaped by the Word of God. This is a tradition that dates back to the early church when the leaders of the church would read the words of God aloud to bless and encourage the body.
See 1 Tim. 4:13, Col. 4:13, Rev. 1:3
PREACHING
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God uses men to teach and encourage us in the Word of God. Each message has one central theme, Jesus. Every sermon you hear will end with the work of Jesus Christ.
See 1 Tim. 4:13
COMMUNION
Taking communion is a command from Jesus Christ. This is also the pinnacle of our service. We are united as brother and sisters; all of us are sinners who require Christ’s death to cover our sins. We partake every week to remind each other that the blood of Christ was shed for us and His body was broken for us. Communion is also a family meal. It is only meant for those who believe and submit to the authority of Christ. The beauty of the gospel is that everyone can have the opportunity to come to the table and partake in the banquet of grace.
See Luke 22:19-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-34
GIVING/OFFERING
Jesus said it is more blessed to give than receive. Through the power of the gospel, we have all received the priceless gift of Jesus. Giving should be a response to the goodness God has shown us. There are also practical needs: pastors should be paid, the lights need to be kept on, and technology is needed. Finances are often a burden, but the church community should give to relieve those burdens. Giving designed to be a sacrifice and we are called to do it cheerfully. We dishonor God when we honor Him with our pockets, but our heart isn’t in it.
See Acts 2: 45 and 20:35, 2 Cor. 9:6-15, 1 Tim. 5: 17-18, Matt. 15:18
BENEDICTION (JESUS SENDS US)
Before Jesus left His disciples, He gave them a mission and left them with His peace. Each service, we leave with a good word for the road. We leave the congregation with peace, a peace that only comes from Jesus Christ.
See Matt. 10, John 14:27