What is covenant renewal worship?

Every church worship service has a liturgy, or an order of service, of some kind. In covenant renewal worship, the liturgical order is sometimes called “the five C’s” of worship: call, confession, consecration, communion, and commission. While these are biblical aspects of Christian worship, Scripture does not require churches to arrange worship services according to this exact order.

The first part is the call to worship. The service starts with a passage from the Bible that calls God’s people to worship Him. Psalm 100 is an excellent example of a biblical text someone could use for this purpose: “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness!” (Psalm 100:1–2, ESV).

The second part is confession. This is an opportunity for worshipers to confess their sinfulness and remember Christ’s sacrifice, which takes away sin. A pastor might read a passage such as Psalm 103, which emphasizes God’s work on our behalf in removing our sin, and then point to the work of Christ as the means by which God forgives us. This part of the service may also include a time of quiet, personal confession. It often ends with a song of praise to God for His grace.

The third part is consecration. To be consecrated is to be set apart and equipped to serve God. This happens as believers are instructed from the Word of God and challenged to live out what they have heard through biblical preaching and teaching. Paul wrote that Scripture equips the believer “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16– 17). This is normally the part of the service in which the pastor preaches a sermon that is biblical and applicable to daily life.

The fourth part is communion. Toward the end of the service, the congregation receives the Lord’s Supper according to Scripture. First Corinthians 11:23–26 provides instruction concerning the bread and the cup. As Paul quotes Jesus, believers are to do this “in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Communion reminds Christians of the sacrifice of Christ, whose body was given and whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins.

The fifth part is commission. This is the closing act of the worship service in which the congregation is encouraged to go and live faithfully for Christ in their individual circles of influence, such as the family, job, school, and community. Jude 24–25 is a passage that is sometimes used in closing a service.

Churches may not use the terms call, confession, consecration, communion, and commission, but many include these same elements in their services.

The early church modeled elements to include in worship services. Believers are instructed to sing (Colossians 3:16), pray (1 Timothy 2:1), read and teach Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13), preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:2), observe the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23–26), and baptize disciples (Matthew 28:19). These practices belong to the worship and ministry of the church.

However, Scripture does not give one complete order of service that every congregation must follow. It does not command that confession must always follow the call to worship, that communion must always follow the sermon, or that churches must organize their worship according to the five C’s.

Covenant renewal worship can provide a helpful structure for a church service because its major elements reflect biblical practices. The five-part order, however, is not biblically mandated. Churches should be careful to follow what Scripture commands while allowing freedom in matters where Scripture does not prescribe a specific form.