What is "Liturgy" ?

In a broad sense, every church is liturgical because every church follows some kind of order or structure in its worship service, even if it’s informal or unspoken. 

Churches like Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, and many Presbyterian or Reformed churches follow a formal, historic liturgy—often with written prayers, creeds, confessions, and a structured order that connects closely to church tradition.

Baptist, Pentecostal, and many evangelical churches may not call it liturgy, but they still have a pattern for worship—perhaps singing, announcements, sermon, altar call, etc. That’s still a form of liturgy, just more flexible or spontaneous.

So what's the difference?

The difference isn’t whether there’s a liturgy, but how structured and historically rooted it is. Some liturgies follow a centuries-old pattern that includes things like the call to worship, confession, assurance, creed, prayers, sacraments, and benediction. Others are more modern and informal but still guide the flow of worship. Whatever its form, liturgy shapes us.

As James K.A. Smith (Desiring the Kingdom) writes, “You can tell what someone loves by watching what they habitually do.”  

Does it matter?

There are four primary reasons liturgy matters: 

1. Liturgy shapes what we believe.

2. It tells the gospel story.  

A thoughtful liturgy is more than just a series of church activities—it actually leads us through the gospel story each week. Many worship services, whether we realize it or not, are shaped to reflect the grand narrative of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

Here’s how that unfolds in worship:

• Creation / Call to Worship – The service begins by acknowledging who God is—our Creator and Sustainer—and calls us to respond. This mirrors how we were made for worship, to delight in God’s presence.

• Fall / Confession of Sin – We acknowledge our brokenness, both corporately and personally. This part of the service reminds us of our sin and need for a Savior—it tells the truth about the human condition.
• Redemption / Assurance of Pardon & Word – After confession comes grace. We’re assured of forgiveness in Christ, and we hear God’s Word read and preached. This proclaims the good news: Jesus has done what we could not.
• Restoration / Communion, Benediction, and Sending – The service often ends with communion or a final blessing, reminding us of the hope we have in Christ and sending us back into the world to live as His redeemed people. It points to the ultimate restoration still to come.

Whether the church uses a formal liturgy with printed prayers or a simpler, more modern format, the intentional flow of worship can preach the gospel—not just through words, but through repeated, embodied practice

3. It creates consistency and unity.

Liturgy gives the whole church—from the brand-new believer to the seasoned saint—a shared framework for worship. It offers a common language and rhythm that unites us, no matter where we are in our spiritual journey. Within that structure, there’s space for reflection, honest confession, joyful praise, and deep spiritual formation—week after week, shaping us more into the image of Christ.

4. It roots us in something bigger than ourselves.

Liturgy connects us to the historic church, to Scripture, and to generations of believers who have worshiped with the same patterns across centuries and cultures. These practices—like confession, prayer, creeds, and communion—remind us that we’re part of a much larger story. It’s not about going through the motions or clinging to tradition for tradition’s sake. It’s about grounding our worship in timeless truth—truth that has shaped and sustained the church throughout history and continues to form us today.

So yes, liturgy matters—not simply because of what we do in worship, but because of who we’re becoming as we do it.

Looking Ahead...

In coming posts, we’ll take a closer look at some of the key elements in our liturgy—what they are and why they matter. Stay tuned!