Regulative Principle Worship &

the Covenant Renewal Service

What Is Regulative Principle Worship?

At UpRiver Bible Church, we follow what is known as the Regulative Principle of Worship. Simply put, we believe that only what God commands in His Word belongs in the worship of His people (Deut. 12:32; Lev. 10:1–3; John 4:24). Our aim is not creativity, emotionalism, or cultural relevance, but faithful obedience to God’s voice in Scripture.

This means our worship is shaped by what God has said, not by what we think He might prefer.

We gather each Lord’s Day to worship on His terms, according to His revealed pattern. We do not add man-made traditions, nor do we treat worship as a stage for personal expression. Worship is covenantal—God calls His people to Himself, and we respond in reverence, repentance, faith, and joy.

Covenant Renewal Worship: A Biblical Rhythm

Worship is more than singing and listening. It is a covenantal meeting between the Lord and His gathered people. Throughout Scripture, God meets with His people in structured, patterned ways. These patterns are seen in the worship of Israel, the renewal ceremonies of the Old Testament, and the heavenly worship shown in Revelation.

At UpRiver, we follow a Covenant Renewal Worship structure—a fivefold (actually six, in our case) biblical pattern that reflects how God deals with His people:

The Order of Our Lord’s Day Worship Service
1. Invocation – Calling upon God’s Name

We begin our worship not with announcements or small talk, but with a deliberate prayer calling upon the Triune God to be present with His people. We ask for His help, presence, and blessing (Psalm 124:8; 1 Cor. 1:2).

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:8)

2. Call to Worship – God Initiates the Meeting

God always speaks first. Worship begins not with man approaching God, but with God calling His people. This is typically drawn directly from Scripture—God's own Word invites us into His presence (Ex. 19:3–6; Ps. 95:1–6; Heb. 12:22–24).

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” (Ps. 95:6)

3. Confession – Acknowledging Our Sin

In the light of God's holiness, we recognize our sin and confess it. We do this, kneeling in humility, silently, and corporately:

Confession is done together, reminding us that we are a people—not just individuals—

coming before a holy God in need of grace (1 John 1:8–9; Isaiah 6:1–7).

After confession, we hear a Declaration of Absolution—a joyful assurance from Scripture that God forgives all who truly repent and trust in Christ.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us...” (1 John 1:9)

4. Consecration – Hearing and Responding to the Word

After confessing our sins and receiving assurance of pardon, we enter into a time of Consecration. This includes the reading of four Scripture passages from the Revised Common Lectionary—Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel—connecting us with the broader Church and the whole counsel of God. Following the readings, we unite in congregational prayer, lifting up petitions for the world, our nation, and our local church body. Then we hear the preaching of God’s Word, delivered expositionally—verse-by-verse through an entire book of the Bible. This is not a motivational talk, but a proclamation of what God has said in His Word. In the midst of all this is singing. It is in response to the Scripture readings, and then an extended time of singing in response to the sermon, preparing our hearts for communion with Christ at His table.
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

5. Communion – Peace and Fellowship with God

Cleansed and consecrated, we now enjoy communion with our covenant Lord. We come to His table, where He nourishes us with the body and blood of Christ by faith (Matt. 26:26–29; 1 Cor. 11:23–26). This is not a private moment, but a covenantal meal for the gathered family of God—joyful, reverent, and centered on Christ.

“For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” (1 Cor. 10:17)

6. Commission – Sent to Live as God's People

Having met with God, confessed sin, received mercy, heard His Word,

and communed with Christ, we are now sent out.

We go with the blessing of the Triune God upon us and a call to live as faithful ambassadors of Christ in the world (Matt. 28:18–20; 2 Cor. 5:20). The final benediction is not a prayer but a declaration of God’s favor resting upon His covenant people.

“The Lord bless you and keep you... and give you peace.” (Num. 6:24–26)

Why This Is So Different—and So Rich

Many churches today follow what is called the Normative Principle of Worship: anything not forbidden in Scripture is allowed. This often leads to worship that centers on performance, entertainment, or emotional hype.

We are unapologetically different.

Our worship may seem strange, formal, or even old-fashioned compared to what you’ll find in many country churches. But that’s because we believe that God—not man—should shape our worship.

Our services are:
Scriptural – every element grounded in the Bible
Covenantal – patterned after God's dealings with His people
Christ-centered – proclaiming the gospel of grace each week
Orderly – reverent and structured, yet joyful
Participatory – the people sing, confess, listen, pray, and respond together

Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Worship at UpRiver Bible Church

Q1: What is the Regulative Principle of Worship?
A: The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) is the conviction that in corporate worship, we should do only what God commands in Scripture. We do not add man-made innovations or traditions. This means our worship is shaped and governed by God's Word from beginning to end.

Q2: Why do you follow a specific order of service?
A: Because worship is a covenantal meeting between God and His people. Scripture reveals a pattern for worship that reflects this covenant renewal: God calls, we respond in confession, He consecrates us by His Word, communes with us at the Table, and commissions us to live for Him. We follow this structure: Invocation, Call to Worship, Confession, Consecration, Communion, Commission.

Q3: What is Covenant Renewal Worship?
A: Covenant Renewal Worship is a structured, biblical pattern of worship where each element reflects God’s covenant dealings with His people. It mirrors the worship rhythms found in both Old and New Testaments and reflects God’s call to meet with His people in holiness, grace, and joy.

Q4: Why do you read four Scripture passages every Sunday?
A: We follow the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle of weekly Scripture readings: one from the Old Testament, a Psalm, an Epistle, and a Gospel. This ensures our congregation hears broadly from the whole counsel of God and remains anchored in the life and teachings of Christ.

Q5: What is the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL)?
A: The RCL is a schedule of Scripture readings developed in 1992 and used by churches worldwide. It helps the Church hear from all parts of Scripture while following the life of Christ throughout the Church year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Ordinary Time).

Q6: Why do you include a corporate confession of sin?
A: Because we come before a holy God each Lord’s Day, it is right that we humble ourselves in confession. We do this silently and corporately, acknowledging our need for mercy and grace. Confession is followed by a joyful declaration of God’s forgiveness through Christ.

Q7: Isn’t this style of worship too formal?
A: Our worship is reverent, not rigid. While we follow a structured order, it is filled with Scripture, prayer, singing, joy, and thanksgiving. God is not honored by disorder or entertainment, but by worship that reflects His holiness and grace.

Q8: How is this different from other churches?
A: Many churches follow the Normative Principle—allowing anything in worship that God has not explicitly forbidden. We believe God has told us how to worship, and that joyful obedience to His Word brings Him glory and us blessing.

Q9: Why is the Lord’s Supper served every week?
A: Communion is the covenant meal where God nourishes His people with the benefits of Christ. In the early Church, the Supper was central to weekly worship. We believe it should be the joyful climax of every Lord’s Day gathering.

Q10: What if I’ve never experienced this kind of worship before?
A: You are welcome here. Our services are simple, joyful, and soaked in Scripture. It may feel different at first, but we believe you’ll find it deeply rich and spiritually nourishing as we meet with God together each week.

Join Us This Lord’s Day

Whether you’re used to contemporary services, or liturgical ones, or have never attended church at all—we invite you to join us in something ancient, scriptural, and full of life: the joyful, reverent, covenantal worship of the Triune God.

​Why We Worship the Way We Do