28 Modern (and Biblical) Calls to Worship
Introduction
These 28 modern calls to worship are designed for congregational use in a One/All structure. Each piece is rooted in Scripture while using language that speaks to today’s church. Whether your service is traditional, contemporary, or blended, these calls help set a tone of reverence, welcome, and expectation. Each one references a biblical theme or passage, listed in parentheses for context and confidence.
1. God’s Faithfulness in Everyday Life
1. God Never Leaves Us
(Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 28:20)
One: Come, all who feel alone, forgotten, or unsure.
All: God is here—faithful in every moment.
One: Come, all who rejoice and give thanks.
All: God rejoices with us and receives our praise.
One: In all seasons, through all things—
All: We worship the One who never leaves us.
2. Steadfast Love Through the Seasons
(Lamentations 3:22–23, Psalm 136:1)
One: From the first light of spring to the stillness of winter—
All: God’s love remains constant.
One: When joy overflows or sorrow lingers—
All: God’s faithfulness does not fail.
One: Today, we bring our whole selves to worship—
All: Trusting in the steadfast love of the Lord.
3. Trusting in the Unknown
(Proverbs 3:5–6, Hebrews 11:1)
One: We do not know what the week will bring—
All: But we trust the One who walks beside us.
One: We are not promised certainty—
All: But we are promised presence.
One: So we gather in hope—
All: And worship the God who holds tomorrow.
4. The God Who Remembers
(Isaiah 49:15–16, Luke 12:6–7)
One: When the world forgets our names and stories—
All: God remembers.
One: When we feel small or unseen—
All: God calls us beloved.
One: In every gathering, God meets us with love—
All: And we respond with worship.
2. Jesus: His Life, Love, and Teachings
5. Come to Me, All Who Are Weary
(Matthew 11:28–30)
One: Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.”
All: We come—tired, hopeful, burdened, and open.
One: Not because we have it all together—
All: But because grace always welcomes us in.
One: Let us lay down what weighs us down—
All: And worship the One who brings peace.
6. The Table Is Wide - Communion
(Luke 5:29–32, Luke 14:21–23)
One: Jesus shared meals with saints and sinners, outcasts and leaders.
All: He welcomed everyone to the table.
One: Today, that same table stretches wide.
All: There is a place for each of us here.
One: So come in joy, come in honesty—
All: And worship the One who invites us all.
7. Light of the World
(John 8:12, Matthew 5:14–16)
One: In a world of shadows and shifting truths—
All: Jesus is the Light that cannot be extinguished.
One: He illuminates our path and opens our eyes.
All: His light gives life to all who follow Him.
One: Let us step into that light with joy—
All: And worship the Light of the world.
8. He Heals and Sends - Great for Commissioning or Mission Trip
(Luke 4:18–19, Mark 5:34)
One: Jesus met the hurting, the lonely, and the forgotten.
All: He healed them and sent them with purpose.
One: He restores what is broken—
All: And calls us into lives of love and service.
One: Today, we come for healing and calling—
All: We worship the One who makes all things new.
3. The Holy Spirit and Renewal
9. Breathe on Us
Ezekiel 37:1–6; John 20:21–22
One: Come, Holy Spirit—breathe new life into tired bones.
All: We are ready to be stirred, awakened, and filled.
One: Move through our worship with power and grace.
All: Blow through our lives like wind through dry places.
One: Come, Spirit of God—renew, restore, revive.
All: We worship with open hearts and expectant faith.
10. Spirit in the Silence
1 Kings 19:11–13
One: Not in the fire. Not in the earthquake. Not in the storm.
All: The Lord comes to us in a still, small voice.
One: In the quiet, God speaks.
All: In the silence, God draws near.
One: Let us listen together, and worship with reverence.
All: We are still, and we know God is here.
11. Fire, Wind, Stillness
Acts 2:1–4; Isaiah 30:15
One: The Spirit comes in many forms—wind, fire, whisper.
All: We welcome all the ways God shows up.
One: Some days loud and clear, some days soft and subtle.
All: Still, the Spirit is present and moving.
One: Come, Holy Spirit, and make this place holy.
All: We worship You in truth and in Spirit.
12. A New Heart Within
Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 12:2
One: God promises to remove our hearts of stone—
All: And give us hearts that are soft, open, and alive.
One: We come for transformation, not just tradition.
All: We come for renewal, not just routine.
One: Come, Holy Spirit—make us new.
All: We worship with hearts ready to change.
4. Worship in Joy and Sorrow
13. Come with Laughter, Come with Tears
Romans 12:15; Psalm 30:5
One: Some of us come with joy; some come with grief.
All: God receives both laughter and tears.
One: Some are dancing; some are barely standing.
All: Still, all are welcome here.
One: Come as you are—no mask, no pretending.
All: We worship a God who meets us honestly.
14. Singing in a Minor Key
Habakkuk 3:17–19; Psalm 13
One: Even when joy is quiet and praise feels hard—
All: We still choose to sing.
One: Even when the fig tree does not blossom—
All: Still, we rejoice in the God of our salvation.
One: With trembling voices and stubborn hope—
All: We worship in a minor key, and God hears every note.
15. Beauty in the Ashes
Isaiah 61:1–3
One: God gives beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise for despair.
All: We come bringing all that is broken.
One: We come bearing stories of loss and resilience.
All: And God breathes new life into the ruins.
One: Today, we trust in the holy work of restoration.
All: We worship the God who makes all things new.
16. When Words Run Out
Romans 8:26; Psalm 34:18
One: Sometimes the pain is too deep for words.
All: And still, the Spirit prays for us with sighs too deep for speech.
One: When our strength is gone and our prayers are quiet—
All: God is near to the brokenhearted.
One: Come, not because you know what to say—
All: But because God knows your heart.
5. Belonging, Family, and Friendship
17. We Are Not Alone
John 14:18; Hebrews 10:24–25
One: In a world that can feel disconnected—
All: God gathers us into community.
One: We are not alone in our questions or our faith.
All: We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
One: Come, find your place in the family of God.
All: We worship together—one body, many parts.
18. A Place for Every Story
Galatians 3:26–28; Luke 8:1–3
One: Every story matters here.
All: Every voice is welcome.
One: In God’s kingdom, there is no outsider.
All: There is no hierarchy of worth.
One: Bring your full self, your true self.
All: We worship a God who sees and knows us.
19. The Family of God
Ephesians 2:19–22; Romans 12:5
One: We are no longer strangers—
All: But citizens in God’s household.
One: Built together in love, grace, and truth—
All: Connected by Christ, held by the Spirit.
One: Let us come with joy, like children at home.
All: We worship as one family in God.
20. Hand in Hand, Heart to Heart
Colossians 3:12–14
One: In humility and kindness, we gather.
All: Bearing with one another in love.
One: Forgiving where needed, celebrating what’s good.
All: Bound together in perfect unity.
One: Hand in hand, heart to heart—
All: We worship in love and community.
6. Justice, Mercy, and Compassion
21. Let Justice Roll
Amos 5:24; Micah 6:8
One: Let justice roll down like waters—
All: And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
One: God has shown us what is good.
All: To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
One: We gather to be challenged and changed.
All: We worship the God of justice and peace.
22. A People of Peace
Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18
One: Blessed are the peacemakers—
All: For they shall be called children of God.
One: In a world of conflict, we choose compassion.
All: In a time of noise, we seek the way of peace.
One: Let us be shaped by Christ’s love.
All: We worship the Prince of Peace.
23. Called to Do Good
Isaiah 1:17; Galatians 6:9–10
One: God calls us to do good, seek justice, and defend the oppressed.
All: We are not here for comfort alone.
One: We gather to be equipped for love and service.
All: We come to grow in courage and compassion.
One: Let us worship not only in words—
All: But in lives shaped by grace.
24. God of the Oppressed
Luke 4:18–19; Psalm 146:7–9
One: God lifts up the lowly and feeds the hungry.
All: God sets prisoners free and heals the brokenhearted.
One: The Lord watches over the outcast and the orphan.
All: God is the defender of the forgotten.
One: We worship not a distant deity—
All: But the God of the poor, the hurting, and the hopeful.
7. Focus and Centering on God
25. Be Still and Know
Psalm 46:10; Exodus 14:14
One: Be still, and know that God is God.
All: In the stillness, we remember who we are and whose we are.
One: The Lord will fight for us; we need only to be still.
All: We release our distractions and rest in God’s presence.
One: Let us worship in quiet trust.
All: God is here.
26. Turn Your Eyes
Hebrews 12:1–2; Psalm 121:1–2
One: We lift our eyes to the hills—where does our help come from?
All: Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
One: Let us throw off everything that hinders, and fix our eyes on Jesus.
All: He is the author and perfecter of our faith.
One: With steady hearts and open spirits—
All: We worship the One who leads us on.
27. From Distraction to Devotion
Luke 10:38–42; Matthew 6:33
One: We are often Martha when we want to be Mary—
All: Busy, distracted, pulled in every direction.
One: But Christ calls us to choose what matters most.
All: To sit at His feet, to seek first the kingdom.
One: Let us bring our whole selves before God.
All: We worship with undivided hearts.
28. Here, Now, Holy
Genesis 28:16–17; Matthew 18:20
One: Surely the Lord is in this place—whether we noticed it or not.
All: This is holy ground.
One: Wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name—
All: God is present among us.
One: Here. Now. Holy.
All: Let us worship the Living God.
Conclusion
Calls to worship invite us to pause, gather, and refocus our hearts and minds on God. Whether drawn from ancient Scripture or expressed in modern language, it is the Spirit who gathers and forms us as God’s own children.
I hope these 28 calls inspire your worship and is a bit of help in the work we do together. If you benefit from this, please say hi in the comments!
Grace and peace,
Jason
