Worship has been described as "the primary work of the congregation." It is certainly critical in the life and ministry of the church. Worship is the one activity that involves the entire congregation. It is our primary contact with our community. When people are looking for a church they start by attending worship. And often it is worship that becomes the deciding factor in determining whether or not a person will continue a relationship with a church. Most people consider worship to be the primary motivation and encouragement for the life of faith.
At First Presbyterian worship is a vibrant blend of worship styles, music, the dramatic and visual arts, and participatory engagement of the congregation. Our aim is to capture the energy and spiritual quality of contemporary worship while embracing the richness of traditional worship.
Worship design and content are highly regarded at First Presbyterian. Staff resources are devoted to the careful planning of each service. We began 2025 with the annual worship theme: “Rooted in Faith, Growing in Grace”. A monthly theme is selected to support that theme. Recent themes include:
A Message From Pastor RJ Leek
07/31/26
Grace Alone
The Difference Between Works Righteousness and a Life Saved by Grace
In the quiet of our hearts, a subtle temptation often rises: the urge to prove our worth before God through our efforts. Works righteousness whispers that if we pray more, serve harder, or obey more perfectly, God will love us more. It is a life of constant striving, measuring our standing by performance. When we succeed, pride swells; when we fail, shame and fear take hold. This path never brings true rest.
By contrast, a life saved by grace rests entirely on the finished work of Jesus Christ. As Paul declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Justification is a once-for-all declaration of righteousness grounded in Christ’s perfect obedience and sacrifice, received by faith alone. Our good works then flow as grateful response—not as currency to purchase favor.
We in the Reformed tradition, who cherish the solas of the Reformation, must remain vigilant. Even we can slip into works righteousness by treating spiritual disciplines as ladders to climb rather than means of grace that keep us near Christ. We avoid this by continually preaching the gospel to ourselves, carefully distinguishing justification from sanctification, and fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let every act of obedience be an act of thanksgiving, not self-justification.
Lord, keep us resting in Your grace alone. Amen.