How do worship services end?

Worship does not end when we leave a worship service. A clear call to discipleship or sending reminds us that our worship continues through obedient and grateful living. Like the offering, this call reminds us that our worship must bear fruit in our witness. Having come together to meet God as the children of God, we go out with the mandate to promote God's rule in the world. This challenge can be given any of several names, such as exhortation, call to commitment, charge to the people, call to service, and commissioning.

The close of worship should convey two important convictions:

1. We live in faithful service not so that God will love us, but because God has loved us first. 
2. We live by the power of the Spirit and thus do not need to rely on our own strength. Because of these convictions, a call to service should always be followed by a blessing. The Bible gives us not only the call to obedience but also the promise of God's presence to sustain us.

The close of worship can include a blessing. This blessing is fitting with the sending as God's blessing equips the saints of the church to go faithfully into the world and life. Blessings are offered among the priesthood of believers. While traditionally (and in some traditions exclusively) offered at the end of service by clergy, blessing is offered among God's people to each other.

Other possible elements of this concluding part of the worship service could include prayers and songs.

See:

• Sending
• Benediction or Blessing
• Closing Prayer

Ideas from the Bible for the close of worship

• Psalm 41:13, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel
• Psalm 72:18–19, the Lord does wondrous things
• Psalm 106:48, Blessed be the Lord from everlasting to everlasting
• Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you?"
• Matthew 22:36–40, the greatest commandment
• Matthew 28:19–20, the Great Commission
• Romans 11:33–36, the depth of God's riches and wisdom and knowledge
• 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, be courageous
• Ephesians 1:18–21, may you know the hope to which you've been called
• Ephesians 3:20–21, God can accomplish more than we can ask or imagine
• Ephesians 4:1–6, lead a life worthy of the calling
• Colossians 3:12–17, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
• 1 Thessalonians 5:13–22, rejoice always, pray continually
• 1 Timothy 1:15–17, the Lord's grace to Paul
• Hebrews 13:1–3, show hospitality to strangers
• 1 Peter 2:17, love the family of believers
• 1 John 3:23, love one another as Christ commanded us
• Revelation 1:5–6, we are made to be a kingdom and priests to serve God
• Revelation 7:12, praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor be to Go

Close of worship ideas for Advent

Call to service or discipleship

• Psalm 72, God delivers the needy when they call
• Matthew 25:1–13, keep ready for the bridegroom
• Mark 13:33–37, keep awake for the master's arrival
• Romans 13:11–14, salvation is nearer to us now
• 2 Peter 3:13–15, in accordance with God's promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth

Blessing or benediction

• Romans 15:12–13, the root of Jesse shall come
• 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13, may the Lord make you increase and abound in love
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely

Close of worship ideas for Christmas

• Titus 2:11–13, the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all

Close of worship ideas for Ash Wednesday

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely
• Psalm 90:13–17, may the Lord of all compassion satisfy you with his steadfast love
• Psalm 91:14–16, "Those who love me, I will deliver"

Close of worship ideas for Lent

• Matthew 4:4, 6, 22, live by the word of God
• Galatians 1:2–5, Christ gave himself for our sins
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23, may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely

Close of worship ideas for Palm Sunday

Call to service or discipleship

• Luke 9:23, "Let them take up their cross daily and follow me"
• Philippians 2:3–8, have Jesus' mindset of humility

Blessing or benediction

• Philippians 4:7, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds
• Galatians 4:4–6, we might receive adoption

Close of worship ideas for Maundy Thursday

Call to service or discipleship

• 1 John 4:7–11, let us love one another as God loved us

Blessing or benediction

• 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, may God comfort your hearts and strengthen them
• Philippians 4:7, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds

Close of worship ideas for Good Friday

Call to service or discipleship

• Philippians 2:3–8, have Jesus' mindset of humility
• Hebrews 12:1–3, let us run with perseverance the race set before us
• 1 John 3:16, we ought to lay down our lives for one another

Close of worship ideas for Easter

Call to service or discipleship

• Ephesians 3:20–21, God can accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine
• 1 Timothy 1:17, God is immortal and invisible

Blessing or benediction

• Hebrews 13:20–21, God raised to life the great shepherd of the sheep
• Revelation 1:4-6, grace and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come

Close of worship ideas for Ascension

Call to service or discipleship

• Matthew 28:19–20, go and make disciples
• Acts 1:11, Jesus will come the same way you saw him go

Blessing or benediction

• Revelation 1:4–6, grace and peace to you from him who is and was and is to come

Close of worship ideas for Pentecost

• Romans 15:13, may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace
• Galatians 5:22–23, 25, the fruit of the Spirit