God is sovereign in the church—the community of his grace. He exercises this sovereignty through Jesus Christ, who alone is the supreme Lord of the church: “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Eph. 1:22); “He is the head of the body, the church... so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18).

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ shapes the mind and heart of the church. A congregation that embraces the doctrines of grace displays all the attitudes and attributes mentioned in the previous chapter. Its worship is God-centered, as its praise and proclamation are joyfully and reverently directed toward the glory of God. Its members pursue the practice of holiness, penitently and gratefully seeking to lead lives that are pleasing to God. All of their spiritual efforts are suffused with an attitude of absolute submission to God. The doctrines of grace foster dependence on “the means of grace,” which for most Calvinists refers to the Word, the sacraments, and prayer. These are means of grace because ordinarily God uses them to save and to sanctify his people. This does not mean that those who read their Bibles, get baptized, and say their prayers will be saved automatically. If that were so, then spiritual growth would become another method of self-improvement rather than a transforming work of divine grace. So in order for the means of grace to be effectual, they must be received by faith. As a church studies the Bible, receives the Lord’s Supper, and kneels in prayer, it must at the same time trust God’s Spirit to bring enlightenment, nourishment, and spiritual refreshment. Having been gathered by grace, the church continues to depend on sovereign grace for its progress in the faith.

—from "The Doctrines of Grace"