Preparing and preaching sermons takes diligent, prayerful preparation. Therefore, ministers must devote themselves to studying, explaining and applying the Scriptures. The minister must digest the Word for himself before he feeds it to others. Puritan John Owen said unless the preacher “finds the power of it in his own heart, he cannot have any ground of confidence that it will have power in the hearts of others.”
16 Mar 2023
Delighting the Heart of God with the Gift of Song
This reminds us that worship through song is an act of obedience to the Lord. This gives singing perspective. We might ask, "If singing is an act of obedience, how does God want us to sing?" Here, is an order of priority for selecting Christian music: words, voices, delivery.
8 Mar 2023
Offering Public Prayer as an Act of Worship
In light of Jesus' counsel to pray in secret, I was once asked if public prayer is sinful. Do you break Jesus' command when you pray with and for your family? In our corporate worship services, we offer many prayers. Sometimes the minister prays and other times we pray together. Should we stop doing that? Should we stop holding mid-week prayer services?
If you've ever wondered about this, you may find Jesus' instruction in the Lord's Prayer helpful (Matthew 6:9-13). He said, "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9). The Lord's model prayer begins: "Our Father." When I pray by myself, I never address God by saying, "Our Father." Instead, I might say, "My father."
1 Mar 2023
Sitting At Jesus’ Feet in Corporate Worship
If we truly believe Scripture is the life-giving Word of God, why don't more Protestant churches read it to their congregations? Why is not our worship centered around hearing from the living God rather than making ourselves heard? As Christians, we need to sing less and listen more! Let's make worship a Mary moment not a Martha one, and invite the congregation to sit and listen to Jesus speak.
8 Feb 2023
True Corporate Worship Must Emphasize the Unity of the Body
Nehemiah 8-9 join Leviticus 10 and Hebrews 12 as significant to our development of a theology of worship. In verse 1, the people of Israel are described as gathering "as one man into the square before the Water Gate" (Nehemiah 8:1). When the people gathered before the Lord for corporate worship, they did so "as one man." That moment focused on the individual as part of the body. Together, God's people stood, listened, answered, said "Amen", lifted their hands, bowed their heads, and worshiped (Nehemiah 8:6).
1 Feb 2023
Delighting in the Christian Work of Corporate Worship
Some wrestle with making worship more "participatory." What they mean is they want more people to lead. However, since worship is work, all of worship is an exercise in which the whole congregation participates. You are never passive in worship. This includes during prayer and preaching.
25 Jan 2023
The Scriptures, Not Sincerity, Are Key to Honoring Christ in Worship
When we worship Christ, it’s a powerful temptation to think that whatever pleases us must please him. If I enjoy interpretive dance, neon lights, and little Suzy’s solo, surely Jesus must. Approaching worship this way is self-centered, not Christ-centered. As God sanctifies us, he aligns our affections with his, but we are never free to depart from the clear testimony of his Word. His Word becomes our delight (Psalm 119:14).
18 Jan 2023
A Call to the Church to Return to True Worship
As I observe the practices of the church, I’m concerned that churches have stopped thinking about worship. It really does seem as though we’ve entered an era in which “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). That seems to be the premise of offering different worship styles, doesn’t it? Isn’t it to offer the people what they want? During the time of the judges in Israel, one particular condition is pointed out again and again: “there was no king” (Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25).
14 Dec 2022
England Is No Longer Majority Christian (And Neither Is America)
An average of all 2021 Gallup polling revealed 69% of Americans "identify with a Christian religion." That's a majority, but I'd suggest many of these respondents are saying, "I'm not an atheist. I'm not Buddhist. I'm not Muslim. I must be Christian." For these folks, though, Christianity is just a title, it isn't a belief system.
7 Dec 2022
Fathers: Take Your Family to Church
Every week, on the day appointed by God, everyone who belongs to Christ makes their way to church to worship Christ with everyone else who belongs to Christ. In obedience to him, we gather with other believers from our community (Hebrews 10:24). Gathering to God's throne with us are the elect angels and all our loved ones who have died in the Lord (Revelation 5:11-12). Altogether, we gather at Mount Zion to hear from God and receive his grace through Christ, imparted by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 12:28-29). Truly, it is a foretaste of the glories to come.
30 Nov 2022
All We Are Is Dust in the Wind (And A Soul that Will Live Forever)
According to Scripture, a wise man fears the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) and lives in view of death. It is not a Christian attitude to avoid thoughts of death, but to live in light of it, numbering our days. But, living in light of the end doesn't just mean acknowledging all men die and return to dust. Scripture teaches you are a two-part composition of body and soul (Genesis 2:7). Your body will die and decay, but your soul will live eternally (Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 12:7).
24 Nov 2022
Like Coffee, Convictions are Only Meaningful When Strong
Convictions are something like coffee. Many people want to be a little watered down. They don’t want to hold their opinions too strongly because they are afraid of offending others. As a result, their lives, like milky coffee, are pretty bland. They don’t have an identity. Instead, like a chameleon, they just try to fit in wherever they are.
16 Nov 2022
First Comes Life, Then Comes Faith, Then Comes Justification
Let's think about it closely. We are saying that the Holy Spirit must change a man internally before he embraces Jesus Christ for salvation. In our sinful state, no amount of altar calls, revivals, soft piano music, or fiery preaching will persuade us to believe in Christ. You and I, alone, cannot convince anyone to be saved. This is a work only the Spirit of God can do.
9 Nov 2022
Who, In Your Opinion, Is Jesus Christ?
Houston, we have a problem! Based on these responses, at least half of Southern Christians deny the Gospel they claim saves them.
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