Posts from 2020
God’s Blueprint for Worship – Part 3
You may want to read part 1 and part 2 before reading part 3 in this series. There are three passages which unlock God’s design for public worship—what I’m calling God’s blueprint for worship. These three texts are: Text Topic John 4:24 Spirit and Truth 1 Corinthians 14:40 Decently and In Order Hebrews 12:28-29 Reverence and Awe In part 2 we studied the context of John 4:24 and learned that the Father is seeking true worshipers who worship in spirit…
God’s Blueprint for Worship – Part 2
In the previous post (God’s Blueprint for Worship) I stated that God has not left us free to do as we please in the worship service. If God had left us to do as we please during the Lord’s Day gathering we might ask ourselves this guiding question: “What will please the congregation?” Unfortunately, too many churches ask themselves this question and their answer, which means their practice, is usually unbiblical. The right question to ask ourselves about how we…
Would You Rather…? (Applying Proverbs 16:8)
Do you remember the childhood game “Would you rather”? Would you rather have Batman’s powers or Spiderman’s powers? Would you rather the weather be too hot or too cold? Sometimes the choice was easy, and other times it was difficult. If two friends are hanging from a cliff and you can only save one, would you rather save this one or that one? This game is not much fun for adults, especially when the choices are hard. But since hard…
God’s Blueprint for Worship
God has commanded us to worship Him and He alone is worthy to be worshipped. But how are we to worship God when assembled together as a congregation? The answer will transform your worship service, your congregation, and your life. How could biblical, God-centered worship of an almighty, infinite God do otherwise? The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 7, describes God in this manner: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal,…
What is Maundy Thursday and why is it important?
“Holy Week” is when the church remembers the final week of the life of Jesus Christ. Last Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday which marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem riding upon a donkey. Today is Maundy Thursday. Tomorrow will be Good Friday when we reflect upon the substitutionary death of our Savior upon the cross. And this Sunday is Resurrection Day or Easter Sunday.
3 Powerful Reasons Jesus Rode a Donkey on Palm Sunday
The fact that Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey reveals his identity and purpose (Matthew 21:4-5).
Show Yourself to Be Mighty to Save
Heavenly Father, You have provided us with everything we need for life and godliness! In your Word, we find “precious and very great promises” (2 Peter 1:3-4). One of those promises comes to us from the words of David in Psalm 27, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1-2). Teach us to rest in that promise even now. When…
Mindful of the Lessons We Are Learning
Heavenly Father, we come to you because we know that you alone have the answers to our greatest needs. You are faithful and kind to hear us when we call upon you. When everything else in our world is turned upside down, you remain upright. You are steadfast and sure. You are our Rock when every other foundation is shifting sand. We are grateful that it seems the earliest predictions of this coronavirus crisis are not bearing out in reality.…
Looking to a Sovereign God in Uncertain Times
Heavenly Father, we come to you during a time of great uncertainty. We do not know how long our nation will be stuck in isolation, nor do really have any idea of the magnitude of this Coronavirus crisis. Some of us do not know what our job situation will be at the end of this. Most of us are preparing for some level of financial impact. We come to you during this time of uncertainty, because we know that you…