Over the years I cannot count the number of times that people visiting our church have remarked about the volume and joy in the singing of the congregation. It seems it is becoming more remarkable than ever these days because people are used to the volume coming from speakers echoing the singing of a group … Continue reading Tim Challies on “What We Lost When We Lost Our Hymnals”
Family Worship: Some Practical Guidelines
Having considered the decline of family worship, as well as some biblical principles and positive benefits to support its practice, I'd now like to offer several basic guidelines that should govern our thinking and practice as we endeavor to implement family worship in our homes. Be consistent and persistent To achieve consistency, we need to … Continue reading Family Worship: Some Practical Guidelines
Family Worship: Some Positive Benefits
Having considered the decline of family worship (Part 1) and some biblical support for its practice (Part 2), we look now at some positive benefits, which in turn supply another argument for its restoration. As Paul instructs us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether we eat, drink, or whatever we do, we’re to do all to … Continue reading Family Worship: Some Positive Benefits
Family Worship: Its Biblical Basis
In Part 1, we defined family worship as "the occasion in which the members of a given family gather together in order to participate in special acts of worship, such as the singing of praise, the reading and hearing of Scripture, and the offering of prayer to God." In this segment of our study, we'll … Continue reading Family Worship: Its Biblical Basis
Family Worship: Its Decline
I attended a Christian University along with 5,000 other students, most of whom came from Christian homes. Although I never conducted an official survey, my general impression was that very few of my fellow Christian students had grown up in homes where family worship had been regularly practiced. It was a foreign concept to most … Continue reading Family Worship: Its Decline
I Shouldn’t Be a Reformed Baptist
I am regularly asked why I don't go to the largest, fastest growing church where most twenty somethings go in our town. It doesn't make sense to some why my wife and I choose to be part of a simple average sized church. By Bible-Belt expectations, I shouldn't want to go to church where the … Continue reading I Shouldn’t Be a Reformed Baptist
Questions about the Atmosphere and Emotions in Worship
I have three simple questions relating to worship, though admittedly they may not have simple answers. I will begin by asking my first two questions, which are very similar, and will close by asking a third question. 1. What role should the atmosphere (energy level) of a worship service have in evoking emotions? 2. To … Continue reading Questions about the Atmosphere and Emotions in Worship
Some Helpful Thoughts About Worship
Yesterday Rick Schupp, Pastor at the Amman International Church (AIC), commented on a series the elders at the church have begun on worship. You may read his thoughts at his blog, A Voice in the Desert, in a post entitled A Recipe for Worship. Here is a brief preview offering some Biblical perspective on worship: … Continue reading Some Helpful Thoughts About Worship
Jim Domm on the Regulative Principle of Worship
Earlier today an excellent article on the regulative principle of worship was posted on the RBS Tabletalk blog. The article was written by Jim Domm, who is Pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Englewood, New Jersey, and an M.Div. Student at the Reformed Baptist Seminary. The article is entitled The Regulative Principle of Worship in Historical Perspective, and … Continue reading Jim Domm on the Regulative Principle of Worship
Spurgeon on Psalm 136
"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 136:1 Last Sunday -- in preparation for this week's celebration of Thanksgiving -- I was privileged to teach on Psalm 136, one of the Psalms of Thanksgiving in Scripture. But as much as I enjoyed the task and believe … Continue reading Spurgeon on Psalm 136