Learn much of your own heart; And when you have learned all you can, Remember you have seen but a few yards into a pit that is unfathomable. “The heart if deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, … Continue reading Wise Counsel from a Young Pastor
worship
Grace – The Fuel for Worship
The people of God gather on the Lord’s Day to worship Him. We do this in the power of the Holy Spirit, out of gratitude to our Almighty God as He is revealed himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We humble ourselves before Him by declaring His worth, confessing His lordship,and rendering … Continue reading Grace – The Fuel for Worship
Two Alternate Paths to Take in Life
Henry David Thoreau, in his classic Walden, sets forth two alternate paths that lie before each of us: One is broad, common and natural. The other is narrow, uncommon and supernatural: " The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. What is … Continue reading Two Alternate Paths to Take in Life
Worship – A Dress Rehearsal for Eternity
Every Lord’s Day serves as a dress rehearsal for life in our eternal home in heaven. How wonderful to know that history is moving towards a great end: The worship of the one, true, living God. This is the goal and climax of human history. How do we know this? Revelation 7:9 describes the heavenly … Continue reading Worship – A Dress Rehearsal for Eternity
Word-Saturated Worship
Scripture suffuses every part of our worship services. We call one another to our awesome task of worshipping God with Scripture. We sing God’s praise with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in order to make God’s Word memorable and vivid. The Spirit uses God’s Word to convict us of sin and to show us our … Continue reading Word-Saturated Worship
Prepare Your Heart for Worship
Here is a simple prayer to pray through and reflect upon as you prepare to worship God personally and with others. It is based upon the beautiful hymn: "May the Mind of Christ My Savior." Almighty God, may my worship of you cause the mind of Christ to be more fully present in me this … Continue reading Prepare Your Heart for Worship
A Three-fold Cycle of Worship
There is a notable pattern to many of the worship encounters that we find in the Bible. For example, the prophet Isaiah’s encounter with the great God of heaven in Isaiah 6 offers us a three fold cycle for corporate and personal worship: Praise-Pardon-Petition. This pattern serves as a broad structure to our church's worship … Continue reading A Three-fold Cycle of Worship
Worship Reflections for Resurrection Sunday
To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. — Bernhard Langer The enemies of our joy are banished by our Savior’s resurrection: The finality of death, the fatality of sin, and the seeming futility of life. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised … Continue reading Worship Reflections for Resurrection Sunday
Is there one right worship style?
There is not one right style or form for worship. Reggie Kidd writes: Jesus Christ our Worship Leader (Hebrews 2:11-12) has taken innumerable forms of worship across the centuries and across the world and made them His own; The chants of the Gregorian monks. The Psalms of the Scottish Presbyterians… the beloved hymns of our … Continue reading Is there one right worship style?
Worshipping with Handicapped Hearts
Lord,free us from our handicapped hearts. May we worship You in such a way that our consciences are quickened by Your holiness. Our minds feed upon Your truth. Our imaginations are purged by Your beauty. Our hearts are opened to receive Your love. Our wills are devoted resolutely to Your purpose. Gather all of this … Continue reading Worshipping with Handicapped Hearts
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