Worship Thoughts: The Focus of Worship

 (B.R. Graves)
This is an excerpt out of a book Im reading called “God’s Passion for His Glory” by John Piper. What is the focus of our worship to God on Sunday mornings, or at times when the church is gathered together corporately? Is the focus man-centered in attempting to glorify God, or is the focus [...]

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Worship Thoughts: Why Is Reformed Worship So Serious III

Why is Reformed Worship so Serious? III
 
The Transcendence of Worship
And in longing for this rest from our labors we recognize that good liturgy is different because its very essence is that of transcendent. I read a survey recently by George Barna, the church growth guru, on the topic of worship. He reported that there is [...]

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Worship Thoughts: Why is reformed worship so serious? (Part 1)

Why is Reformed Worship so Serious?
© 2004, 2008 by Daniel R. Hyde
Originally published in The Journal of the Church Music National Conference (Winter 2004): 3–6.

Here in San Diego county we have a weekly magazine called The San Diego Reader. It is a magazine primarily concerned with the cultural scene in the county. One aspect of [...]

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Worship Thoughts: Beauty of Reformed Worship II

The Beauty of Reformed Worship II
The Essence of Reformed Worship
Reformed worship is covenantal. The Form for Baptism used in continental Reformed churches says, “In all covenants there are two parts.” We may also say, “In all covenants there are two parties.” That is not the same thing. The “parties” in the covenant are the Lord [...]

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Worship Thoughts: I Sing

The Lord is my strength and my Song He has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14
I sing because I’m happy
I sing because my Savior lives
I sing because I am a daughter of the King
I sing because I am love unconditionally
I sing because I am wonderfully made
I sing because in God’s eyes I am beautiful
I sing because [...]

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Worship Thoughts: Beauty of Reformed Worship (I)

The Beauty of Reformed Worship
G. VanDooren

That we call our worship “Reformed” means that it has a specific character (and beauty) in distinction from other forms of worship. Our form of worship finds itself between two “extremes” in a specific respect.
On the one hand, there is Romanist worship, in which not only is the “accursed idolatry” [...]

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Worship Thoughts: Comtemporary Services?

Elizabeth writes… Today I noticed a local church sign announcing their service times as “Traditional Service – 8:00 am; Contemporary Services – 9 and 10:30 am.” I chuckled inside as I contemplated the idea of a traditional service in a church tradition that has only existed since the early 1900s. I’m sure they are referring [...]

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Worship Thoughts: What is Worship?

What is Worship?
Do you know what Worship is?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 100; Revelation 5: 8-14
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the [...]

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Payer Thoughts: Your Father Knows What You Need

Your Father Knows What You Need
I love this from John Piper. I needed this today!
Jesus wants his followers to be free from worry. In Matthew 6:25-34 he gives at least seven arguments designed to take away our anxiety.
One of them lists food and drink and clothing, and then says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you [...]

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Worship Thoughts (NEW): Irrelevance

Irrelevance
Doug Wilson, A Primer on Worship and Reformation: Recovering the High Church Puritan (p. 13):
There are at least two kinds of irrelevance. On is the irrelevance of offering a bicycle to an oyster. But there is another kind of irrelevance entirely, and that is the practice of setting forth the gospel of light and righteousness [...]

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