WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 12 (December 2016) O Source of all good, what shall I render to Thee for the Gift of gifts,Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,His self-emptying incomprehensible,His infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp. Herein is Wonder of wonders: He came below to raise me above,was born like me that I might become like Him. Herein is love: when I cannot …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 11 (November 2016) As we enter this season of Advent and Christmas, I decided I could do not better than to offer these meditations on the Incarnation from figures down through the centuries. I hope your spirits will be refreshed anew as you meditate on these words. A number of them are quite suitable for use as readings, responsive readings and prayers in Christ services; …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 10 (October 2016) We usually think of the Reformation of the 15th Century in terms of doctrinal renewal. The Reformers were not seeking to bring new or original truths to the Church; rather they were zealous to bring back to the Church the biblical/apostolic teaching concerning salvation, which had been largely lost to the Church. Hence their emphasis on justification by grace alone, through faith …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 9 (September 2016) Last month we looked at the importance of theology for worship (that is, a biblical understanding of worship). This month we want to look at it the other way around and consider the importance of worship for theology. In any of our biblical study as believers, whether it be in Bible school, in seminary, in Sunday School, or in our own private study, it …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 8 (August 2016) The Bible is a collection of writings by authors inspired by God over the course of many centuries. These writings are of different genres: historical books, books of poetry and prophecy, letters, etc. And the Bible is not arranged thematically like a textbook would be. The work of a theologian is to draw, from the different parts of the Bible, its teachings …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 7 (July 2016) Trick question: Who was the first Apostle in the New Testament? Answer: The Lord Jesus. The writer of Hebrews in 3:1 calls Him “the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” With these two terms He summarizes the two-way mediation of Christ that He has dealt with in chapter 1 and 2: the Son’s revelatory ministry seen in chapter 1 (mediating …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 6 (June 2016) “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8) I AM THE HOLY ONE “I am the Lord, your Holy One.”(Isaiah 43:15) Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!(Isaiah 6:3) I AM THE CREATOR Thus says the Lord, who created …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 5 (May 2016) She was a small, unassuming woman, librarian of the Presbyterian seminary sponsoring the conference I was speaking at in Nigeria. At the end of one of the sessions, the moderator asked this woman to close the time in prayer. I will never forget how she started her prayer: she said, “In Jesus Name,” and then went on with her prayer to the Father. I …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 4 (April 2016) As Michael Farley has written, Easter is a season of celebration. Easter is a time of joyfully retelling and remembering the true story that Jesus was not defeated by death, but rose again from the grave three days later (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)! . . . Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote, …
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 2 (February 2016) THE PASTOR’S VITAL ROLE IN THE WORSHIP LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION Worship is central to the identity and the life of the body of Christ, including of course corporate worship, as Eduard Schweizer affirms: “Public worship is clearly and openly the place in the congregation’s life at which it manifests itself as the Body of Christ.”[1] Similarly, William Willimon states: [Corporate] worship is the …
