WORSHIP NOTES Volume 20, No. 12 (December 2025) Here is the third of the three keynote Bible lessons I gave at the conference. COMMISSION Introduction Jesus said to them again,“Peace be with you.As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21) We are the sent ones!God proclaims through Christ to us—we are sent to proclaim. Sing to the LORD, all the earth!Tell of His […]
COMMISSION (Day 3 of NPWC 2025) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTESVolume 20, No. 2 (February 2025) Broad Movements This is a period with a great deal of different developments (including the modern missionary movement and the enormous expansion of Christianity worldwide); this chart below traces some of the broader historical trends and compares their tendencies (chart adapted in part from Marva Dawn, How Shall We Worship?, 108–13): This period is characterized by the multiplication of Protestant confessions and
WORSHIP IN CHURCH HISTORY: 5. Post-Reformation (c. AD 1650–present) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 17, No. 5 (May 2022) “WEEKEND WORSHIP” The New Testament clearly speaks to the importance of our corporate worship gatherings: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 16, No. 11 (December 2021) “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,who, on finding one pearl of great value,went and sold all that he had and bought it.” —Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:45) The stock market rises and plunges, as do our personal resources. House values soar, but so do house prices. Inflation takes off; so does the cost of living. Our
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 16, No. 10 (November 2021) Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, people (the crowds, the disciples, or individuals) would “marvel” or “wonder” at the things Jesus did and said; they were reacting to the evident power and authority and wisdom of God working in and through him. For instance: And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:27)
The Commendations of Jesus Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 16, No. 7 (August 2021) Scott W. Hahn, in his excellent article “Canon, Cult and Covenant:The Promise of Liturgical Hermeneutics” (in Canon andBiblical Interpretation, ed. Craig G. Bartholomew, Scott Hahn,Robin Parry, Christopher Seitz, Al Wolters [Zondervan, 2006]),has given a fascinating overview of the entire spectrum of biblicalrevelation as centered in and heading towards worship. In fact,he shows how each major movement in the scriptural recordculminates in worship.
The Worship Trajectory and Goal of the Entire Bible (Part 1: Old Testament) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 16, No. 6 (July 2021) Last month we saw how Jesus, in His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, breaks down geographical barriers (John 4:3-4), ethnic and social barriers (4:5-9), and spiritual barriers (4:10-15). Now we come to the core of Jesus’ teaching on worship, and see how He breaks down the religious barriers between the Jews and the Samaritans. JESUS BREAKS DOWN RELIGIOUS BARRIERS As
A Tale of Two Mountains (John 4) (Part 2) Read More »
