SPOKEN WORSHIP: Congregational Readings (part 2)

Ascension, Church, Communion, Easter, Holy Spirit

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 8 (August 2015) Last month we naturally gave our first and primary focus in our study of congregational readings to “the public reading of Scripture“ (1 Timothy 4:13), and to the priority of letting “the Word of Christ dwell richly among you” (Colossians 3:16). But there are other resources as well (historical and recent) that can be drawn upon and fruitfully used in worship services. 2. CREEDS […]

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SPOKEN WORSHIP: Congregational Readings (part 1)

Ascension, Christmas, Church, Name(s) of God, Praise, Psalms, Reformation, Word and Worship

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 7 (July 2015) Participatory worship involves more than singing, of course. The people of God can lift their voices to express their hearts through various types of readings as well. 1. SCRIPTURE Paul’s command to Timothy, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13) can and should certainly extend beyond the pastoral role. The power of God’s Word read, perhaps even more so

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ALL THINGS NEW: Revelation Hope

Heaven, Holiness, Presence, Revelation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 6 (June 2015) The following powerful summary and celebration of the message of the Book of Revelation was presented in word and song at special Palm Sunday services on Sunday, March 29, 2015, with readers, congregation, choir and orchestra at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee. A video recording of the service can be accessed HERE. And the service program can be found HERE. HEAR

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THE COMFORTER HAS COME (Pentecost)

Church, Events, Holy Spirit, New Testament

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 5 (May 2015) This Sunday, May 24), is Pentecost Sunday, the great culmination of the Easter season (50 days after Easter Sunday), commemorating the events of Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples, filling them with boldness to proclaim the message of Christ. The effects of Peter’s sermon that day, the conversion and baptism of 3,000 people, has led to the historical designation

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WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 5: Psalms 121-150)

Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 4 (April 2015) “I want to stress what I think that we (or at least I) need more [than instruction they about sacrifice]; the joy and delight in God which meet us in the Psalms. . . . These poets knew far less reason than we for loving God. They did not know that He offered them eternal joy; still less that He would die to

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WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 4: Psalms 91-120)

Old Testament, Psalms, Word and Worship

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 2 (February 2015) “Psalms are the language we use when we need a voice other than our own.” (C. Plantinga and S. Roseboom, Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, 160). Many facets of worship are seen in the expressions of faith of the Psalmists, which can then in turn guide our thinking and feeling and praising. We continue to survey the diverse perspectives on

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WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 3: Psalms 61-90)

Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 1 (January 2015) The Psalms, Israel’s hymnal, is a special gift to the New Testament people of God as well, as a source of comfort, inspiration, and texts for prayer and singing.  It is reported that Athanasius, an outstanding Christian leader of the fourth century, declared that the Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because most of Scripture speaks to us, while the Psalms

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WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 2: Psalms 31–60)

Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 9, No. 12 (December 2014) We continue from October our look at facets of worship that are displayed in Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms. The intent is not to expound exhaustively each Psalm, of course, but simply to highlight one major perspective on worship that can be seen in each. WORSHIP IS . . . (Psalm 31) . . . trustfully waiting on the Lord to deliver and bless.(Psalm 32) . .

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