Pastor’s Blog
The Third Mark is Gone, Too – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 17 of 20
We spoke of the “three marks” last time. It is time to comment on the disappearance of the third and why such a discussion belongs in a series on worship. The third mark the 16th century reformers used to distinguish the true from the false church was the practice of church discipline; the true church […]
Where's Communion? – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 16 of 20
They called it the “marks of the church.” As a result of the 16th century Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church no longer was the only church in town. Questions arose: “What’s a true church?” “How do you recognize one?” “What’s the difference between a true church and a false one?” These were very good questions […]
Careful with that Chorus – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 15 of 20
We’ve been tiptoeing through the mine-field of Sunday morning worship and music. Have I stepped on any mines yet? I’m sure I have. But this is a discussion the church needs to have. “Cultural creep” is incessant and subtle; and when it comes to the most holy of all earthly exercises—the worship of the One […]
Singing Hymns, Too – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 14 of 20
We need to sing psalms in worship (see previous blog, “Multi-versed for a Reason,” part 13). Some have even concluded that is all the people of God should sing on Sunday morning; our hymnal restricted to the 150 Psalms. A very strong case can be made, however, that the Bible does not limit us to […]
Multi-versed for a Reason – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 13 of 20
Is this fair? Most Sunday morning music sung today is catchy, entertaining, and likeable—a reflection of pop-culture. But generally speaking, it lacks content, depth, and musical complexity; it really is a Christianized version of pop-music. “So what?” someone may say. Well, does the Scripture tell us what to sing? It is hard (impossible?) to argue […]
Learning from the Psalms – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 12 of 20
The premise is that Sunday morning worship music should fit what we have gathered to do; to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords. So what kind of music does God like? Does He have a preference? Those two questions should be the kinds of questions we should be asking, don’t you think? […]
What Music Best Fits? – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 11 of 20
I know it’s potentially divisive, but we need to keep talking about worship music. Similar to food and art, music has a certain subjective quality to it; especially when it comes to style. Somebody likes jazz, someone else likes rap—and so on. And it’s in the car where we most often reveal our musical taste. […]
God's Taste or Mine? – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 10 of 20
A few years back, a full-page ad was taken out in our local newspaper; a new church was starting across town. Here is what they promised would-be worshipers: “Clips from your favorite movies; Casual attire; Coffee to drink during the presentation; Contemporary music: rock or pop, by Ian McMurren and the Next Band; Most of […]
Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Pastor Rich will continue his series on “Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering” after Christmas. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (December 20, 1899 – March 1, 1981) was a Welsh pastor who was for almost 30 years the minister of Westminster Chapel in London and was well known for his expository preaching (sermons can be found […]
We Talk Too Much – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 9 of 20
God speaks; we respond. Those four words describe biblical worship. But the guy in jeans and un-tucked cool shirt behind the plexiglas podium has been doing too much talking lately. The sanctuary has become his stage; he’s a talk-show host giving out life-tips to a sorry congregation serving as his audience. Sure, the Bible is […]
Antiphonal Worship: He Speaks and We Respond – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 8 of 20
What if our Sunday morning worship consisted of Scripture? I don’t just mean expository preaching (there’s a few of us still doing that), but I mean the entire service; a worship service where God speaks (through His Word) and then we respond. In other words a service where we read, preach, sing, and pray Scripture. […]
Let's Get Specific – Some Choruses, a Pep-talk, and an Offering, part 7 of 20
The case has been made that God, not us, gets to regulate His worship; after all, He is the One being worshiped (see previous posts). John Knox, the Scottish reformer, understood this: “All worshiping, honoring, or service invented by the brain of man in the religion of God, without His own express commandment, is idolatry” […]