Grace and Peace (Philippians 1)
The body of Christ in this world, gathered by God and called saints, can be confident that grace and peace continually come to them through the same love that called them to be God’s children.
October 19, 2010
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9 min read
The Pattern of a Worship Service (Bible Study)
We do not find that the Bible prescribes a specific liturgy for worship, we do find that our understanding of the Scriptures and the guidelines that it provides will be very helpful in discerning the pattern of worship and understanding the freedom for variation and flexibility in our worship life.
October 19, 2010
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5 min read
Good Reasons for Good Worship (Bible Study)
Before you come to the meeting, spend some time with these two chapters from Revelation. As you read these chapters, remind yourself that while John is an exile on the island of Patmos he receives this revelation from God. You are getting a view of the throne room of heaven.
October 19, 2010
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4 min read
Coop's Column - Belonging
Lonesomeness, that bleak and desperate feeling of abandonment and forsakenness, is the worst—the absolute worst—that can overtake any human being.
October 19, 2010
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4 min read
Responding in Praise and Thanks (Bible Study)
In corporate worship we are expected to give a response to what God has said and done. So we talk about the "service of response" of a worship liturgy, and it always follows the proclamation of God's word in the sermon. When God has spoken his word of hope and grace, it is unthinkable that we would leave church without a response. The dialogue of worship always includes the assumption that God waits for some response to his word.
October 19, 2010
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9 min read
Congregational Song (Bible Study)
In the dialogue of worship in the Reformed tradition, congregational song has primarily had the role of the people's response to God. And that role has been shaped by Scripture, as shown through a study of the Psalms as the songbook of the Bible. In our discussion on congregational song, we will examine closely the nature of the Psalm songs and how that can serve as a model for our songs today.
October 19, 2010
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8 min read
The Pattern of the Christian Year (Bible Study)
Worship planning assumes that a calendar is used. The assumption in worship planning is that we anticipate future worship.
October 19, 2010
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8 min read
The Opening of Worship (Bible Study)
We are called into the presence of God. We are exhorted to come with joy, thanksgiving, music and song. We affirm that he is the "great God," our maker and our shepherd. We can expect to be welcomed into his presence because we are the "flock under his care." What a rich spirit in which to begin worship!
October 19, 2010
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8 min read
Worship as Covenant Renewal (Bible Study)
While we cannot find either a precise order of worship or rules for the practice of worship in the Bible, we can discover much about the nature of worship by stepping into events of worship that are described in Scripture.
October 19, 2010
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8 min read
The Service of the Lord's Supper (Bible Study)
This Bible study explores the sacrament of Communion.
October 19, 2010
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8 min read
Issues in Worship Renewal (II) (Bible Study)
Perhaps you have seen examples of churches that have become more vital than ever through an examination of their worship life, and perhaps you have also seen churches that have been damaged by worship conflicts. What can we do to be sure of the one and not the other?
October 19, 2010
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8 min read
The Uniqueness of Reformed Worship (Bible Study)
This Bible Study explores the questions: What really is worship? And what is the unique perspective that the Reformed faith can bring to our thinking about worship?
October 19, 2010
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6 min read
