Reformed Christians have sometimes reacted away from the man-centered worship of much of the contemporary church, and they have lurched to another extreme, one just as dangerous. If you react away from a style of worship that seems to be saying nothing more than “gimme, gimme, gimme,” the temptation is to think that “God-centered worship” …
The OPC Report on the Federal Vision
The OPC report on the Federal Vision is being considered at their General Assembly this week. Because of this, I want to say just a few things for the record. It is not that my opinion matters all that much, but I feel free to make these comments because I am labeled as one of …
For the Giant’s Forehead
We are the Church militant. We have not yet entered into the final Sabbath rest of the resurrection, and we still contend with unbelieving forces that array themselves against the God of heaven, and which, like Goliath, taunt the armies of God. Like the armies of Israel at that time, the church today is largely …
Safely Through Another Week
Our gracious Father and God, we lift up our thanks to You in the name of Jesus, and amen. We are grateful that You have brought us safely through another week, and that we have the opportunity of worshiping you tomorrow, laying the foundation stone of another week of service and love rendered back to …
Many Thanks and Saint Peter
I am very grateful to be able to say that the report of the CREC Pastoral Commission for Saint Peter Presbyterian Church is now done. That report can be found here, along with a good statement about the report from a number of men from outside the CREC. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice …
Ezra Nehemiah 22
Introduction: We come now to the conclusion of the great story of the work of reformation conducted under Ezra and Nehemiah. And at the conclusion of this work, we find that there is still much to do. There is always much to do. Semper reformanda. The Text: “On that day they read in the book …
Though I Am Very Small
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! Righteous are Your judgments, Lord And all Your ways upright. Your testimonies are a light, True righteousness and faithfulness Are given to us in Your law. I am consumed with faithful zeal Your enemies forget The words revealed for us to keep, …
The BB Gun and the Plate Glass Window
Once there was a boy who disobeyed his mother. When confronted with it, he confessed it to her (under some pressure), but when she sought to talk to him about it, he muttered something about how he had done most of what she had said. She tried to talk to him about this, but he …
Showing the Lord’s Death
In the words of institution that we use, the apostle Paul says that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we show the Lord’s death until He comes. Now the verb show here means to proclaim or declare. This means that the entire communicant Church preaches or announces or declares. What …
And Amen
Drifting is not hard to do, and it always takes various forms. One place we drift is in our responses to God in the worship. One of these responses is the invitation we have to sing to Him. Our singing is called to be rich, meaningful, overflowing. If the acoustics in this place fight you, …