Every dinner table in every healthy family is a place of conversation, a place where we speak with one another. The table of the Lord at the conclusion of this service of worship is no different. We must therefore remember the conversational nature of a healthy worship service. This is a service of covenant renewal. …
Warm Yellow Light Pours Wisdom Out
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! Quite wonderful are all Your words, And so my soul obeys. The doorway of Your law is lit, Warm yellow light pours wisdom out And so the simple gather in. My mouth is dry, my throat athirst, I long for all your …
The Family of Grendel
Once there were two men who appeared before the Lord to present their sacrifices. One of them, the eldest, was a farmer, and his younger brother was a tender of herds. In order to appear before the Lord, it was necessary to present a sacrifice of blood, but the older brother was too proud to …
Poured Over Our Heads
Gracious God and Father, we thank You for all the mercies You have poured out over our heads. We are so grateful. Help us display that gratitude now in appropriate ways. We ask that our celebration with food and wine would anticipate in wonderful ways the Supper You invite us to in worship tomorrow, and …
The Romance of Orthodoxy
As you come to worship, always remember the romance of orthodoxy. By this we do not mean romance in the popular sense, romance having to do with mere sentimentalism. Rather, we are referring to truth in the sentiments, love in the affections, and deep courage in the battle – we are thinking of true adventure. …
Bitterness
Bitterness is something which tempts us to be distracted, and this keeps us from looking where God’s Word requires us to look. And because bitterness has deceived many, it is our responsibility to pray that the God of heaven would teach us to be wise about this great evil. And when they came to Marah, …
Pentecost Sunday 2006
Introduction: It is characteristic of the Holy Spirit that He draws attention away from Himself. Sometimes, the Spirit of God is neglected because of a deficiency in theology. But other times this happens precisely because He is active and doing His work. The Text: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will …
Why Do You Now Not Intervene?
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! Precise my judgments all have been According to Your law. So do not now abandon me, Do not allow oppression here, I trust Your kindness promised me. Assure Your servant in all good, Rebuke the proud who press . . . My …
No, He Said
Once there was a man who was racked with guilt, but he did not know that this is what it was. All he knew was that he was frightfully unhappy and miserable, and that no one else ever seemed to treat him as he thought he deserved to be treated. He had never really heard …
Personal Antithesis
Many theological problems are created by turning certain issues into theological problems. As Yogi Berra might have said. One of the central sticking issues in the Federal Vision stuff is the question of personal regeneration. But this is only a problem because we are dealing with it on the blackboard, as a theological problem involving …