Tag Archives: Worship

September 11, 2023 · 1:55 am

Worshiping When Traveling

Yesterday, Norma Jean and I worshiped with the brethren on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kona. Two weeks ago we were with the Leeward church in Waipahu on the island of Oahu.

In addition to the opportunity to engage in Lord’s Day worship, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting the local brethren, as well as other guests from the mainland.

I figured that I’ve attended over 10,000 worship services and Bible studies in my life time. If I factored in Gospel meetings, special classes and personal in-home studies it would be many more. Continue reading →

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December 5, 2021 · 4:05 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: Are You Focused on Getting Or Giving?

“I didn’t get anything out of worship today,” is a remark sometimes offered by disappointed church attendees.

These disgruntled “worshipers” soon find themselves relating to anyone who will listen to how awful the sermon was, how the song leader pitched the songs too high, the distractions by noisy children, and the general lack of inspiration they felt from the service.

Joe McKeever said such remarks are “like dry rot in a congregation…Like a termite infestation in the building…Like an epidemic afflicting the people of the Lord.” Unchecked, they will spread like a deadly virus. Continue reading →

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September 5, 2021 · 5:05 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: Worship Quotes

From my “worship folder,” here are a few seed thoughts to consider as we focus on attending Sunday worship services.

“Worship is a verb.” –Robert E. Webber

“As a verb, “worship” is active, not passive. Worship is not an event to be watched, but an activity to be joined.” Sheldon W. Sarge

“Leaders in worship should work to avoid mistakes and do their work effectively. But acceptable worship depends far more on the heart and attitude of the worshiper than on the abilities of leaders.” –Bill Hall Continue reading →

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March 21, 2021 · 3:21 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: The Power of Worship

“The church doesn’t need more workers; it needs more worshipers,” once quipped Howard Hendricks.

I found that quote in my “worship” folder apart from the greater context. However, I doubt that Hendricks was diminishing the importance of working for the Lord, or minimizing the role of ministry, but rather elevating and emphasizing the power of worship. Continue reading →

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September 15, 2020 · 7:55 am

Worship is a Witness to the Unbeliever

Since we have been traveling for the past 28 months we have visited over 40 congregations.

While in most cases I’ve preached for the churches we visited, sometimes we were just passing through and stopped to worship. Being a visitor, as opposed to being a member of that congregation, seems to have heightened my sense of observation about the worship services, Bible classes, preaching, and our reception by the members.

Today’s Bible reading in 1 Corinthians 14, reminds me that we have a responsibility in our worship toward outsiders and non-Christians. Continue reading →

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January 8, 2020 · 8:13 am

A Passage To Ponder: Mark 3:1-5

A husband and wife were on the way home from worship one Sunday morning. As they rode along, the wife asked her husband, “Did you see that woman in the front row showing off her Liz Claiborne suit?”

“No, I didn’t,” her husband replied.

“Well, did you see that man on our left–the one wearing that gaudy sport jacket that clashed with his slacks?” Continue reading →

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June 13, 2019 · 7:35 am

4 Reasons To Attend Worship

In recent days there has been some discussion on facebook about a quote from the Christian hip hop artist Toby McKeehan, better known by his stage name TobyMac.

Some have suggested his quote as posted above implies that the only reason we attend church is to worship God. Others have opined that we are also there for fellowship. And so the discourse ensued, debating and discussing the purpose of our worship assembly.

The Bible reveals at least 4 valid reasons for attending church services. Continue reading →

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April 12, 2019 · 7:49 am

Will Bagels and Coffee Improve our Worship?

“During our years of church planting, we tried to change people’s perceptions about what the Sunday worship would look like,” wrote Michelle Lazurek, in a recent Crosswalk.com article.

“We took out pews and replaced them with pub tables and chairs, added lights and a stage and most importantly,” the award-winning author and preacher’s wife said, “(we) added a breakfast bar where people could grab bagels and other breakfast foods and coffee during the service.”

Lazurek admitted, “Not everyone loved these changes.” Continue reading →

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February 7, 2019 · 6:12 am

There Will Be Singing

Robert Ingersoll was a 19th century agnostic and a follower of naturalism; he had no belief in the eternal, but stressed the importance of living only in the here and now.

Ingersoll made light of the Bible, stating that “free thought will give us truth.” He called the Bible “a fable, an obscenity, a sham and a lie.” He claimed that the Christian “creed [was] the ignorant past, bullying the enlightened present.” Continue reading →

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January 25, 2019 · 6:34 am

How Should Christians Regard the Sabbath?

 

Last week we published a post, “Are the Ten Commandments Binding Today?” In response one of our regular readers asked us to write about our position on the 4th commandment.

If you haven’t read last week’s post, click here to read it first. Continue reading →

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