Reformed Worship Series
I’m still writing the other installments in this series.
Reformed Worship Introduction: On the Necessity of Reforming the Church Today!
October 31, 2007
In this post, I will introduce the subject of Calvin’s reformation of medieval public worship in Geneva. And in later posts, I hope to expand on this introduction. What then did Calvin teach about public worship? If you see in your own church a lack of God-centered, Christ- centered, Word-and-Sacrament-centered worship, then ask yourself, is our church an heir of the 16th century Protestant Reformation, or is our church in need of another sweeping 21st century Reformation?”
Reformed Worship Part 1: The Church and Its Business
February 3, 2008
What is Reformed worship? It’s none other than worship recovered by the 16th century Reformers such as Luther, Calvin and Bucer, after they realized that the medieval church had strayed far from Biblical worship.
Reformed Worship Part 2: Worship Must Be Biblical
February 8, 2008
The entertainment gimmicks in many churches today are in effect Rome’s “dumb images” which teach believers nothing but idolatry. God’s people are to be taught by the preaching of God’s Word, not by all kinds of “innovations and devisings” by sinful minds who think they are “wiser than God” in their foolish creativity.
Reformed Worship Part 3: Worship Must Be Historical
February 25, 2008
Evangelicals have no knowledge as to what the church’s worship and music was like only a few decades ago. They have no connectedness to the past, and will surely be disconnected from the future.
Papers
WWJ. . .
November 18, 2009
Who said this?: “Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law.”
“New Song” and American Idol(atry)
March 4, 2009
I’ve watched a few episodes of American Idol the last few weeks, especially the Final 36 competition. The three songs that I remember most were “oldies”: one from the 80s and two from the 60s. Two of the songs, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (1966) and “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981), were deemed “too old-fashioned.” Read more and watch the videos too.
Sermons
In the Wilderness: God-Centered Worship
March 2, 2009
In effect, throughout Biblical history and into eternity, God has nailed a sign at the entrance to his kingdom: “Unauthorized Persons Keep Out!” But Christ removed this warning sign after he accomplished on the cross what God requires of us: a sacrifice for all our sins.
The Ancient Path to True Worship (Jeremiah 6:16)
September 22, 2008
The people of Judah faced another major crossroad in their history. Which road should they take? Jeremiah directed them to the good path of salvation – the ancient path of true worship. He warned them that the other path leads to destruction.
Short Articles
Online Psalter Hymnal
October 30, 2009
Are you tired of singing mindless repetitive ditties? Do you want to fill your minds and hearts with the beauty of the Psalms and other Scriptures? Learn how to sing the Psalter by singing along with the lyrics and tunes.
Delirious, Frenzied “Worship” Coming to Manila
March 10, 2009
Apparently, when your regular Lord’s Day worship services are led by your pastor, who diligently prepares his sermons week in and week out, you will not have life-changing, Spirit-filled experiences. Only when the likes of Delirious? come to town will you be blessed.
Psalm 98 vs “Shout to the Lord”
April 18, 2008
Contemporary evangelical music was the highlight of last Wednesday’s “American Idol” show when contestants sang the first line of “Shout to the Lord” as “My shepherd, my savior,” instead of “My Jesus, my Savior.”
Short Commentaries on Articles by Others
Reverence & Joy, Word & Sacraments in Worship
June 18, 2009
New Horizons magazine has a special issue on Worship in its June 2009 edition. Here’s an excerpt: “That the sacraments are sacred signs and seals of the covenant of grace and are the visible word of God tells us that they play a vital role as an element of worship. The central element of Reformed worship… is the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word of God.”
Men Don’t Like Effeminate Churches
May 8, 2009
Hugging, holding hands, lovey-dovey songs in the churches are out… if only men had their way. Maybe this is why there are so few men in our effeminate churches.
“Could Instruments Be Idols?”
May 7, 2008
Dr. R. Scott Clark, Professor of Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary California, has quite a challenging post about musical instruments in worship: “Could Instruments Be Idols?” He points out two major problems with the use of musical instruments in worship.
