Category: Worship

Joy to the World

Today in our “What the Carols Mean” series we are looking at Joy to the World. This one is often sung as a Christmas carol but the words aren’t really focused on Bethlehem and the Nativity. I enjoyed looking at this one. Today’s talk has everything including a bit of Revelation 21-22 and the New… Continue reading Joy to the World

Come thou long expected Jesus

Another in the What The Carols Mean series for The Daily Dose. Listen to the song first then you can either hear an audio version of the talk or watch it on YouTube Come, Thou long expected JesusBorn to set Thy people free;From our fears and sins release us,Let us find our rest in Thee.Israel’s… Continue reading Come thou long expected Jesus

Lo he comes with clouds descending

Here’s the next in our “What the carols mean” series Lo! he comes with clouds descending,Once for favoured sinners slain;Thousand thousand saints attendingSwell the triumph of his train:Alleluya! Alleluya! Alleluya!God appears, on earth to reign.Every eye shall now behold himRobed in dreadful majesty;Those who set at nought and sold him,Pierced and nailed him to the… Continue reading Lo he comes with clouds descending

Vouchsafe thy preferences

Some of the things that Christians choose to argue is “interesting” to say the least. Here’s Ben Crosby arguing for the use of archaic language in church liturgy.  I say “interesting” because it’s an odd priority and the reasoning is surprising. Go back 30 years and I could imagine making the argument for continuing to… Continue reading Vouchsafe thy preferences

Money, power and worship

I thought I’d follow up a little further on the question of VIP worship experiences. There’s been some helpful further conversation on the topic including this article from Steve Kneale. Steve comments: “Some have objected to the existence of a tour at all. How can we be using Christian music – especially of the kind… Continue reading Money, power and worship

“Crushed” (Expository Worship a worked example)

I mentioned in the last post about a song that we had started to sing at Bearwood Chapel a few years back. The song is called  “Jesus Thank you (The Mystery of the Cross).”  In the first verse, you have the line “You the perfect Holy One crushed your Son.”  Some people have expressed discomfort… Continue reading “Crushed” (Expository Worship a worked example)

Making Expository Worship happen

How can we encourage an appetite for Expository Worship?  Here are a few more thoughts. 1. Get people to look at what they are singing.  For example, before you sing a hymn, ask people to look at a verse – what stands out to them? Are there lines they like? Where are we getting this… Continue reading Making Expository Worship happen

Expository Worship

In his book “Nine Marks of a Healthy Church,” Mark Dever makes Expositional Preaching his first and most important mark of healthy church life.[1]  I want to suggest that Dever is right to give expositional preaching such a central position, but that he does not go far enough. Why is Expositional Preaching so important? Dever… Continue reading Expository Worship