There’s a fantastic line in the song “Goodness of God.” The first verse talks about God’s faithfulness and mercy. Then in the second verse we are taken to the darkest night of trial and suffering. It’s there that we have this line: “And I have lived in the goodness of God.” Two things strike me… Continue reading I have lived in the goodness of God
Tag: praise
Helping one another worship – why we chose our words carefully
I thought I’d add a little bit more to my comments the other day about how we handle worship song and hymn lyrics. It’s worth me emphasising here that I’m personally very cautious about changing and adapting things not least because it’s often been done badly. However, I believe there is a case for adapting… Continue reading Helping one another worship – why we chose our words carefully
Teaching right worship and right feelings: The pastor’s responsibility as worship leader
If “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever”[1] then that tells us a little about what the primary role and duty of pastors is all about. If we were made and redeemed to worship God, to praise him and to enjoy and delight in his presence, then the pastor’s… Continue reading Teaching right worship and right feelings: The pastor’s responsibility as worship leader
O Thou who camest from above
At the memorial service to Queen Elizabeth II on Friday evening in St Paul’s cathedral, a few traditional hymns were sung that are probably not so well known to many. So, I thought I’d share them with a few reflections. One of them was “O Thou who camest from above” by Charles Wesley. The lyrics… Continue reading O Thou who camest from above
Who am I? I’m raised up with Christ (Psalm 8)
The musical Les Miserable starts with a big number focusing on the lead character’s status as a prisoner. He is simply known as a number 24601. This builds into the question “Who am I?” which will be later answered not just with his prison number but with his name “Who am I? I’m Jean Valjean.” … Continue reading Who am I? I’m raised up with Christ (Psalm 8)
Celebrating Easter with joyful praise
When we first arrived at Bearwood Chapel, there didn’t seem to have been a significant emphasis on Easter. The Brethren tradition tends to particularly stay away from church calendar occasions. However, we had a few people, particularly but not exclusively from the older end of the church who wanted to make a bigger thing of… Continue reading Celebrating Easter with joyful praise
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
Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-21)
What is the dominant influence in your life?
A promise has been kept
The response of God’s people to deliverance is praise. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led the people in dance and song, at the heart of Scripture are the Psalms – a whole book of songs, some lamenting, some interceding but many telling the story of God’s saving acts. So it should be… Continue reading A promise has been kept
Faithroots 