The following are some of the basic principles by which we seek to plan and practice corporate worship at High Pointe Baptist Church. (As best as I can remember, these principles were influenced by a sermon series I listened to by John Piper on worship titled, 'Worship God'.)
Tag Archives: Worship
Contemporary or Traditional? Wrong Question
May 15, 2010 – 12:52 PM
In today's entry at the "For the Love of God" blog, D.A. Carson takes up Psalm 66 and the question of traditional or contemporary worship in the local church. As you might imagine, Carson doesn't advocate for either, but instead takes the discussion to a higher, more biblical level.
Introducing Hymns to a Contemporary Congregation
May 12, 2010 – 8:19 AM
I occasionally get questions about introducing hymns to congregations that do not sing them. Should a pastor introduce old hymns? And if so, how should we go about the process?
Three Main Steps to Starting Family Worship
April 27, 2010 – 2:21 PM
When I first discovered the tradition of family worship, it was a real breakthrough for me and my family. Although it took a while to get past the awkwardness of the moment, since we had not done this before, it is well worth the effort. But to start off, we need to keep it very simple.
Confidence to Approach God -- Together
March 10, 2010 – 12:18 PM
Hebrews 10:19-25 is a text I return to fairly often, especially when I am preparing myself for corporate worship. My default mode is to read “enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” and “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” from an individualistic perspective. I can read those words and think primarily about the great privilege I have to approach the Majesty on High (Hebrews 1:3) privately. But the writer of Hebrews is not so much thinking of believers approaching God privately as he is about believers approaching God corporately. Just consider the repetition of “let us” in these verses (vv. 22, 23-24). The writer is thinking primarily about believers drawing near to God together. Approaching the Majesty on High as a corporate body is the incomparable opportunity and privilege of the blood bought church.
Our Worship and Our Fears
November 25, 2009 – 6:50 AM
In my forthcoming book, Surprised By Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels (based on my sermons from Jonah), I have a section on the connection between what we worship and what we fear. After a conversation about this connection the other day, I thought it might be helpful to post that section here. I write: All [...]
Worship, Planning, and Spontaneity
October 8, 2009 – 9:47 AM
Bob Kauflin has a helpful post today discussing the importance of planning and spontaneity in leading corporate worship. Here's part of his post: In my experience, people tend to value one or the other. Either we trust completely in our plan and wouldn’t think of veering from it, or we minimize preparation and think God [...]
In the Beginning, Middle, and End...God
October 8, 2009 – 8:16 AM
Marva Dawn wants to revolutionize how many people read their Bible. Dawn commends a paradigm shift in the way many evangelicals come to the Scriptures--and it's a shift the church desperately needs to heed. Here's how she opens her new book, In the Beginning, God: Creation, Culture, and the Spiritual Life. The Bible is all about [...]
Remembrance, Worship, Communion
October 3, 2009 – 2:36 PM
Oh how could it be That my God would welcome me Into this mystery? Say 'take this bread, take this wine' Now the simple made divine For any to receive By Your mercy we come to Your table By Your grace You are making us faithful Lord, we remember You And remembrance leads us to [...]
Mirth or Fear?
September 30, 2009 – 10:03 AM
All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, Come ye before him and rejoice. The venerable Scottish Psalter paraphrased Psalm 100 that way. It is true to the meaning of the Hebrew. My modern hymnal changed it: All people that on [...]