What Does “Sacrament” Mean?
Like ancient Israel, early Christians considered worship on the Lord’s Day to be sacred—set apart from the regular, mundane activities of life, and therefore what… Read More »What Does “Sacrament” Mean?
Articles on Worship
Tax Collectors and Sinners
There was commotion at the windows. What are they doing here? he thought. He had not expected to meet this famed teacher, let alone dine… Read More »Tax Collectors and Sinners
Sources for Discerning Early Church Worship
After the close of the New Testament Scriptures, details concerning how, exactly, Christians worshiped are somewhat difficult to determine. However, several early documents do help… Read More »Sources for Discerning Early Church Worship
Abide
It was a strong vine, surging with health and life. The vine dresser moved along the length of the vine, carefully fingering each branch. He… Read More »Abide
The Lord’s Day
An early second-century letter from Ignatius, one of the first pastors of the church in Antioch, helps to solidify that the first day of the… Read More »The Lord’s Day
Biblical Authority in Worship Practice
One important principle articulated in several places in the New Testament was an emphasis upon the importance of biblical authority for worship practices. Usually these… Read More »Biblical Authority in Worship Practice
Accepted
I cannot be here. I should not be here. He knew he was unworthy. He could hardly lift his head. The sound was almost deafening.… Read More »Accepted
Worship in the Assembly
While the book of Acts gives examples of early churches gathering for worship—Scripture reading, preaching, prayer, and the Lord’s Table—the rest of the New Testament… Read More »Worship in the Assembly
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a unique Christian addition to corporate worship, though it finds roots in the Passover meal. The book of Acts describes the… Read More »The Lord’s Supper
No Access
The king raged with fury. How dare they say I have no right to be here? he steamed. I have done right in the sight… Read More »No Access
Singing and Making Melody
In both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, Paul commands gathered believers to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, thereby “singing and making melody to the… Read More »Singing and Making Melody
An Unlikely Invitation
The man was a scoundrel, certainly not worthy of the invitation he had just received. He had stolen before—he had even stolen from the king’s… Read More »An Unlikely Invitation
Memorial
The requirement for Israel of specific times and rituals for worship, both weekly and annually, established a fundamental principle for God’s people that did not… Read More »Memorial
Worship at Sinai
Fifty days after the exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel arrived at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God specifically set apart the worshiping… Read More »Worship at Sinai
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
What we have seen over the past several weeks is a dynamic interplay between four realities: worldview, theology, culture, and cultus. Worldview and theology affect… Read More »Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
The Liturgical Nature of Cultus
Last week I described the liturgical nature of culture. Yet there is a second element within the broader concept of liturgy, actually the more common use… Read More »The Liturgical Nature of Cultus
The Liturgical Nature of Culture
I am arguing that liturgy forms our religion, and religion forms our liturgy. When I left off last time, I defined religion as worldview +… Read More »The Liturgical Nature of Culture
Do This in Remembrance of Me
The observance of the “Last Supper” by Jesus and his disciple appears in all four gospels, though John does not give details of the meal… Read More »Do This in Remembrance of Me
Religion = Worldview + Theology
Everyone has an implicit worldview—a fundamental orientation of the heart expressed in assumptions about reality, and most people have an explicit theology—conscious beliefs expressed in… Read More »Religion = Worldview + Theology
What is the Nature of Religion? Theology
Broadly speaking, theology is how we intentionally answer the questions James Sire provided (see last week’s post) that form the assumptions at the core of… Read More »What is the Nature of Religion? Theology