Known as God’s distinctive community
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his…
I come
The church door is open. My wife and I walk inside, take our bulletins, and find a seat. We usually sit in the same general spot. We haven’t varied the…
Laying a foundation for the week
“The one time each week that we are all together as a congregation is on Sunday,” says Nathanael Brenner, pastor at Holy Scripture, Fort Wayne, Ind. “So, I really like…
Introducing the new hymnal
While St. John, Burlington, Wis., has not yet bought the newly released Christian Worship: Hymnal for its sanctuary, it already has started to introduce its members to it. In November…
Jesus fills us up
The only way to make empty hearts full is to fill them with Jesus. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that…
This is the body of Christ
As we meet in worship, we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. I might have mistaken the man in the pew ahead of me for…
The liturgy: Patterns of praise
Our patterns of worship praise our gracious Lord and build up one another for life’s journey. It’s Sunday morning. What are we going to do? Most of us will say,…
Fear, fellowship, facts, and freedom
Online worship is truly a blessing. So, is there a curse? As with most things, there can be. My first Sunday of in-person worship since our move back to Arizona…
Psalms: Songs of his people
Called the hymnal of the Old Testament, the psalms continue to give God’s people comfort, strength, and hope. It could have been my deathbed. Personal use of the psalms It…