Tag Archives: worship

Renewing Our Worship: Contemporary Christian Music and the Apocalypse

We have members of my congregation who are firmly persuaded that contemporary Christian music is a sign of the Apocalypse — rather like sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts. It’s just one more way for people to suffer. And so, … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Iconography, Part 3 of 3

Most elders and many preachers are of the analytical, left-brained type. They get all they need from a great lesson and fine song service. But they are not typical of their flock, and they aren’t adequately feeding their flock if … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Iconography, Part 2 of 3

After the last post, you’re probably thinking I’m some sort of closet Catholic or Eastern Orthodox or some such thing. But I’m really not. I just think the creative arts need to be redeemed for Jesus. I mean, do we … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Iconography, Part 1 of 3

Over at Monday Morning Insight, I was reading an article about megachurches. A photographer had toured the country taking pictures of their buildings. He commented, It was physical and wholly alien from what my idea of organized worship had been. … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Entertainment, Applause & Worship

Recently, we received a complaint that something we were experimenting with at church is wrong because it’s “entertainment.” This is not surprising. Many Church periodicals have taken to condemning various practices on the grounds that the practice is entertainment, as … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Clothing

Good morning, class. Today I’m going to test your knowledge of the Bible. The teacher, only about 30 years old, was leading a class of 50- and 60-year old members. Who can think of a passage that talks about what … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: The Sermon

The sermon is so central to the Church of Christ assembly that I suppose I need to say something about how to do it better. But in my experience, among the more progressive congregations, our preaching tends to be quite … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: The Lord’s Prayer, Part 3

Forgiving debtors (Mat 6:12)  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. This is tough one. We all know that we’re suppose to forgive others and not hold grudges. We just aren’t that good at it. In … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: The Lord’s Prayer, Part 2

The Lord’s Prayer is rich with meaning, and if we’re going to start actually reciting it, we need to delve deeply into its meaning. I mean, the problem with any fixed form of prayer is the tendency to recite it … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: The Lord’s Prayer, Part 1

Where to begin? Let’s see. Maybe elementary school. When I was in the fourth grade, I was obnoxious. (No, I haven’t changed that much.) You see, I had this annoying habit of correcting my teachers. I really can’t blame my … Continue reading

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