My church cleans a two mile stretch of our road in our state’s Adopt-A-Highway program. A number of years ago while cleaning, I came across three different roadkill animals on the same day. It was nasty. It was undignified. This week we have been studying David’s wild dancing during a worship procession, about which heContinue reading “What cleaning roadkill during Adopt-a-Highway taught me about worship – 2 Samuel 6, Part 5”
Tag Archives: worship
What children can teach us about worship – 2 Samuel 6, Part 4
My own congregation recently held worship in the park. We do this in a local park pavilion twice each year. It is wonderful to worship outdoors. This most recent time, a toddler in our congregation walked up near the front and was dancing to the music. She did so because her grandmother was helping toContinue reading “What children can teach us about worship – 2 Samuel 6, Part 4”
When tragedy strikes in the middle of David’s celebration – 2 Samuel 6, Part 2
In the USA, Presidential Inauguration Day is much more than the outdoor event at the Capitol, during which the president takes the Oath of Office and gives an Inaugural Address. On that day there are also multiple presidential balls, where the president dances with their spouse. It’s all very formal and dignified. Could you imagineContinue reading “When tragedy strikes in the middle of David’s celebration – 2 Samuel 6, Part 2”
The time the president of my Bible college declared that there would be no raising of hands during worship in the school’s chapel services – 2 Samuel 6, Part 1
One of the controversial issues during my undergrad years in Bible College was how people should worship God, particularly the validity of the practice of raising hands. A few people did it from time to time during the college’s weekday chapel services. A very few people. So I will never forget one particular chapel serviceContinue reading “The time the president of my Bible college declared that there would be no raising of hands during worship in the school’s chapel services – 2 Samuel 6, Part 1”
How a story from the life of King David inspired my church to experiment in worship – 2 Samuel 6, Preview
What comes to mind when you read the word “worship”? Do you think about your church building, and maybe the room many churches refer to as a “sanctuary”? Does your mind picture the furnishings in the room, such as the pews or chairs, the piano or the band, and the projection screen? Do you thinkContinue reading “How a story from the life of King David inspired my church to experiment in worship – 2 Samuel 6, Preview”
God doesn’t really want us to go to church services – 1st Samuel 15, Part 5
I recently heard the story of a man is a follower of Jesus, but he allowed his life to go down a pathway that was not in line with the heart of God. This guy started drinking heavily. And it showed. You could drive by his house and over time you could see just fromContinue reading “God doesn’t really want us to go to church services – 1st Samuel 15, Part 5”
What is true repentance? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 4
In the darkening events of 1st Samuel 15, Israel’s King Saul did not obey God, and now God declares that Saul is rejected as king. That gets Saul’s attention. In verse 24, Saul says to the prophet Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the menContinue reading “What is true repentance? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 4”
Is God concerned about how many people show up at worship services? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 3
King Saul is caught. He disobeyed God. But does he realize what he did? God asked Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites, but instead, Saul took the Amalekite king as a prisoner of war, and Saul allowed his men to keep a bunch of the Amalekite’s livestock. As we learned in the previous post, GodContinue reading “Is God concerned about how many people show up at worship services? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 3”
The deception of worship services (and a bonus topic: Does God command genocide???) – 1st Samuel 15, Part 1
Did Jesus ask us to hold worship services? Did he ask us to build church buildings? Did he want us to have pews? Did Jesus teach us to gather here on Sundays for singing and sermons? In the book Jim & Casper Go To Church, Jim is an evangelical Christian and Casper is Matt Casper,Continue reading “The deception of worship services (and a bonus topic: Does God command genocide???) – 1st Samuel 15, Part 1”
How to rightly submit to God – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 5
After the first three chapters of 1st Samuel focusing on Samuel’s birth and childhood, we’ve now read through more chapters, 4 through 6, with no mention of Samuel. Where is Samuel through all the craziness of the Ark of the Covenant’s capture? The narrative doesn’t tell us, so we can safely guess that during thoseContinue reading “How to rightly submit to God – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 