In Psalm 96, this psalm about perspective, the psalmist started with a repetitive phrase, “Sing to the Lord,” which we talked about here and here. And now later in his song, he returns to a repetition. Look at verses 7-8. “Ascribe…Ascribe…Ascribe to the Lord.” What does it mean to “ascribe”? “Ascribe is not a commonContinue reading “Some much needed perspective on how to worship the Lord – Psalm 96, Part 4”
Tag Archives: worship
Perspective in the middle of tough times – Psalm 96, Part 3
In Psalm 96, verses 2 and 3 instruct us to proclaim God’s salvation day after day. This is the same idea that is encapsulated in the word “evangelism,” which is about proclaiming Good News. The psalmist reminds us that we have Good News story to share, and in verse 3 he describes it as declaringContinue reading “Perspective in the middle of tough times – Psalm 96, Part 3”
The importance of new worship songs and a global perspective – Psalm 96, Part 2
Psalm 96 begins with the repeated words: “Sing to the Lord.” Three times we read that in verses 1 & 2. This is a reminder that there is just something about singing that is special. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a good singer, and even if you kinda just grunt the wordsContinue reading “The importance of new worship songs and a global perspective – Psalm 96, Part 2”
Are we so concerned with religion that we’ve stopped listening to God? – John 18, Part 4
This week I welcome guest blogger, Emerald Scaffe. Emerald is married and together with her husband, has three children. She also serves on the teaching team at Faith Church. This painful irony of Jesus’ arrest and trials continues as in John 18, verse 19, “Meanwhile, the high priest (still referring to Annas, here) questioned JesusContinue reading “Are we so concerned with religion that we’ve stopped listening to God? – John 18, Part 4”
Falling asleep during prayer and the surprising act that brings glory to God – John 17:1-5, Part 1
On family vacation, we were having a prayer time where one person would share a prayer request, and then another person would pray for them. It was getting late into the evening, and I was sitting next to my wife, Michelle, on a sofa. Someone shared a prayer request, and Michelle volunteered to be theContinue reading “Falling asleep during prayer and the surprising act that brings glory to God – John 17:1-5, Part 1”
What Jesus meant when he said, “You will always have the poor among you” – John 11:46-12:11, Part 4
What does extravagant generosity to Jesus look like in our day? In John 12:1-11, Mary dumped $70K worth of perfume on Jesus’ feet. While Jesus doesn’t expect us to do precisely what Mary did, he does expect us to be extravagantly generous. Why doesn’t he expect us to do what Mary did? Mary lived, forContinue reading “What Jesus meant when he said, “You will always have the poor among you” – John 11:46-12:11, Part 4″
Why we set up four essential oil diffusers in our worship service – John 11:46-12:11, Part 3
What will Jesus say when Mary love bombs by dumping $70K of perfume on his feet, and his disciple Judas Iscariot is angry, saying that perfume could have been sold to help the poor? Will Jesus agree with Mary or Judas? Here’s how Jesus responds to Judas in John 12, verses 7-8, “’Leave her alone,’Continue reading “Why we set up four essential oil diffusers in our worship service – John 11:46-12:11, Part 3”
Why it is important to view communion as so much more than remembering – John 6:52-71, Part 3
If you’ve been to a Protestant church the picture above is probably familiar. A table with an open Bible, and the inscription, “This Do In Remembrance Of Me.” What does it mean? Read the Bible to remember Jesus? No. The inscription is referring to a phrase Jesus’ said to his disciples at their Last Supper,Continue reading “Why it is important to view communion as so much more than remembering – John 6:52-71, Part 3”
Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3
Would you be surprised to learn that some people weren’t buying what Jesus was selling? I’m not talking about the religious leaders who often confronted him. I’m talking about the crowds of people who followed him. As we continue studying John 6, the people who just the day before wanted to make him king, nowContinue reading “Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3”
When it’s wrong to want more of Jesus – John 6:22-51, Part 1
If you attend church worship services, why do you go to them? Whether you wake up on a Sunday morning in time to participate, or whether you give up valuable free time on Saturday night, or any time you attend a worship service, why do you go? I suspect that there are a variety ofContinue reading “When it’s wrong to want more of Jesus – John 6:22-51, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 