The “dream church” picture I painted in the introduction looks very little like the church, Southlands, where I am now a member. Southlands is nondenominational, meets in a renovated prosthetics factory, and has only the slightest liturgical bent. It’s Reformed-ish but Holy Spirit focused, with impromptu “words” from the congregation and quiet prayer in tongues … Read more
‘Heaven’s perfect melody The Creator’s symphony You are singing over me The Father’s song. Heaven’s perfect mystery The king of love has sent for me And now you’re singing over me The Father’s song.’ Matt Redman, The Father’s Song As I’ve been thinking about intimacy with God recently I have found that it is a challenge. … Read more
Exodus 32 is such a well-known story for those who have spent any time around church. It’s the story of the Israelites making themselves a golden calf to worship. I imagine that most of us automatically think this story is about idolatry. We think they had stopped worshiping God and instead started to worship the … Read more
In a recent blog I offered 5 reasons why worship matters. I want to flesh that out a bit more by offering 3 key points of what I mean when I talk about worship. Whenever I am asked to define worship my answer is always the same. Worship is our response to God as he reveals … Read more
God is worthy of worship This is perhaps the most obvious reason why our worship matters but it is also the most important. The Bible is full of occasions that show God is worthy of worship. Whenever the curtain is drawn back and people are given a glimpse of heaven, worship is happening. Angels declare … Read more
A couple of years ago I went on a tour of Jordan and Israel. It was fascinating but also a real eye opener. It is difficult not to be swept away in the places when you are over there. I confess that at the beginning of my tour it was easy to simply be a … Read more
Recently I stumbled across a blog by Thom Schultz titled ‘Why They Don’t Sing on Sunday Anymore’. I admit it was an interesting read and may challenge some of the preconceptions that we have about how we do Sunday church services but for me it raised the issue of worship. In particular, the important issue for … Read more