I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. Each month of 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation.
- September - The Reformation of Worship (July 20, 2022 - December 12, 2022)
- August - The Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation (April 14, 2022 - July 19, 2022)
- July - The right use of God's Law (May 23, 2021 - April 13, 2022)
- June was justification by faith alone (February 14, 2021 - May 22, 2021)
- May, Christ Alone (September 3, 2020 - February 13, 2021)
- April, salvation by grace alone (March 6, 2019 - September 2, 2020)
- March, the sovereign providence of God (January 28, 2019 - March 5, 2019)
- February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture (January 8, 2019 - January 27, 2019)
- January, the doctrine of God (December 16, 2018 - January 7, 2019).
The Elements of Worship
Redeemed to Worship - We are people that are meant to glorify God, to worship the Lord.
The Importance of Reverence in Worship. Guidance in Worship - Start with scripture and let scripture define our ways in worship. Reverent Worship - We must take care to worship God with reverence, according to God's word.
What it Means to Worship in Spirit and Truth
Worshipping in Spirit and Truth and the Place of Worship - Worship is not limited to a place, but true worship is the Holy Spirit being with me and testifying the truth of God. The Time of Worship - Christ's resurrection took place on the first day of the week and so there is ample warrant for setting aside Sunday as the time of obligatory Christian worship. Heavenly Worship - The city of the living God is mount Zion, in heaven and so when we worship God we enter into this heavenly city while we are also here on earth. Reading Scripture in Worship - From the earliest history of God's people, we have gathered to hear God's word read aloud. Exhortation and Teaching in Worship - In addition to reading, there is also teaching scripture in the context of the day and then exhortation or application of putting it in practice today. Prayer in Worship - Prayer is a private devotion, but also a public proclamation that we need to do in a public setting. Sacraments in Worship - Sacraments are public ordinances and we participate in them rightly in the context of public worship. At a minimum these acts should include baptism and Lord's Supper. Oaths and Vows in Worship - These are promises or pledges we make each Sunday as we gather, as we sing songs, about God but also about who we are in Christ. If we speak these words, may they be so in our lives. Fasting in Worship - When we fast, we are driven to more urgent prayer and to remember our creaturely dependence. Thanksgiving in Worship - Giving thanks is a part of our prayers that we make thanking God for all that He has done. It can be part of special occasions and it can also be a part of our weekly coming together time on Sunday morning. Living Sacrifices in Worship - A living sacrifice in worship is to give God all of me, to give him my best and this means I turn from doing those things that don't honor him in any way.
The Intersection of Arts and Worship
The Beauty of Worship - The beauty of the Lord is seeing what God has made in His creation but also in His temple and specified in people's attire, in our talents and spiritual gifts. All of these colors help us to worship God. Ritual vs Ritualism - The problem is not with rituals themselves but with ritualism, which happens when we go through the motions without an inner disposition to worship the Lord. Forms and Their Communication - It is not the form of our worship that matters as much as the purpose for why we gather and assemble in our churches - to edify one another and be devoted to Him. The Power of Music - Music was created by God. And as his creation, he uses it to testify of Him and to minister to us. Music and Theology - Good worship music invite us to move deeper into God's word to learn more and more about Him. In all of its forms, hymns, contemporary songs, our hearts can be focused on him. The Arts and the Worship Space - Places of worship are normal and should be present, either small places in homes or larger spaces that are rented or purchased. What is important is not always the form, but the function.
Rescuing Souls from Death - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine, copastor of Saint Andrew's chapel in Sanford, FL) - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). This is the earliest hint of soul winning in the Bible and pictures the unrighteous seeing the fruit of the righteous and saving their lives. Throughout the Bible is the idea of being rescued. Doing good goes beyond evangelism to kindness, parenting, helping people in crisis. If we truly believe that God calls people to Himself then any of our works of righteousness can be used to bring people to Him.
Wisdom, New and Old - RC Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - We tend to focus too much on the future, on what is new, thinking it is always better than what is old or the past. It is true that our understanding of things is developing, but people are not necessarily getting more intelligent. Life is often repeating itself, just with a new zip code. God revealed Himself to people in the past and gave us truths we can still live by today, that are still relevant today.
God: The Winner of Souls - David Strain (senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss.) - God is the Evangelist. He is in hot pursuit of sinners. God so loved the world that He gave his only Son...God sent His Son...John 3:16-17. The initiative behind the work of Christ on behalf of sinners is God. God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. You have given Jesus authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him (John 17:2). The Holy Spirit is an evangelist, giving new life to dead sinners (John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life). At every point of Christ's ministry, the Holy Spirit rested upon Christ. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear (Acts 2:33). The church preaches the good news by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:12); the Church is sent to pronounce forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. Never forget it is God that is the true and great soul winner. The Father purposed to save sinners in love by sending His Son with the Spirit uniting us with Christ and empowers us in turn to bear witness for Christ.
The Sovereignty of God and Soul Winning - Joel R. Beeke (President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) - If God chooses people in His sovereignty then we don't need to evangelize - False - God calls us to preach the gospel, to pray for laborers to go out into the harvest. We are his co-workers. He calls us to be involved. Calvin wrote the gospel "does not fall from the clouds like rain" but is "brought by the hands of men to where God has sent it." Calvin even started a lot of missions and churches in his time. Many evangelists and missionaries went out from the reformers including Laurence Chaderton, William Perkins, John Owen, John Eliot, David Brainerd, George Whitefield, William Carey, Adoniram and Ann Judson, John and Maggie Paton, Andrew Gordon and Andrew Watson, Ebenezer Erskine, Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1. We are to be bold in evangelism (Acts 18:9-10). 2. We are to be patient in evangelism, not trying to manipulate or force people into the kingdom (2 Timothy 2:24-25). 3. We are to be confident in evangelism (Isaiah 55:11). 4. We are to be submissive in evangelism (Romans 10:1, 9:22, 9:16). 5. We are to be worshipful in evangelism (I Corinthians 3:6-7).
Winning the Souls of Unbelievers - Dr. Jon D. Payne (pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC) - Evangelism is a way of life. It liberates and challenges us to reach out to our spheres of influence. To witness is compulsory for every sincere follower of Christ (Matt. 5:13-16). Yet we lack zeal and prayer. Let's recommit our lives. We have examples from Jesus and the Apostles, but we do not have to duplicate their ministries. It is primarily an overflow of a sincere walk with God. I am right where I need to be (Ps. 115:3; Acts 17:26-27). Our home and work location is for a reason. It is less a task and more a way of life. Are we willing and ready to identify and act upon the evangelistic opportunities that God brings our way? In prayer we remain steadfast and utterly dependent on Him. We are to be in steadfast prayer. It is to be centered on Christ - God's holiness and requirements of His Law (Lev. 11:45, Gal. 1:10-11). Man is fallen, miserable and depraved (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). God sent His Son to fulfill the Law (John 3:16; Rom. 5:18-19) and satisfy divine justice on the cross (Ps. 22:1; I John 4:9-10) and rise from the dead on the third day (Rom. 4:22-25), to reconcile man to God by grace through faith in Him (2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 2:8-9). In the judgment, to heaven or to hell (Matt. 25:31-46). It is hard to be silent about what we cherish most.
The Ordinary Means of Soul Winning - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk, copastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida) - Greatest trick by the devil is convincing the church that it needs to be like the world to reach the world. In a desire to be like the world they have become counter-ecclesial (relating to a church). Pastors study the fads of culture more than the unchanging principles of God's Word. They claim that there is no explicit command in the Bible against it, so they can use it to reach people. Parsons discovered the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the answer to Question 88. It is through the Word, sacraments and prayer that salvation is made known to people. We are to follow the example in Acts and worship God according to His Word and according to the means God has ordained. Thus, true Churches needs to be observing the Lord's Supper regularly, praying deeply, preaching the Gospel. Instead changing church for people, people need to see the witness of the Church.
Winning One Another - Carl D. Robbins (senior pastor of Woodruff Road Presbyterian church in Simpsonville, SC) - The closing of the book of James shows how real Christians care about their members (James 5:19-20). We can wander by giving up essential tenets of the faith like deny exclusivity of Christ or justification by faith alone or understandings of biblical sexuality. Paul warns in I Corinthians 10:12: "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." We are to reorient one another toward righteousness. Warn people of the road to destruction they are walking on. The Lord sent Nathan to King David to call him to repent (2 Samuel 12). We are to do this to save their soul from death and confirm the Blood of the Lamb as atoning cover for their sins.
One Kingdom Will Continue - Jason Helopoulos (associate pastor of Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - "I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill" (Ps. 2:6). Promise: Christ reigns. Terrorists, church members slayed, upholding heterosexual views - in American society, it often doesn't look like Christ reigns. Jesus said in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world." This is a spiritual kingdom that doesn't show up on the evening news and it will continue and last and God shalt break them (nations) with a rod of iron, shatter them like earthenware (pieces of a potters clay) (Ps. 2:9). It was on Good Friday that it appeared the world had won over Jesus and He had been defeated. People didn't see it at the time but God was working, setting His King on His holy hill, establishing His Son's kingdom for all eternity; He who sits in the heaven's laughs (Ps. 2:4). Every Nebuchadnezzar falls; every Ahab reaches his end; the head of the serpent is crushed. His kingdom is established and will continue forevermore. So Fear God, not men.
Looking over the Fence - Melissa B. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, NC) - Consider others, but in the right way. We often look at what others have and want it. And then at times we don't like people's opinions. Or perhaps we just don't think about our neighbor. But filled with Jesus I can view others through the lens of love. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain contempt, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil 2:3 NIV84). We need to encourage others in their faith, noticing what people are doing and how they are serving God (Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works). And considering our leaders, not their failures but their faith for the Gospel gives us a new mindset continually on all things (Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. - Hebrews 13:7).
A Life Worthy of the Gospel - Aaron L. Garriott (production manager of Tabletalk magazine) - Unity made Paul's heart leap hearing of it from the church at Philippi whom he thought of as his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1). He said his joy would be complete if the church members were of "the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose" (Phil. 2:2). Yet, arrogance over self-advancement engenders disharmony. People don't drift towards unity. Instead self-advancement and self-exaltation is often the mindset. In Philippians 2, the blueprint for unity is given: humility. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than oneself; do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (2:3-4). Why? Because of Jesus who "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, was humbled to the point of death on a cross, then exalted, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - to the glory of God (Phil 2:5-11)." Now there is a difference in Jesus emptying Himself and us emptying ourselves. Jesus emptied Himself of infinite riches as the co-owner of eternal. Our emptying is one of emptying ourselves from the mindset that we are greater than we truly are. For us to be of one-mind with one another it starts by each of us humbling ourselves individually. And here is the goal: Paul reminds us to "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27-28)."
The Direction of Leadership - Dr. Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9marks and elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - Leadership even in scripture is full of metaphors about "up" being good, and "over" others - "God reigns over the nations" (Ps. 47:8); His throne is "high and lifted up" (Isa 6:1); elders have "oversight" (I Peter 5:2). But being a leader is more than being over others, it is also coming down to their level, kneeling down and lifting others up. Psalm 18:31-35 says God has equipped me with strength....sets me upon my high places...trains my hands for battle...given me the shield....Thy gentleness make me great. A good reminder to help those under me and work for their success. Christ tells us He came to serve, not be served (Matthew 20:25-28).
Moments of Praise - Rev. Joe Holland (Pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Culpeper, Virginia) - We can praise the Lord, even with short bursts of prayer, like is mentioned with Psalm 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible. In seconds we can praise God and pronounce a call to Missions. God is not constrained by word counts. We want long drawn out times with the Lord in large chunks but don't miss quick bursts as well.
Knowledge without Zeal - Joshua S. Brice (senior pastor of Pray's Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia) - We are to not simply attend the right churches, but have a real zeal for God. James Montgomery Boice commented that "millions are drifting along through life, manipulated by the mass media, particularly television, and hardly know it." Our thinking of eternity has left us and we are too focused on the hear and now. Remember the reformation as it was a desire for the word of God. The Catholics remained only on listening to lectures of the Bible in Latin rather than God's word in our language. We need to have a proper zeal to serve God.
Handling Abuse in the Church - Rev. Brad Hambrick (Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC and instructor of biblical counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC) - We need to be willing to be uncomfortable and realize that people are being hurt, even among the church body we are in. Engage a social workers with experience with domestic violence and child abuse. We need to talk about it more in trainings and even from the pulpit. By talking about it then people believe this is a safe place to discuss this.
The Real Story of Christianity and Abortion - Dr. R. Albert Mohler (President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY) - Recently, many are giving the idea that Christians are late to the table in calling abortion evil. In fact, several so-called Christians are even stating that Abortion is morally right and the scripture supports this. But in reality Christians have always been opposed to Abortion and this can be seen by the Didache in AD 80-120, Clement of Alexandria (AD 15-215) and Tertullian (AD 160-240) who all have words about the crime of abortion. Don't believe the culture, ever.
The Context of the Early Church - David R. Briones (Associate professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary) - Context is vital to our daily communication. Example - steel sinks could mean at Lowe's or Home Depot purchasing a steel sink, but in a class at college taught by a professor of material science it could mean steel that sinks in the water. So, understanding the context of God's word is very important. Note, Phil 2:12 and "work out your salvation." The word your is actually not me, but rather our and is meant to convey the entire church coming together to do the work of salvation. So context helps us be better readers of the text and it adds color to our reading of the text, as through it we can see better the beauty of God's word. Example is Jesus at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem at Passover and spreading palm branches before Him. To see the significance of the palm branches we look at the books of the apocrypha and see that in 165 BC during the intertestamental period when a Jewish family was revolting against Syrian forces and King Antiochus who prohibited Jewish religion. But then Judas Macabeus destroyed every Syrian detachment and moved back into Jerusalem with the people celebrating and as part of that celebration, a new festival of Hanukkah commenced and the people celebrated with palm branches and became a national symbol for the Jewish people. National Jews thought Jesus would destroy Roman opposition, but instead they drove nails into His hand and then through His death and resurrection liberated people from sin and death. And Jesus then entrusted Himself not to Jews, but His Church.
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