'worship' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Daily Devotions
For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” vs. 23 Acts 17:22-25 The ruins of the Parthenon in Athens are spectacular. Every year millions of tourists come to gape at the wonder of its columns and the delicate beauty of its carvings. When Paul came to Athens on…
Daily Devotions
What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” vss. 12-14 Psalm 116:12-19 The psalmist was alive–he’d been as good as dead, cried out to the Lord, and had been restored to health. Now what? In his mind there remained only one thing to do–he…
Daily Devotions
Maundy Thursday For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” vs. 26 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, has enormous significance for the entire Christian community and is celebrated weekly in congregations all around the world. While practices differ and we have argued for centuries about the significance of the ritual, it is, for most believers, the central feature of worship. And as Paul indicates…
Daily Devotions
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.” vs. 23 John 4:16-25 It can be comforting to have a religion that we can rely on, and most people will claim an affiliation to some established denomination or faith community. So when asked by census takers or screen door evangelists we can give a religious preference, even if…
Daily Devotions
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” vs. 18 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 Some years ago, a new kind of evangelism strategy evolved in an effort to attract the large numbers of people who had come to be known as “searchers.” There was little concern about liturgy or creeds in worship. Instead there was a focus on music, not the old chorales,…
Daily Devotions
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” vss. 24-26 Numbers 6:22-27 In most of our congregations the pastor’s last words to the gathered people are some form of the Aaronic Benediction. And while for some this is a welcome signal that the end is in sight, most worshippers are touched by this familiar blessing.…
Daily Devotions
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly…” vss. 11-12 Titus 2:11-14 The book of Titus reflects the conviction of early believers that God’s saving grace had been showered upon all humanity in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That’s a truth worth holding close to our hearts, especially in these times of religious…
Daily Devotions
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” vss. 4-5 Psalm 96 Human beings seem to have a god gene as part of their DNA that drives them to set aside time and energy for worship as a regular activity. Sometimes the object of that worship was found in nature, perhaps a particular mountain or…
Daily Devotions
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands…” vs. 6 2 Timothy 1:6-14 Confirmation hadn’t been invented yet in the life of the church when this letter was written, but its predecessor was certainly there. Paul says that when Timothy was a youth, he laid hands on him and gave him a precious gift of God. That sounds exactly like what happens when a pastor…
Daily Devotions
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” vss. 1-2 1 Timothy 2:1-2 First century Christians lived in a different world from ours. There weren’t many of them, and they continually lived in fear of the despotic Roman rulers and the military legions scattered throughout the Empire.…
Daily Devotions
If you call the sabbath a delight … if you honor it, not going your own ways … or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth …” vss. 13b-14a Isaiah 58:13-14 The prophets of Israel consistently pointed to sabbath-keeping as the center of the Jewish faith. In their eyes it was the most important of all the commandments given at Sinai. And early…
Daily Devotions
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’” vs. 1 Luke 11:1-4 From the gospel record it appears that Jesus began each day with prayer, often getting up before dawn to go off by himself. Obviously his disciples noticed, and one morning when he returned to the group they asked if he would teach them to pray as John…