'worship' Tagged Posts (Page 4)
Daily Devotions
Psalm 95:1-7a “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” vss. 1-2 As the worship quarantine continues in our congregations, one of the things we’re missing the most is lifting our voices in songs of praise and thanksgiving. In fact, we’ve been told by those who understand how…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 17:16-20 … “Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” vs. 20 Much has been made of the so-called “Messianic Secret” that the gospel writers mention. Why would Jesus not want the disciples to tell anyone that he was the Messiah? Explanations abound and whole books have been written in support of various theories, but we really can’t know for sure. What we do know is that, when a person is identified…
Daily Devotions: August 2, 2020
August 2, 2020 Matthew 14:17-21 … “Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” vs. 19 The story of the feeding of the multitudes was a favorite among early Christians and shows up in all of the gospels at least once. It reminded them…
Daily Devotions: May 21, 2020
May 21, 2020 1 Peter 4:12-14 … “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” vs 12 Believers are regularly promised in the New Testament writings that they should not be surprised when suffering came their way. Times were different and persecutions came sporadically but inevitably to people of faith. They are told by their leaders that they should regard these ordeals…
Daily Devotions: April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020 Luke 24:24-35 … “Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” vs. 35 Some believers have reported that what they’re missing most in the physical distancing related to the current reaction to the spread of the corona virus is participation in Holy Communion. There are no shortages of worship services on YouTube and being live-streamed, but while it’s nice to check…
Daily Devotions: February 4, 2020
February 4, 2020 For full passage click: Isaiah 58:3-9a … “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” vs. 6 We humans are drawn to the trappings of religion and the intricate rituals that have become interwoven with our worship. We decorate our altars and sanctuaries with fine linens, valuable chalices, and beautiful paraments of many…
Daily Devotions: December 27, 2019
December 27, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 148 … “Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!” vss. 8-9 The Psalmist doesn’t leave anything out in his review of creation; all things have their origin in God and each in their own way offer regular praise to their Maker. When we’re able to see outside the narrow confines of our consciousness, we can see…
Daily Devotions: October 8, 2019
October 8, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 111:1-5 … “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” vs. 1 The Psalmist wasn’t thanking the Lord for any answered prayer or a particular blessing that had come to him. Instead, he was reflecting on the goodness and mercy of God throughout all the generations–and he didn’t hold back! His song of thanksgiving came from the…
Daily Devotions: August 5, 2019
August 5, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 1: 1, 10-15 … “When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” vs. 15 Isaiah had harsh words for Jerusalem and its rulers during the years of his ministry. He was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and saw clearly the hypocrisy of their religious posturing. It wasn’t that they…
Daily Devotions: July 11, 2019
July 11, 2019 Colossians 1:1-8 …“Just as (the word) is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.” vs. 6b The number of believers grew quickly in those early Spirit-filled years. Paul hadn’t gone to Colossae but Epaphras had, and the results were stunning. We don’t know much about this Epaphras fellow, but he evidently had a good grasp…
Daily Devotions: July 2, 2019
July 2, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 66:1-5 …“Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.” vs. 1-2 The psalmist was calling together a praise choir, one that could make a joyful noise to God and properly glorify God’s name. And he wasn’t just calling on human voices! He believed that all the noise of the earth could be construed as a praise song to God. When…
Daily Devotions: May 20, 2019
May 20, 2019 For full passage click: Acts 16:9-13 …“On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.” vs. 13 Paul didn’t have much of an itinerary for his missionary journeys. He simply went wherever the Spirit guided him and he paid attention to dreams! When a man appeared in a vision imploring him to…