Imagine that you get free reign to design the plans for your dream home. You get to pick the kind of rooms you have, you get to decide the layout for where those rooms go, and you get to determine all the . . . Continue reading →
Worship
Psalters!
When I began to become Reformed (c. 1980–81), the Reformed churches I knew were hymn-singing congregations. Typically, they used the blue Trinity Hymnal (1961), published by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (and later by Great Commission Publications). There are Psalms (for singing and . . . Continue reading →
Thinking About Time: All Of Creation And History As God’s Story
I am a junior high history teacher. For pre-teens and teenagers, history is not the most thrilling of school subjects. Gratefully, I teach at a Christian school, so my particular spin on history involves the triune God’s involvement. (This does not always . . . Continue reading →
Presbycast: Talking To Your Neighbors About Worship
Drs. R. Scott Clark and Harrison Perkins, and small-church ministers Aaron De Boer and Zach Byrd made up a geographically and denominationally diverse panel of earnest, pastoral, and learned men. Here is the episode audio in its native habitat. For future reference, . . . Continue reading →
Introducing Congregations to the Songs of Zion
James Grant, at In the Light of the Gospel, wrote an article on how to introduce congregations to older hymns.1 In it he gives some excellent strategies for teaching old songs to new congregations. In an age when “Shine, Jesus Shine!” is now . . . Continue reading →
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 4)
This series has explored 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 to think through a perennial question about head coverings. Does the apostle’s teaching in this passage mandate that women everywhere and always must cover their heads in public worship—specifically that they must wear an additional . . . Continue reading →
Of Choirs And Praise Bands
Choirs (and their casual, modern descendants worship teams and praise bands) have been near-ubiquitous in Reformed churches for less than two centuries, but just like government programs, once instituted these groups are difficult to disband even though their historical pedigree is weak. Arrangements may be . . . Continue reading →
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 3)
This series explores Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 in the hope of providing some clarity on the perennial question of whether women are required to wear head coverings in public worship. The issue basically circles around whether Paul’s instructions about head . . . Continue reading →
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 2)
Sometimes passages take on a life of their own in church life or in church history, confronting us with perennial discussions about specific and difficult questions. Such is the case with 1 Corinthians 11:2–16, where Paul discussed the need for modesty and . . . Continue reading →
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 1)
The evangelical impulse to submit our practices to Scripture is a noble instinct. So is the attempt to search the Scriptures diligently to understand what it says and how to apply it. Continue reading →
Upcoming Conference: Eugene Reformed Bible Study Conference
Consider attending the upcoming conference at Eugene Reformed on March 16th, 2024. There will be several OPC pastors presenting on topics like the history of the OPC and what it means to be Presbyterian, including S. M. Baugh. You can download the PDF . . . Continue reading →
Until He Comes Again: A Journey Through The Reformed Liturgy
The very God who is all in all, who has revealed himself covenantally through creation and redemption, commands due worship. With human beings as God’s pinnacle creatures, worship actually tends to our greatest blessing and should be our greatest joy. We are . . . Continue reading →
Godfrey On What Is True Worship?
AGR’s Chris Gordon talks to Bob Godfrey about true worship is. Continue reading →
Video: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Chris Gordon and Dr. Robert Godfrey discuss Reformed worship. Continue reading →
Video: Bob Godfrey On How God Wants Us To Worship Him
Chris Gordon and Dr. Robert Godfrey discuss Reformed worship. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: David Clarkson On Public Worship
Dr Clark discusses the recent publication of a classic Reformed text by David Clarkson on worship. Continue reading →
The Problems with Paraphrases and Continuing Revelation
My interest here is not so much paraphrastic Bible translations—though these may not be good for ecclesiastical use (e.g., worship) or close study, like a commentary, a paraphrase can put light on a passage or otherwise edify. My concern here is the . . . Continue reading →
Is All Of Life Worship?
Is all of life worship? That was the question set for Dr Clark at the Great Lakes Reformed Conference October 14, 2023. Audio RESOURCES Resources On The Rule Of Worship Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical . . . Continue reading →
Why Our Worship Leaders Emulate Mick Jagger
Of course, our culture has many problems, but it does not say good things about our churches that by failing to see any difference between serious and frivolous music they are also in danger of losing the ability to distinguish adolescence from . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: Worshiping God Outside of The True Christ Is Idolatry
The Jew worships God out of Christ; and so does the Turk; yea and the papists worship God, but yet outside of the true Christ; for (as has been shown elsewhere) the Christ of the papists is a counterfeit Christ. And in . . . Continue reading →