• Topic > Christian Living > Worship >

    All Together

    For years my wife’s piano and my banjo had an uncomfortable and infrequent relationship. Then, after Janet bought me a new guitar for my birthday, she expressed an interest in learning to play my old guitar. She is a very capable musician, and soon we were, together, playing songs of praise on our guitars. I like to think that a new kind of “praise connection” has filled our home.

    The Power Of Music

    In Wales, the music of men’s chorus groups is deeply engrained in the culture. Prior to World War II, one Welsh glee club had a friendly yet competitive rivalry with a German glee club, but that bond was replaced with animosity during and after the war. The tension was gradually overcome, though, by the message on the trophy shared by the two choruses: “Speak with me, and you’re my friend. Sing with me, and you’re my brother.”

    Let’s look at the story of Mary of Bethany to see how simply embracing God’s love can change the world

    Faced with the overwhelming evils and ills of a broken world, it’s difficult to see how we could possibly make a difference. We want to help, but just don’t know how. Join with us in this brand-new study.

    Understanding the truth about worship through a study on Matthew chapter 15

    Jesus is on the lookout for true worshipers. But it’s not necessarily those who sing the loudest, or know the most hymns. Why genuine worship is less about what we do, and more about acknowledging what God has done!

    Public Praise

    I love the YouTube video of people in a food court of a mall, who in the midst of their ordinary lives were suddenly interrupted by someone who stood up and boldly began singing the “Hallelujah Chorus.” To the surprise of everyone, another person got up and joined the chorus, and then another, and another. Soon the food court was resounding with the celebrative harmonies of Handel’s masterpiece.

    A Slower Pace

    When writer Bruce Feiler was diagnosed with bone cancer in his thigh, he couldn’t walk without some help for over a year. Learning to get around on crutches caused him to appreciate a slower pace of life.

    To God Be The Glory

    When Jason was asked to sing at a church he was visiting, he was delighted to participate even though he wasn’t asked until a few minutes before the service started. He chose a familiar hymn, “To God Be the Glory,” because it was a song that was especially meaningful to him.

    Digesting The Word

    King James is famous for the Bible translation that bears his name. Around the same time as the printing of the Bible, he also made revisions to The Book of Common Prayer. Still used today, this guide to intercession and worship contains a marvelous prayer for internalizing the Bible:

    How the Lord’s Prayer draws us to the heart of worship

    There have been times that in singing with other Christians, he’s been brought closer to God… has something like that ever happened to you? We’re talking about when and how we “hallow” God’s name in today’s Discover the Word.

    How to connect Spirit-filled worship with honoring God’s name

    Wednesday, September 5, 2012, Part 2

    “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)

    IDEA: We can hallow God’s name in many ways in our lives.

    PURPOSE: To help listeners realize the many different ways we can reverence God’s name.

    In Praise Of Sovereignty

    In James Fenimore Cooper’s book The Last of the Mohicans, we become acquainted with a character named David Gamut. He is a devout Christian who delights in setting the Psalms to music and singing them no matter what circumstances life brings his way. Gamut believes that God can be trusted in crisis as well as in good times. He lives a life in praise of God’s sovereignty—His supreme power, authority, and control over the world.

    The Lamb Who Is The Lion

    In Revelation 5, the apostle John portrays Jesus, the Lion of Judah (v.5), as a wounded Lamb (v.6). Referring to this word picture, preacher Charles Spurgeon asked, “Why should our exalted Lord appear in His wounds in glory?” His reply: “The wounds of Jesus are His glory.”

    The Wonder Of Wilderness

    The psalmists had an advantage in praise because of their closer tie to the natural world. David began life outdoors as a shepherd, then spent years hiding in the rocky terrain of Israel. Not surprisingly, a great love, even reverence, for the natural world shines through many of his poems.

    Beauty In The Church

    When my husband, Jay, and I decided to build a new house, we didn’t recruit friends and family who enjoy working with power tools; instead we hired a skilled builder to create something both functional and beautiful.

    Thank God For Music

    Music plays a big part in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God enlists musicians to work on His behalf. He uses music to call people to worship and to send them to war, to soothe ragged emotions and to ignite spiritual passion, to celebrate victories and to mourn losses.