I have been listening to the new song, "More Than Able," almost on repeat for the past few days. This morning I woke up with the chorus ringing in my head. Later this morning, I watched the music video for the song, which displays a congregation passionately singing the lyrics. It brought tears to my … Continue reading A Subtle Shift in Modern Worship
Christians and non-Christians alike constantly talk about the need for “self-care” these days. I wonder if farmers, working 80 hours a week in 1950s America, thought about “self-care.” That is a rhetorical question. Of course, they did not. The reason, I suspect, is not that hard-working farmers did not need to take care of themselves. … Continue reading Moses, the Mountain, and a Mass of Email
The following is by Pastor Rob Golding of First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. One of the most profound spiritual moments in my life came when I was most spiritually depressed. I was in college and found myself in a serious spiritual search. I was a Christian at a Christian college, studying the Bible, and I had … Continue reading What Spiritual Depression Taught Me About Worship
Of all organizations, does the local church have preeminence in our lives? In the clip below, Pastor Jeff Saltzmann of Bethel Grace Baptist Church unpacks a quote from the church covenant. What he says is counter-cultural to non-believers and even ruffles the feathers of many professing Christians. Many others would agree with this idea of … Continue reading The Preeminence of the Local Church
The following is a guest post by Pastor Rob Golding of First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. He also writes for the Westminster Theological Seminary Magazine. Why are God’s leaders so quick to count and boast about what God has given them? That is an interesting question. More interesting, however, is the following question: Why does God hate … Continue reading Evangelicalism’s Hezekiah Problem
When we call the sloppy sentimentalism that has overrun many churches “feminine,” we do a disservice to Godly women everywhere. Over the past 15 to 20 years, there has been no shortage of people claiming the church has become soft and ineffective because it has become feminine. This tactic was a favorite of Mark Driscoll, but Driscoll … Continue reading The Problem with Church is Not Femininity
This is a quick 50-second reminder that we need to prepare our hearts for worship. https://youtu.be/MLgo1PrDX2o So often, you'll hear someone say, "You know, I just don't get anything out of that church," or "I sat through that service, and I did not get anything out of it." The question I always want to ask … Continue reading “I Don’t Get Anything Out of Church”
There have been times when God was so displeased with his people he restricted their ability to worship, and Joel 1:9 is one example. The people of God had grown so cold and indifferent toward God that their worship was worthless. They had a form of Godliness but denied its power. Knowing this, God began to discipline his … Continue reading When God Closes Churches
Perhaps we rely on entertainment in the church to keep things interesting because we do not trust enough in God to keep our gatherings compelling. Entertainment is easy compared to waiting on God because waiting on God requires that we come to church with hearts prepared, undistracted by the world, and with a desire to … Continue reading Simulated Sunlight: Entertainment and the Church
The sin of pride is one of the most destructive things in our lives. For the non-believer, since they do not honor God and trust in Christ for their salvation, their entire life is controlled by it. However, for the Christian, even though we look to Jesus, pride can still hold sway. It lures us … Continue reading The Mighty Hand of God
The Fight of Faith 