Over the summer, We started a brief time of prayer before the morning worship service. It is a time for the church to gather and pray specifically for the worship service. The following are some suggestions about praying for worship that others may use and be blessed by. It is not an exhaustive list by any means.
Read MoreThe prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, wrote: "Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused." It makes one consider if he was thinking about Psalm 5 when he penned those brief words. Though brief, they say much because there are times in the life of a Christian when the words do not come as accurately as the heart seeks to convey.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 21, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.8
Part Two
VIII. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employments and recreations;a but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.b
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 20, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.8
Part One
VIII. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employments and recreations;a but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.b
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 19, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.7
VII. As it is of the law of nature that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:a which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week,b which in Scripture is called the Lord’s day,c and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.d
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 18, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.6
VI. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed:a but God is to be worshipped everywhereb in spirit and truth;c as in private familiesd daily,e and in secret each one by himself,f so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or willfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by his Word or providence, calleth thereunto.g
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 17, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5
V. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear;a the sound preaching;b and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God with understanding, faith, and reverence;csinging of psalms with grace in the heart;d as, also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God:e besides religious oaths,f vows,g solemn fastings,h and thanksgivings upon several occasions;i which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner.j
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 14, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.4
IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful,a and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;b but not for the dead,c nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.d
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 13, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.3
III. Prayer with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship,a is by God required of all men;b and that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,c by the help of his Spirit,d according to his will,e with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance;f and, if vocal, in a known tongue.g
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 12, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.2
II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to him alone:anot to angels, saints, or any other creature:b and since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.c
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 11, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.1
I. The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.a But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited to his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.b
Read MoreWhat is the “regulative principle of worship”?
The regulative principle of worship is a core doctrine of the Reformed tradition (see WCF 21.1). When we gather in worship, we must worship God in the way he commands and no other way. That is, we do not offer “strange fire” to God (See Lev. 10). Instead, we offer to him that which he demands of his people. We cannot imagine or devise other ways that God has not outlined in his Word (either by direct command or good and necessary consequence).
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