Directions for the people of God as they prepare for, attend to, participate in, and improve upon the Public Worship of God.
Preparing for the Lord’s Day
1. Since the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice, the principles of public worship must be derived from the Bible, and from no other source.
2. A service of public worship is not merely a gathering of God’s children with each other but before all else a meeting of the triune God with his chosen people. God is present in public worship not only by virtue of the divine omnipresence but, much more intimately, as the faithful covenant Saviour. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (more…)
1. It is the duty of every one to remember the Lord’s Day and to prepare for it before its approach. On the preceding day all worldly business should be so ordered by each person and seasonably laid aside that he may not be hindered thereby from sanctifying the Sabbath, as the Holy Scriptures require. (more…)
Again and again we hear it. Some say, “Our worship seems so lifeless! Let’s revitalize it by adding guitar and drums!” Others respond, “No! Worship must be marked by reverence!” The first group counters, “But shouldn’t it also be marked by joy?”
God says that worship that is genuinely vital—alive and enlivening—will be characterized both by reverence (Heb. 12:28) and by joy (Ps. 100:1–2). Why then do we find ourselves trying to choose between them?
Thank you for your willingness to consider whether you should partake of the Lord’s Supper with us. God has commanded all of us to examine ourselves [1] before coming to his table and this article was written to help you obey that commandment (more…)