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Worship and the Word
Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is a challenge to make sure that the Word of God is read and believed in our corporate worship? WORSHIP AND THE WORD The churches of the Reformation (and to a significant extent also the churches before the Reformation) not only sought to have the Bible guide their worship, but also sought to fill worship with the Word of God. This is because the Word not only instructs us but is also the means through which we draw near to God. We know, serve, and worship God through His Word. It is also "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Ps. 119:105) in worship . . . If we really delight in the Word and seek worship that is filled with the Word, many of the tensions and problems that surround worship today will begin to sort themselves out. We cannot claim to love the Word and be content with its absence from worship. We will want to hear it in reading and preaching, see it in the sacraments, and sing it in our songs. If we are not interested in the Word of God, can we really be interested in God? — Robert Godfrey, PLEASING GOD IN OUR WORSHIP, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1999, p. 27, 31. ISBN 1-58134-079-6 [I often wonder why some of our churches that have a very regard for the authority of the Scriptures have very low standards when it comes to the practice of the public reading of God’s Word in corporate worship. There seems to be a ditch on the other side of the road as well. We can fill our services with Scripture readings, but fail to acknowledge the Bible as fully "God-breathed," ready to teach us and reprove us, and correct us, and train us in righteousness (1 Timothy 3:16).] Have a great week. Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky carlstam@aol.com www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |