Act of Worship

Intro for the following may be found here . Additionally, audio for the Sacraments and Sacred Rites series may be found here . You may also listen to podcast episodes here . Additionally, Dr. Jones' book entitled Sacraments and Sacred Rites may be found here or bought on platforms such as Amazon or the Book Patch. Christian worship is a lifetime journey of participation and involvement in the life...

Dr. Jonathan Michael Jones give commentary on his hymn, "To Live Is Christ; To Die Is Gain"

Dr. Jonathan Michael Jones give commentary on his hymn, "The All-Discerning Eye of God"

The book of Isaiah holds sharp warnings for the people of God—not only the ancient people of God but the church today. 587 BC was a disastrous time for the people of Jerusalem and Judah. More than a century earlier the northern tribes of Israel were conquered and carried away by the Assyrians. Now the Babylonians laid waste the southern territories and a seventy-year exile uprooted the nation. Sha...

Jesus’ usage of parables is prominent in the gospel accounts as his primary manner to deliver lessons to his followers. Moreover, Jesus employs parables in such a sufficient manner that even modern times may not negate their efficiency. One of the more familiar parables taught by Jesus is that of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Rare are times when Jesus utilized such a specific person or group...

My brother and I received a call to ministry at a young age. I remember once speaking with him about what we envisioned for our lives in ministry. We both discussed our hopes and dreams (e.g., playing music in front of hundreds and even thousands of people, preaching before large crowds and seeing God move mightily through the work to which he called us, and living within the context of a successf...

The Apostle Paul instructs believers not to complain about anything (Phil 2:14-16). Nevertheless, an entire book, Lamentations, is devoted to the people of God complaining and for just reasons. Although no author is mentioned in the book, Lamentations is often attributed to the Prophet Jeremiah considering the dire struggles he encountered in captivity. Lamentations subsists in the context of God’...

News about the assassination of Charlie Kirk recently have fostered numerous responses of anger, confusion, and surprisingly even celebration by those who would reveal the evil in their own hearts. Whether or not one agrees with someone’s opinions and expressions, murder should never be a response and certainly should never be celebrated. The Prophet Amos spoke to the people of Israel in vivid vis...

Any faithful believer will testify to the fact that prayer works. In unfaithfulness, God is faithful, but it is the prayers of the righteous that are accepted by God and are a stalwart part of his plan for his people. Exodus 32 offers the narrative of God’s people creating a golden calf, an idol, and worshiping it. God’s response was anger and seeming propensity to destroy his people who had turne...

The art of biblical study and interpretation is a seemingly intimidating task, or at least it should be, as it is necessary and holds incredible implications regarding its rightness or wrongness. Said another way, one who holds the duty of interpretation, especially in teaching, is given a serious job and will be held accountable for what he or she presents to the body of Christ. I contend that th...

Christianity has been marked for centuries by its radical commitment to the point of giving one’s life for his or her faith. Countless Christians have been persecuted and even martyred throughout the centuries and around the world, not the least recognizable of which are the New Testament Christians. Further, while the concept of Jesus Christ setting believers free from sin and the former way of l...

The amalgamation of concepts and ideas that comprise dispensationalism are surely considered in the various contentions with its theological framework, especially in discourse with covenant theology. Dispensationalism is a relatively new theological construct, not gaining legitimate and broad affirmation until the mid-nineteenth century. [1] Thomas Ice contends that dispensationalism is “ a cluste...

A long-debated biblical topic is that of the biblical qualifications of a pastor. The role of a pastor exceeds occupation, for a pastor must be called, and where God calls one to serve him, he also qualifies such a person. This message will examine the biblical qualifications and broad responsibilities of a pastor and subsequently survey the notable duties of both teaching by way of expository pre...

As we conclude this study on a concise theology of worship, I contend that worship may be summed as a sacred dialogue. In a dialogue, one party must initiate and another respond. In the sacred dialogue of worship, God initiates and the church responds. Jesus assures his followers that he chose them; they did not choose him (John 15:16). Lest God’s people believe they possessed any ability to choos...

The centrality of Christ in worship has been discussed to this point, but the mediation of Christ should be given special attention. Jesus’ mediation is often considered in soteriological terms rather than in its necessity for Christian worship. Nonetheless, as Christ’s mediation is necessary in Christian life, it is also necessary in Christian worship, as worship is the overarching purpose of lif...

An important element to consider in especially the planning of worship is the threefold aspect of content, purpose, and style. [1] Through the order the church employs and the narrative told within such an order, the story of God should be told as a dialogue between God and his people. Through artistic elements and centered around the text of Scripture, leaders of worship have the responsibility o...

The sacred actions of worship are what comprise the totality of the dialogue between God and his people, especially Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These two actions are referred to commonly as sacraments or ordinances. In a symbolic way, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper represent the people who live within the reality of the life of Christ. In a corporeal way, participation in the sacraments ensures...

While the arts are not fundamental to Christian worship, they are surely crucial. Still, without an understanding of their purpose, Christian worship lacks a critical component. Every ingredient mixed in the Lord’s Day gathering should be examined for its purpose and theological precision. Unlike art that the world creates, however, God’s design for art is that it is created for his glory. Harold...

Time and space are steadfastly linked to Christian worship because time and space are the most evident tools utilized in worship gatherings. [1] The time and space of worship gatherings are critical. [2] Time and space are human elements but elements which God created. Therefore, not only is human understanding limited but believers worship a God not bound by the two elements. God’s worthiness, as...

The sacrament of Baptism is exceedingly significant and should not be neglected in Christians’ lives. Various interpretations surrounding Baptism subsist, all of which point to a greater reality that God’s people are changed by the Lord Jesus Christ and, in effect, have chosen to die to selfish desires. The New Westminster Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship defines Baptism as “the rite whereby a pe...

In discourse of regulative and normative principles of worship, an element that subsists as a crucial source of contention is that of creedal employment in Christian worship gatherings. Certainly, there is no explicit command to employ such confessions. Nonetheless, the value of creedal texts has been observed for centuries, since the early church, and even prior. This paper will contend for an un...

Worship in the New Testament immensely contrasts worship in the Old Testament. Due to the New Covenant as the final realization of God’s covenant of grace, practical application for God’s people in worship has shifted greatly. For one, Gentiles are now grafted into the body of God’s people (Rom 11:19). What used to be an issue of genetics is now an issue of adoption (Rom 8:15). Thus, Christian wor...

Interplay between congregationalist rule and elder-led rule in local churches (especially in the United States) has seemingly increased in recent decades so much that churches are increasingly making a transition from a congregationalist model to rule by a plurality of elders. [1] The transition often seems and proves to be a daunting task but a necessary one to conform to New Testament standards....

Dr. Jonathan Michael Jones give commentary on his hymn, "The Skies Above Declare the Glory of Our God."

Worship in the Old Testament offers a translucent perspective to Jewish worship. Whereas texts and documents from the early church are clearer, a window may be open in the practice of ancient Israel to inform Christian worship today. A primary foundation of Old-Testament worship is its foundation of sacrifice. More than New Testament worship, the Old Testament system was largely based on temporary...