Modern Idolatry
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Atheism, Church, Worship, Philippians
Ancient Israel was plagued with self-inflicted idolatry throughout their history in Canaan. Were they the only ones? This lesson looks at some modern examples of idolatry with which spiritual Israel can be infected today.
Life and Worship
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Church, Worship, Acts of Worship, Acts, 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy
Is "worship" a separate and distinct act, or, is all of "life" worship? This lesson examines the question as well possible implications for both "life" and "worship".
Improving Our Worship-1
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Worship
Our coming together on the first day of the week is not really “about” us. Literally, “worship” is a licking the hand of a master, as a dog licks his master’s hand. The idea intended by the use of this word is that we pay homage, reverence, respect, and praise to our great God and Savior. Obviously, we should always remember and make a priority of this purpose so that we do not fulfill the condemnation of 1Corinthians 11:17 to the end that “you come together not for the better but for the worse.”
Improving Our Worship-2
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Worship
This is the second in this series of articles discussing ways that the congregation, and more specifically, those who lead it, can improve the worship services. Announcement makers are the subject under consideration.
Improving Our Worship-3
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Worship
This is the third in this series of articles discussing ways that the congregation, and more specifically, those who lead it, can improve the worship services. Those who lead us in prayer are the subject under consideration this time.
Improving Our Worship-4
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Worship
This is the fourth is this series of articles designed to help us do a better job of worshiping the Lord during our services. We've looked at ways that both the people in the pew and those responsible for leading us in worship can be more effective. This particular article deals with singing praises to Jehovah.
Improving Our Worship-5
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Worship
This is the fifth in this (delayed) series of articles. Due to other pressing duties, this installment was postponed and then inadvertently forgotten- sorry. The series on the whole has tried to highlight ways that both those who lead as well as the people in the pew can do a better job of worshiping our great God, Jehovah. This particular installment examines a couple of points relative to the Preaching / Teaching part of our worship.
Worship and Entertainment: Sesame Street’s Contribution to the Corruption of Worship
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Worship, Entertainment in Worship, John, Acts, Ephesians, Philippians
Modern "church" worship has become little more, and in some cases nothing more, than side-show entertainment. "Why?" is the obvious question. Though there are certainly many factors that have contributed to the corruption of what should be the "true worship" of God, perhaps some of the problem started with Sesame Street. How so? Click the link below and see for yourself. (Note: Many preachers, elders, and teachers in the church have seen this trend of modern worship for years. Likewise, many have preached and taught against it, as have I. Though the work is not quoted directly in this lesson, Dan Chamber's book, "Showtime! Worship in the Age of Show Business" certainly was a great resource in confirming many things I had always thought about the problem, and was also the inspiration for this lesson.)
Worship and Entertainment: Temple of God or of Idols?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Worship, Entertainment in Worship, John, Acts, Ephesians, Philippians
In the previous lesson on "Worship and Entertainment," we sought to establish the concept that our own appetite for entertainment has corrupted modern worship. This lesson takes two additional steps: 1) Is worship really "all about Him" with no consideration or regard for the worshiper? And, 2) How do we know what constitutes "true worship"?
The Lord’s Supper: What, How, Why, When, Where, Who?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Worship, Acts of Worship, Matthew, Luke, Acts, 1 Corinthians
Since we've had a couple of lessons pointing out the corruption of "modern worship," it seemed expedient to expend some time and effort in looking at what "true worship" is supposed to be. This lesson on the Lord's Supper will be the first of a series of lessons to follow on Sunday nights regarding what is commonly referred to as "acts of New Testament worship."