Worship – PaulThompsonBlog

Singing at Home, Too

Posted on January 5, 2021Leave a comment

Singing at home should NOT be viewed as a substitute for corporate singing, it should be viewed and preparation for more intelligent and affectionate singing at the church house.

By now, nearly 10 months into a global “state of emergency”, declared by national leaders, most state Governors, and local municipalities, we are still finding many churches functioning as partial gatherings or still only online services.

I am not shy in my opinion of this. However, I do respect that I don’t know what it’s like were the rest of the world lives. Other than the initial 14 days were were requested in March/April of 2020 when we were told that reducing group sizes would help “slow the curve”, Eastside Baptist has met every week with public singing, preaching, praying, communion, and face-to-face gatherings without mandating face coverings. Some day I will enjoy thinking through what others have experienced in the various regions that have faced severe hardships from governments, but by the grace of God my local city and county governments have been pleased to leave the church house alone. I don’t count this a small thing. May God bless my local governments.

But that’s really not the focus of this post.

At Eastside Baptist we are convinced that the corporate gathering is of significant importance. Even when many in our community are not aware of what songs we may be singing to God or what Biblical text I’m preaching on, there is a glorious blessing to this community that there are still followers of the Lord Jesus Christ who gather and declare the glories of God, together.

That said, I am also sure that there is a special kindness of God to a community when God’s people sing, read, and pray in their homes, too.

For the past few months I have emphasized at least one song of the faith for an entire month at a time. Thus far we have looked closely at “Rock of Ages” and this month upon “the Solid Rock”. The emphasis is to encourage singing in the home as part of a regular family worship practice. I have encouraged households to sing the song of emphasis multiple times throughout the month as a family.

Notably, in homes where this is not already a practice, it has felt odd to sing in the home. But historically, biblically, it appears a practice of the people of God. Following are a few thoughts I have concerning the benefits of singing in our homes, too. (I emphasis the “too” because I don’t want anyone to misunderstand me, I think corporate singing – face to face – is a practice of the church I’m not willing to set down.)

A few Benefits to singing at home, too:

Singing is proven to improve memory retention.
It has been shown that singing righteous songs can play a big part in alleviating depression.
Singing involves the mind.
Singing invokes emotions.
Singing engages the body.
It’s been said “words make you think, music makes you feel, and a song makes you feel a thought”. (I don’t know who said that, but I agree.)
Theology is sung before most can read or write.
Songs are memorable.
Group singing enables expressions
Group singing is a complex activity that requires cooperation.
Group singing expresses a common purpose.

In his classic work “the Church in the Home” Bible commentary author, Matthew Henry said, “If every family were a praying family, public prayers would be better joined in more intelligently and more affectionately.”

I agree and would include singing in that observation.

If every family were a singing family, public singing would be better joined in more intelligently and more affectionately.

Gather your household and sing, then gather with other households this Sunday and sing more intelligently and more affectionately.

Did I mention…
Theology is sung before most can read or write.

the Doctrine of Work

Posted on April 7, 2020Leave a comment

Be Sure of this, my thinking here is not a dismissal of the suffering of disease, illness, and financial hardship. A widespread and fast spreading virus like COVID-19 is a serious matter before all people. This is both a natural and a spiritual issue. It is foolish to ignore the one at the expense of the other. There will continue to be good thinkers thinking about this for a long time.

The Bible is a lamp, lamps are needed for dark days.

What is a nation to do when it limits who can work and when work can resume? I’ve been thinking about this doctrine and pleased to share a few thoughts. This is not an exhausted examination; more of an exercise in musing over a command of God and the impact it has on the person, family, and community.

How does not being able to work influence the Gospel? How does the Gospel apply to work?

First, the bible has a lot to say about work. From creation through the fall. Work was not first commanded after the fall, work changed after the fall, it was given a hardship. Adam and Eve worked in the garden before the fall. After the fall they “worked” the land outside of the garden.

I can’t think of a person in the bible who was not identified in some way or another by a work, job, skill, or trade.

Peter says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:2-3 NASB) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. In that wisdom and knowledge of God it speaks to everything pertaining to life and godliness. So, yes, the Bible helps us think through the doctrine of work.

The follower of Christ is expected to transform the world, even to put everything under the Lordship of Christ. This work is a duty we do until He comes again. We are told multiple times, in one way or another, to work with all our might; and do so as to glorify God, praising Him, worshiping Him. This is to be applied to every work; homemaking, career, philosophy, instructing, crafting, designing, creating, etc…

There is a task kind of work and there is a vocational kind of work. I find the biblical application of the duty is with the same end in both task and vocation, to glorify God.

How does this fit within the Gospel work?

I think it fits in at least two ways.

First, the gospel is on the shoulders of faithful followers of God who support the mission. We learn a lot about this in the book of Acts. As those first missionary journeys begin, there is an army of people at home doing work and supporting the preachers/missionaries.

Equally as important, are the Christians in the workforce. We will find ourselves working together with non-Christians in common causes; political, economic, or cultural. There is both a commonality in causes and an influence the true follower of Christ has upon his co-workers, boss, employees, families, and customers.

The fact that many are being forced to not work today by some kind of a government edict is unlike any other day I can think of. What are we to take of a government that is hindering an otherwise able-bodied work force to not work and how will this impact all of life? This is of interest to me and I will think more on this in the coming days, but the point I see first is that God made humanity to glorify Him. One of the ways God has ordained for humanity to glorify Him is in man’s work.

This is not to mean the day we are in is a new normal way of life. It can’t be. The ruin of everything will be what follows if it is. But it demands a few moments of consideration upon why there would be a strange movement in our day that would limit most from working. (I say this with respect that I want to give the benefit of the doubt that the intention of the stay home orders are well intended.)

Is this a proper way to give attention to a real and present danger of a virus? Or is this, unsuspectingly, an attack on the glory of God that a government would essentially shut down the bedrock of society, the labor force, and keep them from glorifying God in their work?

Let me clarify at least this; I do hold that this day is established by God for His glory. This virus will not thwart the will of God. It is our duty in days like this to not be hindered from glorifying God.

It will be important for the government to understand an unintended danger that could be done if humanity, designed of God to work, is hindered from its work. To the faithful follower of Christ, your work is not an idol if it is performed in a manner as to glorify God. To the follower of Christ, you get this connection. May these days get sorted out soon. But in the meantime we must not sit down and play our days away. Christian, rise up and work. Rise up and glorify your God with your hands and your mind.

You might not be able to go to your job today, but you can work. I argue, you must work. The bible teaches this.

Society is better when Christians work. Society is better because God’s economic mechanism is made for this; “…but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. ” (Ephesians 4:28 NASB)

Church, pray that the workforce will be released to go back to work, not so the economy can recover, but because God is worthy to be praised and glorified by the worker.

Now, go wash your hands and work, and when you are done working, wash your hands, and glorify God.

Gather In Person Or Online

Posted on March 19, 2020Leave a comment

204 Eastland Drive North * Twin Falls, ID * 208-734-7041
www.esbcTwinFalls.com

March 19, 2020

At this time all regular meetings are still happening with adjustments in how we interact at this time. This is intended to assist the church family to know what to expect and what changes are in place. Let me start with what we are doing. We are monitoring the situation daily with the desire to exercise community respect to a fast and largely unknown virus pandemic.

At the church house, we are currently refreshing the air 24/7, wiping down all surfaces, supplying hand sanitizer, soap and respect for each other.

We have suspended any activity that requires anyone to handle anything previously handled by another (ie: no Lord’s Table observation at this time, offerings will be collected in plates in the front and rear of the room, shared meals are suspended at this time, and no coffee or snacks.)

Otherwise, we are still gathering. Carefully. It is a reasonable thing for anyone in vulnerable categories (have been recently sick, someone sick in your home, been exposed to someone known to have COVID-19, elderly, traveled to an outbreak region, etc.) to limit or suspend attending meetings. A decision to not attend should not be considered as being negligent of gathering with the saints. Everyone fully understands the reason if you choose to not attend in this current day.

The following is with serious respect that other local fellowships have made decisions different than ours. Each individual should, as always, exercise personal responsibility.

Sunday:

9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Gathering
5:30 p.m. Evening Worship Gathering

Wednesday:

5:30 p.m. Mid-Week Prayer Gathering

For anyone choosing to not gather, remember our live stream feed link is: https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/thebridge/webcast/ It will begin at approx. 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m on Sundays.

If you do not have a computer, if your data plan is limited, or you are experiencing difficulty watching or listening online consider a connection via phone line. Consider putting your phone on “speaker” mode so you don’t have to hold the phone to your ear the entire time. It may also be wise to plug your mobile phone in while listening so you don’t use up your battery.

On Sunday at 10:30 a.m and 5:30 p.m. (mountain time)

Call 712-432-3410
when prompted, dial 2
then enter 25378 (the specific church code for Eastside Baptist Church)

If you call before we are streaming you can either wait on the line or try to call again within a few moments.

There is a high likelihood that the demand on the internet will be significant and may cause delays or inability to stream. If this happens remember we will have the archived sermon available soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If all else fails, open your Bible, read Isaiah 53:1-3, think about those words of God, talk about them with your family, pray, sing, and rejoice.

A Disciple Must…

Posted on October 3, 2018Leave a comment

I was away from my preaching duties for five Sundays. There is only one other time when I was away from the pulpit for this long… Those God ordained days were character building days too.

Just like then, I was blessed with peace of mind that the pulpit of Eastside Baptist Church was secure and in the capable hands of a faithful church with faithful pastors/elders.

Pastor Mark King preached a five sermon series entitled, “A Disciple Must…”

Desire the Word
Continue in Prayer
Worship Daily
Be A Good Steward
Share the Word

Here are all five of those sermons, and I highly recommend all five.

Preparation for Gathering with the Saints

Posted on August 18, 2017Leave a comment

Renee and I have spent the better part of this afternoon hunting for anywhere that has solar eclipse viewing glasses for sale. Where the total solar eclipse zone is just 80 miles north, Twin Falls will experience 96-97% eclipse. Our search for eclipse glasses today proved a failed hunt. However, there is no shortage of the capitalistic economy ready to literally cash in on supply and demand. Eclipse glasses can be bought for as much as $100.00 each (I’ll pass on that) on Craig’s List. We found an outlet that will meet us in a parking lot of a well lit retailer in town offering them for $5.00 each. I’ll have Renee observing from a distance while I exchange cash for a pair of glasses to look at the sun for 2 minutes.

I’ve also noticed the price of gasoline slowing growing as the big day approaches. If reports are accurate, Southern Idaho may run out of gasoline for cars, food in restaurants, and rural towns crowded with travelers from around the region to venture into the shadow of the moon. This will require a bit more advance planning than I made for eclipse glasses.

This is a special moment in anyone’s lifetime.

Yet there are more spectacular moments than a total solar eclipse. This is the weekly gathering of redeemed sinners.

Imagine, of all the things in the universe, only one ongoing event has the historic pining of the prophets and the peering into from the angelic realms of heaven; to see a people marked for destruction by the wrath of God, yet covered by the righteous blood of his only begotten son, worshiping God (1 Peter 1:12). This doesn’t make the gathering of people the greatest event in the universe, it makes God the center attraction and his redeeming act of wretched humanity. Spectacular!

This gathering of the redeemed is an event to prepare for. Not meaning one shouldn’t make plans for a rare moment of the moon passing in direct path of the sun.

While all of the residents within the region (and beyond) are planning, preparing, and cashing in on this “once in a lifetime” kind of event, be sure not to miss out on what hardly anyone is preparing for or talking about these coming days. At 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the Lord’s Day, August 20, 2017 there will be a gathering of saints at 204 Eastland Drive North in Twin Falls, Idaho. We won’t be selling T-shirts or cashing in on capitalistic opportunities… we will open the word of God to hear a preached word from the one who causes solar eclipses. You should plan on gathering with us.

We Love Babies; Now Get Them Out of Here!

Posted on August 2, 20162 Comments

This is just for fun… kind of.

disclaimer: I’m not comparing a political speech to a sermon. I’m not comparing a political rally to a church service. I’m not endorsing Donald Trump. I just found this funny… kind of.

This is what many churches do with the babies and children… “we love the children… now get them out of here…”. It’s not quite like that. Not everywhere anyway. In most places it’s much more subtle, polished, kinder, but essentially the same.

* be sure to watch the video clip all the way to the end.

I can’t prove this statistically but it sounds like Eastside Baptist may have more babies per capita on any given Sunday present with the gathered saints than any church in the region. There is no official stat to confirm this but you should visit some Sunday to find out for yourself.

And we like it that way. We really do.

Parents at Eastside are the best. They know what to do with a crying baby and the faithful saints love being patient with the sweet sound. I like it when the young families sit up front too. It may take a crying baby a moment or two to get things off their chest, and it may take a parent a few moments to get that baby quiet or removed to the entry way or family room for a child that may need a bit more attention. But it’s among the sweetest sounds. Give me a worship service with the sound of children any day, any where, any time (with a good sound system.)

Parents with infants and nursing babes at Eastside work hard to do all they do. You are welcome. Your children are welcome. You are patient to endure others who look around to see who’s crying. You are blessing the fellowship and may you be blessed for your labor. If there are any needs you have that we can help you as you tend to that blessed child we want to help you.

Don’t grow weary in doing good.

New babies being born nearly every month for many months to come. Church, prepare yourself for the sound of warriors.

Psalm 8:1-2
“O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”

Book Review of Doxology and Theology (PT. 3)

Posted on April 20, 20162 Comments

Last night (4/19/16) I met up with John Martinez, Steve McMullin and Bradley Kinch again to process through and think about the whole of the worship gathering of the Lord’s people and what is required of those who lead out in the gathering. We gathered at one of my favorite places in town, Chick-fil-A, to enjoy the fellowship of brothers and discuss the important duty we have to God in leading His people to worship Him.

The next chapter we reviewed was the Qualification of a Worship Leader.

Matt Boswell, presented a respectful view that those who lead out in the worship gathering are required to meet a biblical standard first. The music skill is important and should be increased, but criteria number one is, what does the Bible say about the qualifications of those leading.

I like that Boswell does not label worship as only music. It is a duty of the pastor to lead, or disciple, the Lord’s people in what is to be said, sung, done in relationship to worshiping God. God informs us in how to do this and He is fair to establish standards of those who will lead.

His examination came from classic Text of Scripture of what the apostle Paul has to say to Timothy, Titus and what Peter has to say. The Bible does inform the church on who is to lead out. The church has a duty to obey the Lord.

After reading this chapter and the Scripture qualifications we all agree that it is an amazing work of God’s grace that there is anyone able and qualified to lead His people in worship. It is indeed a work of grace for His glory.

Who should Lead?

First, the leader should be a man. This does not mean that women can not assist and participate, but it is clear that God has established men to lead His people. We were all in agreement on Boswell’s first point. This may be considered unfair by some and may even put some churches in danger of being disobedient.

Once this starting point was settled he began short observations of the classic text. The leader of worship should be…

Male
Above reproach
A One-Woman Man
Sober-Minded
Self Controlled
Disciplined
Respectable
Mature
Hospitable
Able to Teach
Sober
Gentle Peacemaker
Humble
Not a Lover of Money
A Leader in His home

We took the time to discuss all of these and spent time to talk about how they fit each of us and again, reminded that God does have a right to establish standards for those who lead His people. Each one of these qualifications leave a leader nearly crushed by the many reasons why we don’t meat the standard.

This internal war of the mind of the worship leader (pastor/elder) may be best described in the words of the late Charles Spurgeon

“You are not mature if you have a high esteem of yourself. He who boasts in himself is but a babe in Christ, if indeed he be in Christ at all. Young Christians may think much of themselves. Growing Christians think themselves nothing. Mature Christians know that they are less than nothing. The more holy we are, the more we mourn our infirmities, and the humbler is our estimate of ourselves.”

The discussion of the book was a blessing, the spicy chicken sandwich and waffle fries were delicious, but the time eye ball to eye ball with brothers talking about God was the winner of the night.

A few quotes from “Qualification of a Worship Leader”

“Since the primary role of the worship leader is a teaching role, it seems he ought to be qualified as an elder. In light of this, throughout this chapter and most of the book, the pronoun “he” will be employed through the lens of a complementarian view of men and women. Complementarians believe that men and women are both created equally in the image of God. They have the same value and the same purpose – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. At the same time, they are also created distinctly male and female.”

“The worship leader’s marriage should be exemplary and worthy of imitation.”

“Being emotionally driven is not a personality type, but an immaturity and should be repented of and fought. Pastors should be driven by the Truth.”

“The worship of God is not to be entered into flippantly or unadvisedly.”

“Above all these commands, the chief end is that our churches would be led by men who would bring great joy, not only to their congregation, but to the community. The qualifications for ministry outlined above are not meant to be heavy-laden and burdensome, but a reflection of the holiness God demands in the context of worship. The worship leader must be holy.”

Book Review of Doxology and Theology (pt. 2

Posted on April 13, 2016Leave a comment

Last night (4/12/16) was the first gathering and discussion we (John, Steve, Bradley and myself) had on Boswell’s book, Doxology and Theology.

It was our original plan to meet at a local coffee house and have the discussion with a cup of coffee (hot chocolate for me). But the coffee house we went to closes at 7pm so we took our hot drinks to the church house and discussed the chapter there. It was a great discussion and a good start to what appears to be a beneficial book to read.

Chapter 1, Doxology, Theology, and the Mission of God by Matt Boswell

I couldn’t agree more with Boswell on the statement he makes that “Theology is not intended for the elite, but for all of God’s people.” All of God’s people are not only able to know God but are invited and arguably commanded to know God ourselves. I make this argument to Eastside Baptist often that they are theologians.

We spent a good bit of time talking about how music in our worship service is an influential component of the gathering. It is critical in telling the story of what we (the gathered church) believes about God. Often the idea is hammered in chapter on that what we practice in our journey with the Lord is shaped by what we believe about God and the only safe place to know about God is from the aid of Scripture. Our music must be shaped from what the Bible teaches not on what music we like.

The chief end of theology is doxology (p. 12). All churches have a formula that dictates the way we praise God (that is what doxology is.) If this formula is not driven by biblical theology then we are in danger of idolatry. This is Boswell’s argument that it is “vital for worship leaders to have a robust and growing theology” and that “apart from the revelation of God, worship [of God] does not exist.” Something happens, worship of something happens, but worship of God can not happen unless it is in light of the revelation of who God is.

Chapter one was examined in the framework of Psalm 96. Boswell identifies five marks of the worship of the church from this passage, related to 1 Chronicles 16,

It was good to hear John, Steve, and Bradley express their thoughts on these five marks. They are not only friends, they are careful with their words.

1. the worship of the church is God-centered

The men I’m reading this book with understand that this is a must. If it is not God-centered then we are making worship about ourselves. We agree with the author that God-centered worship requires that all songs must be biblical. God centered worship involves a people who “sing to the Lord” (Psalm 96). The only kind of singing that glorifies God when the Lord’s people are gathered together for worship are songs that glorify God and are theologically driven from the Bible. The singing is “not meant to be entertainment or a distraction from God.” (p. 8)

Boswell makes a strong argument that worship leaders (all who are leading the gathered people during a worship service) are actively making disciples of those present. I wish I had had this truth present on my thinking years ago. The song leader is not mindlessly selecting songs (he may be) but he is actually teaching or making disciples by the songs he selects. The songs are an expression of the gathered people of what they think and believe about God. WOW! That is very important.

We discussed what the apostle means when he says we are to “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) and what it means to “sing a new song” (Psalm 96:1). “Our song is a song of salvation. As the people of God we are meant to be continually writing new songs that confess the tenants of our faith in fresh, creative, and meaningful ways. However, tne songs are not an end in themselves. The “new song” we sing is informed by the “old song,” and looks with anticipation toward the new song we will sing in heaven (Rev.5:8-10). (p. 9-10)

New is not new just because it is new, it is new because it is shaped by the bible and maybe because it is unlike our old nature. It is not the gather people declaring new things never said about God. It is saying things about God that God has told us and unlike any idea of God we could ever come up with independent from the influence of Scripture by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

2. the worship of the church is biblically formed

“Worship leaders ought to come to lead the people of God with a guitar in one hand, and a Bible in the other, and know how to use each weapon well. We are a people formed by the word of God, and it is His Word that calls us to worship.” (p. 10)

We all laughed at this because we all play guitar. From expert to not so expert. From the skill of Steve all the way to the other end of myself. But a truer statement for us tonight could not be more profound. If all is done in the worship of God is with a music instrument and no theology then what is being done is no more than what is done on any night of the week in any other place in town. the Bible must form our worship if what is going to take place is worship of God.

3. the worship of the church is gospel-wrought

A way to God is impossible without theology. Idolatry is always on the verge of derailing the Lord’s people. The gospel is at stake! The songs that are sung by the Lord’s people is the sound of redemption, it is the sound of salvation.

We were all in agreement with Boswell that “it is vital for worship leaders to have a robust and growing theology. Apart from the revelation of God, worship does not exist.” (p. 13)

The music of the Lord’s people gathered together must be “infused with Scripture” – “gospel soaked” (p. 13) if it is to be powerful.

There is a songs that many churches sing, ours included, that need a phrase or two changed to tighten up the theology. We did not talk about this last night, but my reflection on it this afternoon has reminded me of a song with the phrase “you ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.” I get what this phrase is saying but it is weak theology. It is more informed by emotion than theology. This phrase give the authority of Christ being alive based upon my feeling that He is alive in my heart so that’s all that is needed. This fails the theology test in my opinion. I have friends of other faiths (Mormon in particular) who will say they know their Jesus or the God they worship is real because they feel it in their souls. Who’s emotional authority is superior? To the Bible, Christian, to the Bible. For me, all that needs to happen is tighten up the theology of the song and it clears up the authority. “You ask me how I know He lives, the Bible tells me so.”

4. the worship of the church is congregational

“We have to be more intentional about making worship congregational.” (p. 17)

“We don’t gather on Sundays to see pageantry performed. We gather to worship as a people who have been redeemed by the power of the cross. The primary function of the church singing is the church singing together.” (p.17)

I was encouraged by this and thankful for the understanding that the men who lead in this part of the gathering on a weekly basis agree. This has been a change that has been made at Eastside over the past several years. Rarely is a solo, “special” music, the norm of our gatherings. There are times a solo is done, but it is so rare that it can actually be called “special”. A special occasion or seasonal event may better serve the congregation with a solo, but not the norm and can’t be considered “congregational”.

Congregational singing is a spectacular element of the weekly gathering. It is of such a nature that it requires it be theological first. It is the moment when the congregation is saying the same thing about God at the same time. I enjoy the sound of the redeemed singing theologically sound declarations.

5. the worship of the church is missional

I’ll refrain from my opinion about the word missional. It is used many times without much clarification of what it means. I do think Boswell did a good job giving clarification that “our goal with all of this is that God would be glorified in the worship of every nation, tribe, and tongue. While worship is God-centered, it is also declarative.” (p. 18)

My conclusion of chapter one is summed up on page 21; “Our position before God is secured in what Christ has done for us, not in the ministry we do for Him. The more we allow the truths of the gospel to form our identity, the more apt we will be to serve without fear or the tendency to perform.”

I was encouraged by the things articulated in chapter one and encouraged that there is a mutual desire of those that lead in this duty at Eastside agree that God shapes this gathering and not us. These men understand that the power to attract people to God is not our duty; it is our duty to obey God who has revealed Himself to us through the Holy Bible. God has the authority to direct us in how to properly worship Him.

May the Lord be glorified and His people pleased to worship Him as he instructs us to do so.

Weaned from Worship of God

Posted on August 17, 2015Leave a comment

In my current preaching series through the Kings (1st and 2nd Kings) I have become arrested by the description of Jeroboam’s efforts to wean the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) from the practice of the worship of God.

Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
(1 Kings 12:26-27 NASB)

The historian’s description of Jeroboam’s sincerity is best seen in the first part of verse 26 “Jeroboam said in his heart,” He is seen as sincere in his motivation. He would have been known as devoted to the best interest of the people.

But the real motivation is understood within the next sentence. He’s literally meaning “If I am to win this people to me I must wean this people from worshiping God.”

Listen, if Jeroboam said directly that he plans to wean the people from the worship of God they would have rejected him. So rather, he redefines a worship practice that appeals to the comfort and convenience of the people. We love comfort and convenience. This method of ‘weaning’ people from the worship of God is proven to be successful.

Here is my sermon on this text from 1 Kings 12:25-33 – 1 Kings 13:1-10

Glory to God Alone (pastors’ conference update)

Posted on January 20, 2015Leave a comment

– Here is an update on the upcoming Glory to God Alone pastors’ conference, February 26-28,
at First Baptist Church, Provo, UT. –

REGISTER HERE

Dear pastor friend,

I know your days are busy, my inquiring of you to attend a three day conference at the end of February comes with awareness of your busyness. I don’t have a retreat to offer you, I don’t have a conference to lighten your load.

Where it is not my intent to add to your busy schedule I do invite you to a conference with serious purpose.

The worship of God is no small matter for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is of great concern for the church and I want you to gather with me for the Glory to God Alone conference, February 26-28, 2015 at First Baptist Church, Provo, UT. Because of the kindness of the Southern Baptist of Texas, the Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention and others, the conference is presented to you at no cost. Please receive this as a provision from the Lord.

The conference will have two parts, both dealing with aspects of worship.

Part one is February 26-27 and will address the matter of family worship. It was Richard Baxter, who said, “If we suffer the neglect of this, we undo all.” There is a great need across the land today; it is a need for the glory of God to be paramount in our homes again. Join us as we prepare to rebuild this family alter.
Part two is February 27-28 and will address the matter of corporate worship. Is what happens on any given Lord’s day gathering of the saints more about what we like than about what God requires of us in corporate worship? If so, we must repent and turn to the divine instruction from God alone, as revealed in Scripture.

Travel Assistance:

I’m happy to announce that through the kindness of Southern Baptists across the Utah/Idaho SBC that we have travel assistance available for pastors traveling more than 100 miles. When you register be sure to indicate if you want travel assistance. It is a limited amount of funding but it is our desire to help.

$25.00 for anyone requesting travel from 100-250 miles
$50.00 for anyone requesting travel from 250-400 miles
$75.00 for anyone requesting travel from 400+ miles

Lodging:

It is through the kindness of the Lord’s people at First Baptist Church, Provo, UT that we are able to offer lodging in host homes during the days of the conference. When you register be sure to indicate your need for lodging and we will match you up with a host home.

Free Resources:

The first 10 to preregister online HERE will receive a free copy of A Theology of the Family.
Other books will be provided to all attending.

Posts Tagged with Worship