By Paul Koch - I was fortunate to be able to go to church last Sunday. It was one of the few times of the year when I’m on vacation, so I actually get to sit with my family in church on a Sunday morning. Now, going to church with me isn’t exactly an easy … Continue reading Do you Go to a Boring Church?
By Cindy Koch - What if liturgy isn’t enough? I know that’s the argument that well-meaning, smart theologians will give you. You know how it goes: If the preaching is bad or if the particular pastor’s teaching is less Christ-centered than you’ve understood the Bible to teach, if you at least have the liturgy, you’re … Continue reading Is Liturgy Enough?
By Joel A. Hess - Christians routinely use the word “mystery” when explaining the faith. Often times when a believer is stuck in explaining a teaching, she is quick to conclude, “Well, it’s a mystery.” The Orthodox really love this word. It often times seems impossible to even discuss with them their understanding of things … Continue reading Christian Worship is no Mystery
By Graham Glover - It truly is a profound joy. Actually, it’s perfection. A foretaste of the feast to come. It is the Church’s worship. A gift given by our Lord to His Church, where He freely offers the gifts of grace and forgiveness contained in His Word and Sacraments. And everything about it is … Continue reading The Profound Joy of Worship
By Hillary Asbury - Whether or not we realize it, the visual arts are being used by churches every day. If you were to walk into a Christian church of any sort, there would more than likely be a cross hanging somewhere, if not at the focal point of the worship space. That cross is … Continue reading Reclaiming Liturgical Art
By Joel A. Hess - Looking for Luther to back you up on how worship should be done? Have fun, something for everyone! To sum his thoughts up, I would say he was against keeping things the same for the sake of keeping things the same. Yet equally concerned about people who wanted to change abruptly just because … Continue reading Luther, Friend and Enemy of Us All
By Joel A. Hess - In the early 19th century, Wilhelm III nobly pursued the union of Lutheran and Reformed church bodies. In order to accomplish this task, he commissioned a new common liturgical agenda to be used by all churches no matter their theological persuasion. Uniformity achieved! Of course, a couple heads had to … Continue reading Want Uniformity in Worship? Go back to Prussia
