Some people like to sing in church. Other people don't. Should we ask everyone in worship to sing?

Some people like organ music, some like piano, some like guitar, some like drums. What kind of music should we use in Christian worship and living?

For some of us, the Holy Spirit has been a bit of a background character to the Father and the Son in church. During December, our small Bible study groups thought more deeply about the Holy Spirit and his work. We explored the biblical language, the activities of the Spirit, and how those activities happen in our lives today.

There is a wide gulf between God in his holiness and us in our sinfulness. We put on clean clothes in the morning to come to church, but more importantly we need a clean heart in the presence of the Lord. So at the very beginning of our worship services, we need to lay our sins on Jesus and be assured that God does not condemn us for our sins, but forgives and forgets. We need to “lay down our burdens at the doorway before entering upon the praises of God.”

"Holiness" is a word that is rarely used outside of church. Because it's not used very much, we don't really have a good idea what it means. During November, King of Grace hosted Bible study groups who explored that topic using a great 6-minute video from The Bible Project.

These are the foundational truths of a true confessional Lutheran church.

Hymn #466 in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (“We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer”) was originally written as a prayer of thanksgiving in the Netherlands after the English defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.

The service begins with a phrase called ‘the Invocation.’
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

There are different styles of worship services in American churches today. None are divinely inspired. None are the only right way to worship God. But there are good reasons we worship the way we do at King of Grace. Occasionally on the blog I’ll explain one or another element of our worship service liturgy.

Cold, hard cash is hard to find at my house these days. That’s not because of any economic downturn, but because my wife and I simply don’t use cash anymore. The checkbook is likewise getting dusty in a kitchen drawer. All our spending is by credit card.

So do my wife and I use our credit card to give our church offerings?

You may be scared to come to church next week. You may be angry that this could happen. You may be sad for the families and friends in that community. You may be worried about safety. I understand.