After the minister calls the congregation to worship and the congregation sings the opening hymn of praise to God, the minister should offer a prayer of invocation, calling upon God, on behalf the congregation, to condescend to be present among them and accept their worship in the name of Christ, and seek the power of… Read More The Prayer of Invocation
An essential part of personal worship is reading and meditating on the Scriptures. Paul tells Timothy (2 Tim. 3:14-17): “14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able… Read More Bible Reading Plans
Dr. Terry L. Johnson – Independent Presbyterian Church, Savannah, GA [We are hopeful that this publication of Dr. Johnson’s Leading in Public Prayer with its collection of Pastoral Prayers will have the effect of enriching the collective prayer life of Reformed and Presbyterian churches. CSB] Table of Contents I. Introduction: Leading in Public Prayer II.… Read More Leading in Public Prayer
In the Reformation the prayer of intercession was restored to the ordinary worship of the Lord’s Day and focused generally on five fundamental subjects: (1) the civil authority, (2) the ministry, (3) those outside the Church, (4) those suffering from affliction, and (5) the growth in grace and perfection of the saints. The Importance of… Read More The Prayer of Intercession, Pastoral Prayer, or the “Great Prayer”
Philippians 1: Encouragement and Confidence in the Christian Life 1:1-8 Remembering God’s Past Work, What He Has Already Done: Philippi (1-2 Greeting; 3-5 Thanks; 6-8 Confidence and Affection) 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto… Read More Philippians 1:1-8, Encouragement and Confidence in the Christian Life: “Philippi”
The menu on the far right side of the landing page is titled “Religion News.” It has direct links to many news websites. An effort has been made where possible to link directly to the most current news on religion available on those sites.
Selections on pastoral character and work are now collected under “Pastoral Practice” in the menu item to the right and in the Categories below. The first selections are from Gregory the Great’s Book of Pastoral Rule or Care, his treatise on the responsibilities of ministers that he wrote shortly after his inauguration as Bishop of Rome in… Read More Selections on Pastoral Practice
Selections on morning prayer and the practice of piety in the morning from Lewis Bayly are now collected in the category “The Practice of Piety” below and at the menu item “Devotions – The Practice of Piety” to the right and linked here:
In short: Men who are gifted for ministry and exercise genuine piety have been given those gifts not just for themselves but also to serve others. They ought not refuse the call out of desire for ease. The care of feeding the flock is the proof of loving it. Refusing to feed it is failing to love… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter V
From Bayly. Think not any business or haste, though never so great, a sufficient excuse to omit prayer in the morning: But meditate— 1. That the greater thy business is, by so much the more need thou hast to pray for God’s good speed and blessing upon it, seeing it is certain that nothing… Read More Morning Piety: How A Private Man Must Begin the Morning with Piety – Further Meditations to stir us up to Prayer in the Morning
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