Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Rediscovering Jesus' Hymnbook (via 9Marks)

Interesting article from 9Marks on Psalm Singing (which I have only recently meet people who do).

How interested would you be if archaeologists unearthed a hymnbook embossed with the name, “Jesus of Nazareth?” Overlooking the anachronism for a moment, wouldn’t “Jesus’ hymnbook” be immediately republished and rocket to the best-seller lists? Wouldn’t those songs find instantaneous popularity in worship services across the globe?

We have that hymnbook. We do know what songs Jesus sang: he sang the psalms.

Continue Reading....

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Will we light the spark?

Reading up on the Third Great Awakening (1850-1900) for a history paper.  Many profound things marked this revival, both positive and negative, but the emphasis on prayer and unity really struck me.  Walter Hampel writes, "Denominational differences were considered important but secondary to the purpose of seeking God’s face in prayer."  This unity in prayer is credited with much of how the revival "spread to be like a lightning strike in a forest".  Christians, will we light the spark of revival on our knees?