“How Then Should We Worship?”
Many Christians in this generation of Reformed resurgence have returned to the faith once delivered to the saints as articulated in the grand articles of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Having returned to the historic faith, we ask, How Then Should We Worship?
Holy, Holy, Holy
In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord sitting on a throne. The angels in His presence invoked this awesome and majestic God by calling him “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:3). This God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the God that we approach in worship. And this righteous God has created us to worship Him. In fact, it is the duty of all mankind to worship Him. We were created to be a worshiping people; But man has sought out many schemes (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Not only are we prone to worship false gods, but we are also prone to invent unauthorized worship. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ, God reveals to sinners how they can and ought to worship him after the fall. Indeed, the Father has sought out people who will worship him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23).
Does God Care How He is Worshiped?
In light of who God is, we should carefully consider how he has instructed us to approach him in worship. The Lord judges unauthorized worship in the Old Testament, such as Nadab and Abihu’s strange fire (Leviticus 10), Uzzah’s touching the Ark (2 Samuel 6:7), and King Uzziah’s burning incense (2 Chronicles 26:16). But has the Lord’s concern for the way he is worshiped changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament?
New Testament passages like Mark 7, John 4, Colossians 2, and others also teach us how God desires to be worshiped. Our Lord is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) and He is zealous for His own worship. Since this is the case, should we – the New Covenant people of God – not also tremble to bring unauthorized worship before him?
How Should We Worship God?
Our confession states that “the acceptable way of worshiping the true God, is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshiped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures” (2LCF 22:1). While it is important for the church of God to know the elements and circumstances of worship, right worship must also be experiential and felt. How easy is it to “go through the motions” on the Lord’s Day without ascribing to God His proper praise. How can we be sure that we are offering God “pure worship” from the heart? It behooves all members of Christ’s church, and particularly His ministers, to worship God rightly in spirit and in truth. God not only cares about the way he is worshiped, but also the condition of our hearts before Him.
How then should we worship? We hope you will join us in Louisville, KY on March 23-25, 2023, as we hear from teachers seeking to encourage us to think biblically about the subject of worship.
Speakers
Conrad Mbewe
Jim Savastio
Pastor, Reformed Baptist Church Louisville
Scott Aniol
Registration
Adult Registration
Early Registration (ends 10/31/22) ……………………. $90
General Registration (ends 2/10/23) …………………. $110
Late Registration ……………………………………………… $125
*CBTS Students and Church Partners receive a 10% discount
Youth Registration
Ages 11-17 ………………………………… $25
Ages 10 and under …………………… Free
Location
Reformed Baptist Church
3400 Wilderness Trail
Louisville, Kentucky
www.rbclouisville.com
Reformed Baptist Church
3400 Wilderness Trail
Louisville, Kentucky
www.rbclouisville.com
Schedule
Thursday, March 23
2:00 – Registration/Vendor Hall Opens
3:30 – Welcome & Session 1 – Why Do We Worship? | Jim Savastio
4:45 – Session 2 – The Regulative Principle: It’s Ground & Rationale | Sam Waldron
5:45 – Dinner Break (No Meal Provided On-site)
7:45 – Session 3 – Worship on the Mountain & in Jerusalem | Conrad Mbewe
Friday, March 24
9:00 – Session 4 – Musing on God’s Music: Forming Hearts of Praise with the Psalms | Scott Aniol
10:00 – Session 5 – Praise is His Gracious Choice | Tom Nettles
11:00 – Break
11:30 – Session 6 – The Worship of God in Heaven & on Earth | John Miller
12:30 – Lunch Break (Meal Plan #1)
2:30 – Panel Discussion – The Required Parts of Worship
4:15 – Session 7 – The Regulative Principle: It’s Proofs | Sam Waldron
5:30 – Dinner Break (Meal Plan #2)
7:45 – Session 8 – Worship in Spirit & in Truth | Conrad Mbewe
Saturday, March 25
9:00 – Session 9 – From Text to Expression: ‘Fittingness’ as a Guideline for Biblically-Regulated Worship Music | Scott Aniol
10:00 – Break
10:30 – Session 10 – The Kind of Worshipers the Father Seeks | Conrad Mbewe
12:00 – Depart
Meal Plan
Lunch and Dinner plans for Friday 3/24 are available for purchase with your ticket.
Meal options must be ordered prior to March 15.
Friday 3/24 Lunch – Sandwich w/ chips and cookie ($10)
Friday 3/24 Dinner – CBTS Ministry Update Dinner TBD ($20)
Hotel Block
Country Inn & Suites Louisville East
1241 Kentucky Mills Dr,
Louisville, KY 40299
(502) 586-7122
CBTS Conference Block Rate: $109
(Expires on 2/22/23)
Breakfast Included