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John Calvin on Preaching Preparation

8/30/2016

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“If I should climb up into the pulpit without having deigned to look at a book and frivolously imagine, “Ah well! When I get there God will give me enough to talk about,” and I do not condescend to read, or to think about what I ought to declare, and I come here without carefully pondering how I must apply the Holy Scripture to the edification of the people – well, then I should be a cock-sure charlatan and God would put me to confusion in my audaciousness.”
-John Calvin

quoted by Christopher Ash, in his book "The Priority of Preaching"

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"Top 10 Things I Wish Worship Leaders Would Stop Saying"

8/25/2016

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Warning: The following post is intentionally over the top and may cause emotional damage to self-proclaimed "Worship Leaders." Though it represents a genuine expression of the author's views on the subject of W.L.s, he has written with a light heart and means it all in good fun.

My 3-Fold Request For Worship Leaders:

1) Please come up with a new job title.

The words "worship" and "singing" are not synonomous. Moreover, it seems to me that the Bible (as opposed to an Ibanez guitar and a delay pedal) should be the primary tool of anyone attempting to lead others in the public worship of God.

2) Please consider whether there is a biblical mandate for Worship Leaders.

Isn't it somewhat curious that "Worship Leaders" (in the common understanding of the title) are seen as necessary and even indispensable staff-positions in many and perhaps most evangelical congregations? Where did we get the idea that the public worship of God is dependant upon unkempt hipsters doing hackneyed Chris Tomlin impersonations?

3) Please stop peppering God's people with silly cliches.

If, in this fallen world, Worship Leaders must exist it is perhaps best that they stop using these expressions.

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Take a Listen

8/23/2016

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A Few Thoughts About Ulysses, Tennyson, & the Faith of Abraham

Did you take poetry when you were in school? I never did take it… but I wish I would have because the little poetry I’ve read since school is enough to convince me that I missed out on something very wonderful. For example, Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses - ever read it? It’s a poem about an old man who comes to realize that the true meaning and purpose of life could never be found in seeking comfort and ease, retreating to restful and calm surroundings, and/or pursuing peaceful tranquility. But as Ulysses discovered, true meaning and purpose could only be found as one boldly faced the struggles and challenges of life.

Armed with this realization Ulysses, despite his old age and his life of restful ease gathers up his sailors to push out once more into the great unknown. Leaving the comfortable harbor of home behind him the old man Ulysses, turns to his fellow travelers and says:

“We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

To my mind there is much in these words that is applicable to the biblical figure of Abraham.

Like Ulysses, Abraham was an old man who set out on a journey. Abraham's journey was the journey of faith and as he encountered difficulties along the way Abraham came to understand that these difficulties, faced in light of God's promises, actually worked to deepen his faith.

To put it differently the difficulties faced along the journey of faith are not calls to seek shelter or to turn the ship of our lives toward the safety of some lazy port. On the contrary they are encouragements to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. And as we journey on, facing various difficulties and challenges, like Abraham, we find that our faith, by God's grace is greatly strengthened.

Take sometime to learn about one of the great difficulties of Abraham's journey by clicking here.

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John Calvin on Preaching Preparation

"Top 10 Things I Wish Worship Leaders Would Stop Saying"

Warning: The following post is intentionally over the top and may cause emotional damage to self-proclaimed "Worship Leaders." Though it represents a genuine expression of the author's views on the subject of W.L.s, he has written with a light heart and means it all in good fun.

Take a Listen

A Few Thoughts About Ulysses, Tennyson, & the Faith of Abraham

“We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Rev. R Crabtree

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ALL SOULS REFORMED CHURCH
228 Main St Green Camp, OH 43322

© 2026 All Souls Reformed Church. All rights reserved.

John Calvin on Preaching Preparation

"Top 10 Things I Wish Worship Leaders Would Stop Saying"

Warning: The following post is intentionally over the top and may cause emotional damage to self-proclaimed "Worship Leaders." Though it represents a genuine expression of the author's views on the subject of W.L.s, he has written with a light heart and means it all in good fun.

Take a Listen

A Few Thoughts About Ulysses, Tennyson, & the Faith of Abraham

“We are not now that strength which in old daysMoved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;One equal temper of heroic hearts,Made weak by time and fate, but strong in willTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Rev. R Crabtree

Archives

Categories

ALL SOULS REFORMED CHURCH​228 Main St Green Camp, OH 43322​© 2026 All Souls Reformed Church. All rights reserved.

“We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

ALL SOULS REFORMED CHURCH
228 Main St Green Camp, OH 43322

© 2026 All Souls Reformed Church. All rights reserved.