“Public Worship”

Driving home: That nothing ought to be established in the worship of God but what is authorized by some precept or example in the word of God. which is the complete and adequate rule of worship, end quote.

Martin quotes John Owen's polemical response to Samuel Parker, where Owen identifies the regulative principle ('nothing ought to be established in the worship of God but what is authorized by some precept or example in the word of God') as 'the foundation of all Puritanism' and 'the mystery of it.' This illustrates the historical importance of the regulative principle to Puritan theology.

And listen to what he says when he comes to this matter of the regulative principle in worship and what the essence of Puritanism is. This is Owen now writing about this man Parker's book. The sixth chapter in this discourse, that is Parker's book, which is the last that at present I shall call to any account, as being now utterly wearied with the frequent occurrence of the same things in various dresses, is designed to the confutation of a principle which is termed, quote, the foundation of all Puritanism, and that wherein, quote, the mystery of it, end quote, consists. This is what Parker sa...

5:09 - 6:13 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Mandate! The consecutive reading through the Old and the New Testaments is part of the worship of God.

Martin recounts his personal experience of arriving at the conviction for consecutive Scripture reading through study, only to later discover it was mandated in the old Scottish Directory for Public Worship. This illustrates that sound biblical practice often aligns with historical Reformed tradition.

I'll never forget when reading the Directory for Public Worship where they mandate the consecutive reading of the Scriptures. I said, well, we didn't discover the wheel. We came to that conviction when studying the Scriptures that it ought to be done. And then lo and behold, I found we were in a good tradition in the old Scottish Directory for Public Worship.

8:28 - 8:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek out and support churches where spiritual worship is being rendered unto God, even if minor circumstantial details differ.

Martin shares his joy in visiting new churches in Perth, such as Flemington, where he can worship wholeheartedly 'without having to bite my lip.' This illustrates the spiritual refreshment found in churches committed to biblical worship, even with minor circumstantial differences.

I can say, and I mentioned to my wife and I think one or two of the elders since I've been back, what a delight it is to go to these churches that have just come to Perth in the last couple of years, such as Flemington, and to be able to sit and have my heart drawn out in worship without having to bite my lip. It's a wonderful thing that God is raising up temples for His praise where spiritual worship is being rendered unto God. And all the details are not the same. For some reason, the brethren down there stand, have an opening prayer as they stand and sing their opening hymn.

12:05 - 12:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure that the elements of worship are those mandated by God, and only those things.

Martin provides examples of circumstantial differences in worship, such as some brethren standing for opening prayer and hymn, or having offering plates at the rear instead of passing them. This illustrates the liberty allowed in non-essential aspects of worship, as long as the core elements are biblically mandated.

I'm glad there's a little difference in circumstantials. And I didn't get a chance to ask Alan, but I bet he has good reason for that. Knowing Alan as I do, he doesn't do things without reasons. And it's wonderful to go into the various churches and find in the area of circumstantials the details of the order of services, some variety and some differences in the circumstantials.

12:45 - 13:09 Read in full sermon