Calvin’s solution was rather simple: Recover the importance and delight of worshiping God according to Scripture. By doing so not only is the Triune Lord praised, blessed, and exalted to his rightful place, but sinners are convinced and converted through the proclamation of the all sufficient work of Christ.

If it can be said that Martin Luther sought to reform the church’s soteriology, then John Calvin attempted to revise her doxology. Calvin believed the 16th century church’s worship was suffering from spiritual dementia. Over time the church had failed to remember the importance of Scripture regulated worship. As a result, the preaching, praying, confessing, singing, and administering of the sacraments had become driven by tradition and vain superstition and not God’s Word. The faith once and for all delivered to the saints was marginalized and humanly devised methods were employed in worship instead of the God honoring, scripturally prescribed, gospel heralding means of grace.

Calvin’s solution was rather simple: Recover the importance and delight of worshiping God according to Scripture. By doing so not only is the Triune Lord praised, blessed, and exalted to his rightful place, but sinners are convinced and converted through the proclamation of the all sufficient work of Christ. The people of God are built up in their faith and nourished upon Word and sacrament. Worship, then, ought to be our highest call, greatest delight, and primary purpose. Given our predisposition to idolatry and susceptibility towards a man-centered view of worship we all would do well to be reminded of the Scriptures teaching on worship.

The conference circuit is one such place for this type of teaching, but the Reformed community seems to be inundated with conferences. Amidst all of the conference mania in confessional circles how do we discern which ones to spend our time and money upon? If we are to follow Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians to make “the best use of the time, because the days are evil,” how do we determine which conferences will be most beneficial to attend? Since worship is our highest call and our primary purpose, a conference dedicated to its theology and practice ought to be a priority.

Is there really a need for a conference on worship? Yes, and one that is focused on Scripture regulated-worship is necessary for pilgrims journeying from this world to a better country. Since our natural bent is away from God-honoring, Christ-exalting, sin-exposing, Spirit-dependent, reverent worship, it is vital that God’s people, in particular her leaders, be reminded of the sufficiency of Scripture to inform our theology and regulate our practices. It is important to be reminded that we need a peaceful bench, not an anxious one, where we sit and hear the unassailable promises of God declared to us and then respond with adoration, gratefulness, and obedience. An anxious bench leads to a man-centered theology of worship where God is used rather than worshipped. A peaceful bench is one where we receive God’s revelation of redemption through Christ. Then compelled by a love for him, we deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow our crucified and risen Savior. We need the healing balm of Gilead applied to us through the means of grace by the Holy Spirit so that we will glorify God and enjoy him forever.

The Second Annual Reformation Worship Conference
The second annual Reformation Worship Conference is designed to encourage the church to remember her rich Reformed heritage concerning worship. The three-day conference gathers together not only some of the most gifted scholars and pastors to lead believers to a fuller understanding of worship, but also provides public worship services each evening to model Reformation worship.

Last year’s conference included lectures on the biblical elements of liturgy, the importance of psalmody, hymnody, and the lectio continua preaching of Scripture. Furthermore, workshops on selected topics, ranging from Luther, Zwingli, Bucer, Calvin, and Knox’s liturgical practices, provided biblical and historical grounding for a rich and robust theology and practice of Lord’s Day worship.

The 2011 conference will focus on vital preaching and sacred worship. It will be held at the Midway Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Georgia, from October 20-23. The workshops will focus on the topics such as theology, history, and practice of preaching while also emphasizing the importance of prayer and sacraments in congregational worship. Special seminars will be held for church musicians and music directors as they consider, among many things, the propositional and practical relationship between preaching and church music. The number of fine scholars and seasoned pastors who have been invited to lead this year’s conference will make it a conference worth attending.

For more information concerning speakers, times, and general logistics of the second annual Reformation Worship Conference go here.
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Rev. Clif I. Daniell is Assistant Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Douglasville, Georgia.