Contentment

I wonder how much time we spend wanting something else. When a child, we want to be adults. When we are adults, we want to find a job and a spouse. Then we want a child, maybe a few. When we have children, we want a house, then a bigger house. We also want a car, a television, a computer, … Read More

Thanks for Leviticus

The book of Leviticus can seem daunting, irrelevant, boring, and downright frightening. Honestly, I have avoided the book from time to time, as have many others. It is easy to overlook the book because the “rituals” no longer apply to us, and it can be difficult to discern what those rituals teach us. After reading just the first few chapters, … Read More

Suggestions for Meaningful Worship

Recently I was asked, “What are your suggestions for a Christian to experience meaningful worship?” What a great question! It can be answered in a variety of ways, but here I will limit my response to the weekly worship gathering. In this post, I would like to summarize a few observations that I have made over the last ten years. … Read More

$1 Christmas Gifts

If you need a Christmas gift that’s a bargain and immediate, remember that individual MP3’s are available at DiscRevolt: http://www.discrevolt.com/albums/view/2334 It’s really easy to download the songs. You can even email the MP3’s to your friends online. It’s a perfect way to keep in touch this holiday season! 1 MP3 = Someone you barely know 5 MP3 = Someone you … Read More

Praise that Delivers

It is easy to become short-sighted in our worship of God. Some seek self-fulfillment in worship, which often includes songs about ourselves and our desires. Others see worship as having only one purpose and only one purpose, neglecting the fact that the act of worship can have a variety of purposes. Still others miss the fact that worship should be … Read More

God-Honoring Worship

How can we honor God in our worship? Although Exodus 20:22-26 is not frequently quoted in the context of worship, it provides some direction for us. In speaking to Moses, God gives the Israelites four instructions. They are simple and helpful, even for us today: 1. Do not worship anyone else beside me. (v.23) 2. It is absolutely necessary to … Read More

Theology of the Arts

Recently I was asked about my view of the arts in local church. I thought I’d post my brief response, in case it is helpful to anyone. —————————————————– When it comes to the creative arts, I believe that art is a wonderful part of the Christian life. Various passages of Scripture reveal that God loves creativity, He enjoys various expressions … Read More

WorshipGod Worship Conference (Sovereign Grace, 2008)

Very rarely do I post links to other websites, but this one is so beneficial, I couldn’t resist. If you are interested in worship or lead worship at your church, Sovereign Grace has graciously posted 37 audio sessions on their website at: http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Events/WorshipConference.aspx Worship conferences usually cost several hundred dollars, so this is a blessing for those of us without … Read More

New Songs

Over the past two weeks, I wrote and recorded two new songs — “Tonight” and “Brand New.” Be sure to check them out. Both are available for $1 at DiscRevolt.com. http://www.discrevolt.com/albums/view/2334

Art that Betters the World

In his closing comments at the Arise Arts Conference, Brian McLaren complimented Christian artists for “using the arts to better the church.” Most of us could agree with that because over the past 30 years the Church has made huge strides in music and arts in the church. There has been an improvement in quality and diversity, as seen in … Read More

You Are My Lord

Psalm 16, a golden psalm of David, is quickly becoming one of my favorite psalms. One of my favorite parts is verse 2, where David writes, “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, I have no good besides you.’ ” It is a simple reminder of how God should be exalted above all else in our lives — … Read More

On the Road Again — 3000 miles

Our daughter, Emberly Grace, was born on May 8th and what a miracle she is. I am overwhelmed with how surreal it is to be holding her. She is such a joy. The next day, May 9th, I checked my voice mail and learned that I am receiving a scholarship to seminary. I had been accepted for 5 years, but … Read More

New Worship Song

After several late-night recording sessions, “He Heard My Voice” was just added to my latest worship EP.  You can check out a demo of the song and download it here: http://www.discrevolt.com/groups/view/3023 Enjoy!

Worship: Responding to God’s Voice

Several weeks ago I wrote that art does not create truth, but “uncovers truth,” as an artist chisels away stone.  In other words, art discovers truth, but does not create it.  Whatever the form, it is important that art never gets so self-consumed that it loses sight of the original Source of Truth. On the other hand, maybe even “uncovering” is giving ourselves … Read More

Sanctification: God’s Role Is More Important

Followers of Jesus should have an insatiable desire to become more like Jesus and are never satisfied with the status quo. We should want to be separate from surrounding sin, and without a doubt, distinct from the crowd. Although we are born and raised in a crowd of sinners, our life’s goal should be to step out of that crowd … Read More

Postmodern Theology

“Tom Beaudoin reveals four themes that shape the theology of many Postmoderns: (1) all institutions are suspect; (2) personal experience is everything; (3) suffering is spiritual; and (4) ambiguity is a central element of faith.”   (source) To respond to each of these, it would seem that the Church should:  (1) embrace people more than programs; (2) focus on interactive, … Read More

Imagining God

Theology is different from other “ologies” in the sense that if we only engage our subject intellectually, we miss the mark. We may understand hundreds of propositions about God, but if our imaginations are not involved in the process, I would say that we have failed. (By imagination I mean “envisioning what we do not rationally know.”) Over at Signs … Read More

New Worship EP!

My new worship EP is now available for purchase online.  You can download tracks, or the entire EP of A Thousand Names, at DiscRevolt.com.  Just click HERE to find the Joel Jupp page!