Table of Contents

Author’s Introduction

1. How Does God Want to be Worshipped?

2. What is the Regulative Principle of Worship?

3. The Second Commandment and the Regulative Principle of Worship

4. The Great Commission and the Regulative Principle of Worship

5. The Elements of Worship

• Praying

• Reading the Bible

• Preaching the Bible

• Administrating of the Sacraments of Baptism and Lord’s Supper

• Singing of God’s Praises

• With Musical Instruments

• With Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• Giving of Tithes and Offerings

• Taking Oaths and Vows

• Confessing of the Faith

• Pronouncing the Benediction

• Exercising Church Discipline

• Saying a Congregational Amen

• Fasting

• Scheduling Special Days of Thanksgiving

6. Common Objections to the Regulative Principle of Worship

7. Popular Innovations to Worship

• The Use of Prescribed Liturgies in Pubic Worship

• The Addition of Holy Days in the Church Calendar

• The Use of Vestments by the Minister in Worship

• The Use of the “Altar Call” in Public Worship

• The Practice of Coming Forward and Kneeling to Receive the Lord’s Supper

• The Making of the Sign of the Cross

• The Practice of Bowing at the Name of Jesus

• The Use of Pictures of Jesus and Other Icons in the Worship of God

• The Dangerous Consequences of Adding to the Commands of God

8. Musical Instruments and the Worship of God

9. Did Paul Do Away with the Fourth Commandment?

10. What Songs Should Be Sung During Worship?

• The Problems with Exclusive Psalmody

• The Meaning of Psalms

• The Meaning of Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• The Character of Singing in the Christian Church According to Ephesians 5:18-21 and Colossians 3:14-17

• The Musical Compositions of King Hezekiah for Public Worship

• The “Song Books” of the People of God in the Old Testament

• The Development of a Rich Psalmody-Hymnody in the Church

• The Westminster Standards and the Singing of Praise

11. The Place of Special Music in the Worship of God

• The Purpose of Choirs in Public Worship

• The Place of Solos in Public Worship

12. What about Dancing During Worship?

13. What Does the Bible Say About Hand Clapping?

14. William Cunningham on the Authority of Apostolic Example

Appendix A: James Bannerman on the Limits of Church Authority in Worship Services

Endnotes