Tag Archive - online

Worship: Reverence v. Relevance

September 2, 2009 in Media, Worship Leading with 0 Comments

Yesterday, I watched an online webinar/broadcast of the discussion and tension many churches are still facing between reverence in worship and relevance in worship. It was put on by LifeWay Worship, and featured Ed Stetzer and Mike Harland talking about, debating, and answering questions on this topic.

It’s a tension that is still very strong and very dividing in many churches and among many Christians. Yet, if we can get a handle on this and a proper biblical perspective, we could go far in showing the world what it means to live and worship in harmony and that Jesus really does make a difference.

If you are involved in worship ministry in your church or just simply have a heart for worship, I encourage you to take an hour to watch this. It’s available on-demand at http://lifeway.com/RvR. Thanks to the LifeWay team for doing this.

Check it out and let me know what you think.


The Languages of Worship: Art (Essentials Red)

March 14, 2009 in Creativity, Worship with 0 Comments

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

When I was first getting into the visual arts as part of worship ministry, I came across a quote that has stuck with me. It’s from a 10 year old book called “Out on the Edge” by Michael Slaughter. He said “the screen is the stained glass window of the 21st century.”

Even as a kid, I remember thinking how odd it was that the church was all about the auditory experience, when we are such visual creatures. That was during the church construction period of make-the-church-as-plain-as-possible-so-it-doesn’t-intimidate-people. Yet, people are drawn to color, significant architecture, pleasing interior design, and the like. Recapturing the expression of art in space and expression can only enhance our connection with God and draw our attention heavenward. Continue Reading…

The Languages of Worship: Baptism and Communion (Essentials Red)

March 10, 2009 in Worship with 0 Comments

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

As I continue to learn about worship history in my online class, the focus recently has been symbolic actions that have been a part of worship expression. The two most obvious things that fall into this category, and that are widely accepted as sacrements across Church lines, are baptism and communion (or the Eucharist).

To me, symbolic actions are a huge way of expressing truth, worship history, and our connection and engagement with Christ. Continue Reading…

The Languages of Worship: Prayer and Scripture (Essentials Red)

March 4, 2009 in Worship with 0 Comments

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

We’ve developed this church perspective that worship = music. While music and singing are a huge part of worship expression, worship is far more than music. It’s something that I am discovering both in the Bible and in looking at the history of worship expression in churches across time. Two of those expressions that we should revisit are those of prayer and scripture.

The worship languages of prayer and Scripture have always been important to me, and I have been privileged to be a part of churches that have valued those things, even if maybe not to the point of the Church of the past. These languages played a huge role in the life of the early church, both corporately and individually. For them, life drove prayer. Continue Reading…

The Languages of Worship: Time and Space (Essentials Red)

February 24, 2009 in Worship with 2 Comments

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

I’ve been thinking (and learning) about the value of remembering lately. God repeatedly told the Israelites to remember what He had done for them, and they repeatedly forgot and got into trouble. I have found myself making fun of the Israelites and wondering what their problem was, only to realize that we do the same thing. It just looks a little different.

Dan Wilt has said that “one of the greatest evidences that we are a fallen race is our tendency to forget.” I know that’s true in my own life, and in the life of the people I minister with and to each week. That’s why as a worship/creative person, I at times what to have people do something physical or take something home to engage with and remember a concept. How many of us have rocks and cloth and little crosses from past spiritual experiences? Continue Reading…