Journey of Worship

Posts Tagged ‘theology’

The core of a biblical theology of worship is the worthiness of God.  Christian worship is only possible as our response to the glory, power and love of God as revealed most clearly in and through Jesus Christ.

The gift of God’s revelation enables humanity to worship….but our human tendency is for our vision of God to be small and petty rather than stretched to the heights and magnificence that he deserves.

From Mark Labberton in
The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice

It’s the time of year when we look to new beginnings. We seek to gain a greater understanding of some things, and in other things seek to do better at them. For some people, we might desire certain revelations to come about that will cause pieces of the puzzle of life to fit together better.

One of the greatest revelations of all time is celebrated at this time of the year. Whether or not it actually happened date wise at this time of the year isn’t important. What’s important is that it happened.

What is this that I write of? The time of the Christian year known as Epiphany, or the time when God appeared.

A few days ago I received an group email from Dan Wilt, a leader and scholar in the world of ancient/future worship, talking about the significance of Epiphany and the new year. With his permission, I’d like you to read what he wrote… Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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? Read the rest of this entry »