worship is enacting the gospel

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Gospel, New Testament, baptism, church, communion, hymns, liturgy, planning, preaching, sacraments, sacred space, worship
• Date: Aug 19,2009

In prepping for the class I teach each fall here at MBU called Worship History and Leadership, I’m reminded of why I love where we begin: a theology of worship. And what is at the core of that worship theology? I believe it is this:

“Worship is a dramatic enactment of the relationship that we have with God, a relationship that stems from historical events. Enactment may be done by means of recitation (creeds, hymns, and preaching) and drama (ritual) (that) have their basis in the Old Testament and New Testament, particularly in the Passover and Eucharist. In worship, we enact or act out the Gospel.”

-Robert Webber

For more on this, read Chapters 6-8 of Webber’s Worship Old and New. Also, an excellent theology of worship can be found from D.A. Carson in Chapter 1 of the book he edited, Worship By the Book, entitled “Worship Under the Word.” Portions of Carson’s chapter are available here at Google books.

quoted in associated baptist press story

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Gospel, art, authenticity, church, contextualization, culture, emerging church, liturgy, ministry, sacred space, worship
• Date: Jun 3,2009

I recently had the privilege to be interviewed for an article by Jennifer Harris, news writer for Word & Way, on church and culture. The article was forwarded to me today from a friend. Apparently it popped up on the Associated Baptist Press website.

I encourage you to check it out: “Some churches help Christians view culture through spiritual lenses”

cre:ate day 2

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: CCM, art, church, culture, emerging culture, food, liturgy, music, postmodern, sacraments, sacred space, seminar, theology, vision, worship
• Date: Feb 5,2009

It’s two days late but here was my Day 2 at cre:ate:

Morning W\worship with a genuine, humble dude named Carl Cartee. He has a new album coming out in March. Check it out. He is the real deal. Reminds me of a young Paul Baloche with more grovel…

Profound session with Ian Morgan Cron, author of Chasing Francis, on the mystic-artist. Can’t begin to say how cool it was to hear from Ian’s heart. My big takeaway was something he didn’t even talk about per se, but modeled: God has made us a certain way so we must find our voice – and that voice won’t be like anyone else’s. Ian is an artist at heart even though he is a pastor, author, blogger, etc. His presentation was heady, artsy, rich, serious, clever, humorous. I’m an artist through and through too. He gave me permission to be an “artsy” communicator…

After Ian’s session, we had the first of many surprises of the week. I thought I had seen this guy at the conference but wasn’t sure. Randy brought up Matthew Ward, formerly of 2nd Chapter of Acts, and Billy Ray Hearn, EMI Christian Music Group founder, who discovered 2nd Chapter before there was such a thing as CCM. They reminisced on their relationship and Matthew closed the time by singing “The Lord’s Prayer.” It was truly an anointed time. Matthew is one of my all time favorite singers…

Lunch was at the Boxwood Bistro here at the Factory. Jasmine salmon with white rice as a main entree. Yummy. Met and sat with uber-blogger and great guy, Carlos Whitaker and his wife, Heather. Also, had the priveledge to have lunch with Ian. Asked Ian alot of questions about his pastoring role in southern Connecticut. He started a church that has grown to 700 folks and he feels that his time to be the “lead” guy may have come to an end and hand it over to someone else. He shared his frustration of the slow shift from mission to maintenance. Also shared a vision he has for what he calls the “atomized” church. If I remember, I’ll try to unpack this later for you. In all, another providential time to connect with an anointed man who spoke truth into my life. [There was also a surprise visit by Stu G, the electric guitarist from Delirious?. Fun stuff...]

After lunch, we had our second surprise of the day. Billy and Cindy Foote, writers of songs like “You Are My King (Amazing Love)” and “Sing to the King,” led us in a mini-worship session. What a sweet time of worship! God manifested Himself in a powerful way…

Afternoon session with Steve Guthrie, assistant professor of theology @ Belmont University. The highlight was his “exegesis” of book 10, chapter 32 of Augustine’s Confessions. Awesome stuff…

Supper was at Harpeth Community Church here in Franklin. Great food and even better music. I got my nostalgia on. Michael W. Smith led us in an intimate time of worship. Just Smitty and a piano. Check out his song “Highly Favoured” on the new album, CompassionArt…

Tomorrow I hope to recap day 3 & 4 for you…

redeeming the liturgy intro

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Christian season, church, liturgy, sacraments, sacred space, worship
• Date: Dec 21,2008

Liturgy.

What does that word conjure when you hear it? Dead ritualism? Lifeless forms of worship? The Catholic church?

For me, growing up in a church with a more revivalist tradition – hymns; choral music by a choir, soloist, or both; the reading of Scripture; the collection of offerings; a sermon; an invitation to respond to the sermon – liturgy was the weird thing that my mainline friends did across town. Not until recently have I begun to see liturgy in a different light.

Over the next week, I am going to do a three-part series on “redeeming” the liturgy. I think you will find that the idea of liturgy in the context of corporate worship could be a good thing for our souls on many levels. Here is how the series will break down:

Part 1: The Canterbury Trail
My journey towards being “liturgy-friendly

Part 2: A Liturgical Sojourn
A brief overview of liturgy in church history

Part 3: Attention to Redemption
A look at the how my church, The Journey, is “redeeming” the liturgy

Stay tuned…

[Photo by dheinen]