Scott Aniol

Scott Aniol is the founder and Executive Director of Religious Affections Ministries. He is Chair of the Worship Ministry Department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses in ministry, worship, hymnology, aesthetics, culture, and philosophy. He is the author of Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship, Sound Worship: A Guide to Making Musical Choices in a Noisy World, and By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture, and speaks around the country in churches and conferences. He is an elder in his church in Fort Worth, TX where he resides with his wife and four children.

Author Archives: Scott Aniol

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 32: Jeremiah

August 5th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 32 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 32: Jeremiah Weekly memory verse: Jeremiah 23:5 – Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Weekly hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (free download) Weekly… Continue Reading

The Progressive Philosophy of Culture and Worship

August 1st, 2018 | 0 Comments

One of our primary objectives at Religious Affections Ministries is to carefully articulate a biblical conservative philosophy of Christianity. We try to primarily focus on what we are for rather than simply what we are against. However, it is helpful at times to examine opposing views, which helps to contrast views we consider in error with what… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 31: The Fall of Israel

July 29th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 31 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 31: The Fall of Israel Weekly memory verse: Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Weekly hymn: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (free download) Weekly catechism: What is justification? Justification is an act of God’s free grace in… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 30: Jonah

July 22nd, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 30 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 30: Jonah Weekly memory verse: Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Weekly hymn: “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness” (free download) Weekly catechism: What benefits in this life come from repentant faith in Jesus Christ? Those who… Continue Reading

Limited Time: Hymnal with KJV Scripture

July 19th, 2018 | 0 Comments

Due to a church request, we are producing an edition of Hymns to the Living God that contains all Scripture texts in King James Version (our regular hymnal has ESV). All other contents of the hymnal will remain the same. We are printing a limited quantity of the KJV edition of the hymnal, and this will likely… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 29: Turn to God

July 15th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 29 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 29: Turn to God Weekly memory verse: Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Weekly hymn: “How Blest Is He Whose Trespass” (free download) Weekly catechism: What is repentance unto life? Repentance unto life is a saving grace, by which I turn from my sin to… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 28: Elisha’s Continuing Ministry

July 8th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 28 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 28: Elisha’s Continuing Ministry Weekly memory verse: Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. “ Weekly hymn: “God, Be Merciful to Me” (free download) Weekly… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 27: The Start of Elisha’s Ministry

July 1st, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 27 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 27: The Start of Elisha’s Ministry Weekly memory verse: Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Weekly hymn: “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (free download) Weekly catechism: How are you made… Continue Reading

Example Video of a Gospel-Shaped Service

June 27th, 2018 | 0 Comments

I regularly teach and write about how to plan and lead worship services whose structural narrative express the gospel. For example, in the following article, I explain how I plan such a service, including a video that walks through the process: “How I order corporate worship“ When I teach or write on this subject, I… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 26: King Ahab

June 24th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 26 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 26: King Ahab Weekly memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15:3–5 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he… Continue Reading

The Two Kingdoms and Immigration Policy

June 20th, 2018 | 0 Comments

I just completed last week a series of posts explaining what I believe to be a biblical doctrine of the differing responsibilities individual Christians and corporate churches have toward culture, and the distinct role government authority has in ruling civil matters. Contrary to many within evangelicalism today, it is very important to recognize these differences;… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 25: Elijah

June 17th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 25 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 25: Elijah Weekly memory verse: Philippians 2:8 – “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Weekly hymn: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” (free download) Weekly catechism: Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto… Continue Reading

The Church, Christians, and Culture: Conclusion

June 13th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 13 of 13 in the series Citizens and Exiles You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Over the past several weeks, I have presented a brief sketch of a conservative Christian posture toward culture more faithful to Scripture than much of what constitutes the prevailing evangelical perspective. Despite caricatures by opponents, and extreme abuses by some, this philosophy provides a basis for a rather robust philosophy of cultural engagement, which could… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 24: Solomon’s Reign

June 10th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 24 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 24: Solomon’s Reign Weekly memory verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Weekly hymn: “All People That on… Continue Reading

Restraint

June 6th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 12 of 13 in the series Citizens and Exiles You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

The Bible does not give the church a social mandate, but as we saw last week, churches should equip their people with how to live Christianly in whatever cultural sphere God has called them. This does not mean churches will have no impact on the society at large. Churches may indeed have an effect upon… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 23: David’s Reign

June 3rd, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 23 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 23: David’s Reign Weekly memory verse: Psalm 27:1–2 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and… Continue Reading

The Church and Christian Cultural Involvement

May 30th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 11 of 13 in the series Citizens and Exiles You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Last week, I made the case that the church’s mission is narrow and unique; it is not cultural or societal transformation, but rather the exclusively redemptive goal of making disciples. Nevertheless, because members of churches may certainly be involved in various cultural endeavors as citizens of the common kingdom, the church does have a secondary… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 22: Absalom’s Rebellion

May 27th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 22 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 22: Absalom’s Rebellion Weekly memory verse: Romans 3:23–24 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Weekly hymn: “How Sad Our State” (free download) Weekly catechism: Who is that Redeemer who at… Continue Reading

The Church’s Unique Mission

May 23rd, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 10 of 13 in the series Citizens and Exiles You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Thus far, I have attempted to establish a biblical basis for individual Christian cultural activity, but when Christians gather together as local churches, the picture narrows to a certain degree. This is due to the fact that not everything Scripture commands of Christians as individuals applies in the same way to local churches as institutions.… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 21: The Davidic Covenant

May 20th, 2018 | 0 Comments

This entry is part 21 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 21: The Davidic Covenant Weekly memory verse: Luke 1:68–69 – “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.” Weekly hymn: “Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing” (free download) Weekly catechism:… Continue Reading