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

Vocation

Vocation

This entry is part 9 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 mentioned that the common evangelical view of kingdom theology has led to errant thinking about Christian work in society that either dismisses the validity of work other than “full time Christian service” or (more recently) validates work in society by insisting that it is “kingdom work.” A proper understanding of the two… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 20: David Becomes King

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 20: David Becomes King

This entry is part 20 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 20: David Becomes King Weekly memory verse: Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Weekly hymn: “Rejoice, the Lord is King” (free download) Weekly catechism: Why must the Redeemer be a true and righteous human? The Redeemer must be… Continue Reading

Resident Aliens

Resident Aliens

This entry is part 8 of 13 in the series Citizens and Exiles You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

There is a real sense in which Christians, analogous to Israel in exile, are dual citizens—resident aliens. Christians are first and foremost citizens of the redemptive kingdom, but they are also citizens of God’s Universal common Kingdom along with every other human being. And thus, Christians contribute to society, submit to and pray for governmental… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 19: The Pursuit of David

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 19: The Pursuit of David

This entry is part 19 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 19: The Pursuit of David Weekly memory verse: Psalm 27:1 – “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?” Weekly hymn: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (free download) Weekly catechism: What kind of Redeemer must… Continue Reading

Residents

Residents

This entry is part 7 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 time, we considered the fact that Scripture describes Christians as exiles who are not of the world and must not love or be conformed to the world. Instead, we should consider ourselves distinct from the unbelieving peoples and cultures around us. Yet this is not the complete picture of the Christian situation. The presence… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 18: David and Saul

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 18: David and Saul

This entry is part 18 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 18: David and Saul Weekly memory verse: Psalm 18:1–2 – “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Weekly hymn: “Be Thou My Vision” Weekly… Continue Reading

Why equating culture with ethnicity is inherently racist

Why equating culture with ethnicity is inherently racist

Despite my many protestations (including a whole book addressing the topic), it is still quite common within Evangelical circles to equate culture and ethnicity. I was recently reminded of this when a popular evangelical leader argued in a well-publicized conference that in order to repair what he believes to be systemic racial divides within evangelicalism,… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 17: Saul’s Rise and Fall

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 17: Saul’s Rise and Fall

This entry is part 17 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 17: Saul’s Rise and Fall Weekly memory verse: 1 Samuel 15:22 – “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” Weekly hymn: “Jesus Shall Reign” (free download) Weekly… Continue Reading

Exiles

Exiles

This entry is part 6 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 shown how Scripture describes the rule of God in two ways, in terms of his sovereign universal rule over all things, and in terms of his redemptive rule over his chosen people. I’ve made the argument that the union of these two “kingdoms” will not take place until… Continue Reading

Review of The Worship Pastor by Zac Hicks

Review of The Worship Pastor by Zac Hicks

Recently an increasing number of voices from among contemporary worship leaders have arisen to challenge the common performance mentality and encourage a ministry mindset. Zac Hicks, Canon for Worship and Liturgy at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL, adds his contribution to this growing list with The Worship Pastor: A Call to Ministry for… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 16: Samuel and Saul

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 16: Samuel and Saul

This entry is part 16 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 16: Samuel and Saul Weekly memory verse: Luke 1:46–48 – “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call be blessed.” Weekly hymn: O Worship the King (free download) Weekly… Continue Reading

Future Union of the Two Kingdoms

Future Union of the Two Kingdoms

This entry is part 5 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 nation of Israel was a union of the Universal and Redemptive rules of God on earth, but as we saw last week, the nation’s disobedience and indifference resulted in a termination of that union when God’s Shekinah glory departed from the Temple. This does not cancel God’s promise that one day the two kingdoms… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 15: Ruth and Boaz

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 15: Ruth and Boaz

This entry is part 15 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 15: Ruth and Boaz Weekly memory verse: Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sigh, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Weekly hymn: The Heavens Declare Thy Glory, Lord (Free download) Weekly catechism: What is sin? Sin is any transgression against… Continue Reading

Some Thoughts on Physical Expression in Corporate Worship

Some Thoughts on Physical Expression in Corporate Worship

I recently received an email asking for my opinion on whether worship should be only reverent, or whether celebration and joy—especially expressed through physical expression and even dance—were appropriate for corporate worship. Here is my response: A couple thoughts. One, I would actually agree that joy and even celebration should be part of corporate worship (although not… Continue Reading

Two Kingdoms

Two Kingdoms

This entry is part 4 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 two weeks I have laid out a biblical case for understanding the reality of two kingdoms: a universal kingdom, God’s sovereign superintendence over all things, including creation and human institutions, cultures, and societies, and a redemptive kingdom, God’s specific rule over his redeemed people. Because of Adam’s failure, these two kingdoms are at… Continue Reading

What is a “traditional hymn”?

What is a “traditional hymn”?

A friend recently asked how I would define a “traditional hymn” in contrast to a “contemporary worship song,” so I thought I’d post my response here as well: The difference has nothing to do with when the song was written, which is why I actually don’t like “traditional” or “contemporary” as modifiers. I prefer to… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 14: Samson

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 14: Samson

This entry is part 14 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 14: Samson Weekly memory verse: Psalm 17:8 – “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Weekly hymn: Jesus, Lover of My Soul (free download) Weekly catechism: How can you come to know God and what he has made? The fear of the Lord is the… Continue Reading

Holy Week Service

Holy Week Service

Each year in our church, we have a Holy Week service that has become one of our most anticipated services. It is a simple service of Scripture, hymns, and Communion, following a similar structure to a Lessons and Carols Christmas service, but focusing on the events leading up to and including the Cross. Over the… Continue Reading

The Redemptive Rule of God

The Redemptive Rule of God

This entry is part 3 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 discussed God’s universal rule over all things through human institutions that he ordained. This Universal Common Kingdom of God encompasses all people, believers and unbelievers alike, who exercise dominion over what he has made and attempt to maintain order and stability in the midst of a cursed world. But this is not… Continue Reading