The Lord’s Day
An early second-century letter from Ignatius, one of the first pastors of the church in Antioch, helps to solidify that the first day of the… Read More »The Lord’s Day
Scott Aniol
Scott Aniol is the founder and Executive Director of Religious Affections Ministries. He is director of doctoral worship studies 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. Views posted here are his own and not necessarily those of his employer.
Forgiven Much
They tried to make her leave. She knew she shouldn’t be here, but she loved him deeply, a love that came from a heart of… Read More »Forgiven Much
Biblical Authority in Worship Practice
One important principle articulated in several places in the New Testament was an emphasis upon the importance of biblical authority for worship practices. Usually these… Read More »Biblical Authority in Worship Practice
Accepted
I cannot be here. I should not be here. He knew he was unworthy. He could hardly lift his head. The sound was almost deafening.… Read More »Accepted
Worship in the Assembly
While the book of Acts gives examples of early churches gathering for worship—Scripture reading, preaching, prayer, and the Lord’s Table—the rest of the New Testament… Read More »Worship in the Assembly
A Knock at Your Door
Knock. Knock. Knock. Who could that be at the door? you think. I have so much to do—good things, necessary things. I’m too busy to… Read More »A Knock at Your Door
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a unique Christian addition to corporate worship, though it finds roots in the Passover meal. The book of Acts describes the… Read More »The Lord’s Supper
No Access
The king raged with fury. How dare they say I have no right to be here? he steamed. I have done right in the sight… Read More »No Access
Singing and Making Melody
In both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, Paul commands gathered believers to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, thereby “singing and making melody to the… Read More »Singing and Making Melody
An Unlikely Invitation
The man was a scoundrel, certainly not worthy of the invitation he had just received. He had stolen before—he had even stolen from the king’s… Read More »An Unlikely Invitation
The Infant Church’s Continual Commitments
Christ’s disciples obeyed his command to remain in Jerusalem until he sent them the Holy Spirit and formed his spiritual body. Acts 2 records the… Read More »The Infant Church’s Continual Commitments
Mission: Make Worshipers
After Jesus died and rose again, he appeared to his disciples and many others, beginning a short period of teaching before he ascended back to… Read More »Mission: Make Worshipers
Memorial
The requirement for Israel of specific times and rituals for worship, both weekly and annually, established a fundamental principle for God’s people that did not… Read More »Memorial
Worship at Sinai
Fifty days after the exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel arrived at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God specifically set apart the worshiping… Read More »Worship at Sinai
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
What we have seen over the past several weeks is a dynamic interplay between four realities: worldview, theology, culture, and cultus. Worldview and theology affect… Read More »Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
The Liturgical Nature of Cultus
Last week I described the liturgical nature of culture. Yet there is a second element within the broader concept of liturgy, actually the more common use… Read More »The Liturgical Nature of Cultus
The Liturgical Nature of Culture
I am arguing that liturgy forms our religion, and religion forms our liturgy. When I left off last time, I defined religion as worldview +… Read More »The Liturgical Nature of Culture
Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Worship
In the Old Testament economy, God established particular means through which his people were enabled to draw near to him in worship, although since the… Read More »Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Worship
Do This in Remembrance of Me
The observance of the “Last Supper” by Jesus and his disciple appears in all four gospels, though John does not give details of the meal… Read More »Do This in Remembrance of Me
Religion = Worldview + Theology
Everyone has an implicit worldview—a fundamental orientation of the heart expressed in assumptions about reality, and most people have an explicit theology—conscious beliefs expressed in… Read More »Religion = Worldview + Theology