What is the Nature of Religion? Theology
Broadly speaking, theology is how we intentionally answer the questions James Sire provided (see last week’s post) that form the assumptions at the core of… Read More »What is the Nature of Religion? Theology
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.
What is the Nature of Religion? Worldview
Religion is composed of two parts, the first of which is worldview. A worldview consists of a set of assumptions a person holds about reality;… Read More »What is the Nature of Religion? Worldview
Worldview-Forming Worship
Imagine a dense forest separating two cities. In order to engage in commerce between these cities, merchants must pass through the forest. For the earliest… Read More »Worldview-Forming Worship
Why We Should Study the Liturgical Story of the Christian Faith
Studying the liturgical history of the Christian faith paints a necessary picture of what Christians have truly believed throughout history, perhaps in some cases more… Read More »Why We Should Study the Liturgical Story of the Christian Faith
Hymns Ancient and Modern for a New Generation
In 1861 a hymnal was published in England that would set the standard for all hymnals to follow: Hymns Ancient and Modern. This significant hymnal was… Read More »Hymns Ancient and Modern for a New Generation
How Liturgy Tells the Story of the Christian Faith
There are many valuable ways to study the history of the church; church historians often trace the development of creedal theology, recount the lives of… Read More »How Liturgy Tells the Story of the Christian Faith
Getting Things Done: Google Calendar, Gmail + Evernote = Productivity
Note: This post is an update from an earlier one since Google Inbox has been depreciated. I teach a PhD course at Southwestern Seminary in… Read More »Getting Things Done: Google Calendar, Gmail + Evernote = Productivity
A Theology of the Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship
I have spent a considerable amount of time over the past several weeks carefully surveying the Holy Spirit’s work throughout Scripture, and specifically in passages… Read More »A Theology of the Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship
Ordering in Corporate Worship
Last week, we saw that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the purpose of building a “holy temple in the Lord” (Eph 2:21-22). This… Read More »Ordering in Corporate Worship
Ordering in Salvation and Sanctification
The Holy Spirit’s characteristic work is not only an ordering of God’s historical-redemptive plan, but it also a moral ordering. This work begins with his… Read More »Ordering in Salvation and Sanctification
Ordering as Characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s Work
Based on a thorough survey of how the Holy Spirit works throughout Scripture, I suggested last week that although he certainly sometimes works in extraordinary… Read More »Ordering as Characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s Work
Is the Holy Spirit’s Work Characteristically Extraordinary Experience?
Last week I presented a brief survey of the Holy Spirit’s activity throughout Scripture, which helps to lay an important foundation for assessing his work… Read More »Is the Holy Spirit’s Work Characteristically Extraordinary Experience?
How Does Scripture Describe the Work of the Holy Spirit?
Ultimately, current expectations concerning the Holy Spirit’s work in worship must derive, not from experience, but from Scripture. In order to lay such a biblical… Read More »How Does Scripture Describe the Work of the Holy Spirit?
Why We Let the Little Ones Come to the Service
I remember the Sunday driving home from church when Becky said, “Wow, I think I was able to listen to the whole sermon today.” Our… Read More »Why We Let the Little Ones Come to the Service
Pentecostalism’s View of the Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship
Last week, I noted that the most common expectation today of the Holy Spirit’s work in worship is that he will make God’s presence known… Read More »Pentecostalism’s View of the Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship
Holy Spirit, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Arguably, the default expectation of contemporary evangelical worshipers is that the Holy Spirit works in worship in such a way so as to create an… Read More »Holy Spirit, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
The Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship: Extraordinary Experience or Disciplined Formation?
“Our church’s worship is pretty formal, but I prefer Holy Spirit-led worship.” Such was a comment I overheard recently by a young evangelical describing his… Read More »The Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship: Extraordinary Experience or Disciplined Formation?
Start the New Year with Our Bible Narratives Reading Plan
Stories shape us. When we read a story, we enter a world that the author has created and thus become shaped by that world. Experiencing… Read More »Start the New Year with Our Bible Narratives Reading Plan
Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 52: Jesus Comes Again
Week 52: Jesus Comes Again Weekly memory verse: Revelation 22:17 – “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say,… Read More »Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 52: Jesus Comes Again
All Members Care for the Whole Body
Paul clearly describes in 1 Corinthians 12 the core elements of a theology of unity and diversity withing the Body of Christ. God grants a… Read More »All Members Care for the Whole Body