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 51: Paul on Trial

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 51: Paul on Trial

This entry is part 51 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 51: Paul on Trial Weekly memory verse: Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had… Continue Reading

All the Members are Necessary to the Body

All the Members are Necessary to the Body

This entry is part 1 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Last week, I made the point from Paul’s discussion in 2 Corinthians 12 that all members of the church, because of their diversity, make up the unity of the body of Christ. And Paul specifically defends that notion beginning inverse 17 by considering, what would the results be if every member of the body had exactly the… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 50: Life by the Spirit and the Word

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 50: Life by the Spirit and the Word

This entry is part 50 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 50: Life by the Spirit and Word Weekly memory verse: Titus 2:11–13 – “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the… Continue Reading

All the Members Make the Body

All the Members Make the Body

This entry is part 7 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

In his first letter to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul emphasizes the functional diversity and spiritual unity of the Body of Christ. But Paul knows that based on how things naturally work, diversity of function within the body might lead to some people within body thinking that because their giftedness is different than others, then… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 49: Paul Begins His Final Missionary Journey

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 49: Paul Begins His Final Missionary Journey

This entry is part 49 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 49: Paul Begins His Final Missionary Journey Weekly memory verse: Philippians 2:9-11 – “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess… Continue Reading

Special Holiday Rates for Hymns to the Living God

Special Holiday Rates for Hymns to the Living God

In honor of the Advent/Christian season, we are offering some special prices for Hymns to the Living God: Individual Copies – $13.99 each plus shipping (regularly $17.99) 6 Copies – $78 with free shipping! Other bulk discounts (10+, 50+, 100+) available on the single copy page. Copies are also available on Amazon.com for $19.99 each with… Continue Reading

Identity in Christ Creates Unity

Identity in Christ Creates Unity

This entry is part 6 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Unity in the Body of Christ comes  due to the fact that Christ baptizes each believer with the Holy Spirit into his spiritual body. This is true for all Christians from the moment of their salvation and forevermore. And if this is difficult for us to wrap our minds around, Paul gives us one more… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 48: The Gospel Moves into Europe

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 48: The Gospel Moves into Europe

This entry is part 48 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 48: The Gospel Moves into Europe Weekly memory verse: Romans 8:38–39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of… Continue Reading

New Book: Hymns and Carols of Advent and Christmas

New Book: Hymns and Carols of Advent and Christmas

I am pleased new announce a new collection of hymns and carols for Advent and Christmas. This is simply all of the Advent/Christmas hymns included in Hymns to the Living God, published in a format convenient for caroling, home gatherings, or even church services. You may purchase the print or Kindle editions here. . You have… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 47: The Gospel Spreads to the Gentiles

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 47: The Gospel Spreads to the Gentiles

This entry is part 47 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 47: The Gospel Spreads to the Gentiles Weekly memory verse: Romans 10:12 – “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.” Weekly hymn: “How Sweet and Awful Is the Place” (free download) Weekly catechism: Where is… Continue Reading

Spirit Baptism Creates Spiritual Unity

Spirit Baptism Creates Spiritual Unity

This entry is part 5 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Despite the functional diversity of individual believers within the church, the church has unnatural unity. How does this happen? How are people of diverse giftedness and ability and background and status unified together in one body? Verse 13 of 1 Corinthians 12 tells us: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 46: The Persecution of the Early Church and Spread of the Gospel

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 46: The Persecution of the Early Church and Spread of the Gospel

This entry is part 46 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 46: The Persecution of the Early Church and Spread of the Gospel Weekly memory verse: Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Weekly hymn:… Continue Reading

Spiritual Unity Is not Natural

Spiritual Unity Is not Natural

This entry is part 4 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Despite the God-ordained diversity of giftedness within the body of Christ, and even the providential diversity of gender, ethnicity, educational level, and socio-economic status, we are all members of one, unified body. Now, is this natural? It is not natural for there to be unity right alongside diversity. I mean, it would be difficult enough… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional Week 45: Jesus Ascends and Sends the Holy Spirit

Bible Narratives Devotional Week 45: Jesus Ascends and Sends the Holy Spirit

This entry is part 45 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 45: Jesus Ascends and Sends the Holy Spirit Weekly memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 – “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” Weekly hymn: “Jesus Lives, and So… Continue Reading

Spiritual Unity in the Church

Spiritual Unity in the Church

This entry is part 3 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul notes the beautiful of the church’s diversity, as the Spirit of God gifts each individual believers with particular functions within the greater church. But then with that as his foundation he moves on in verse 12 to his primary concern in the chapter: “For just as the body is one… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 44: Jesus’s Death and Resurrection

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 44: Jesus’s Death and Resurrection

This entry is part 44 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 44: Jesus’s Death and Resurrection Weekly memory verse: Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Weekly hymn: “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” (free download) Weekly catechism: What is the Lord’s… Continue Reading

Functional Diversity in the Church

Functional Diversity in the Church

This entry is part 2 of 8 in the series Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

There is a lot of discussion about diversity and identity today, both in the wider culture and among Christians. Unfortunately, such discussions often are not informed by Scripture, even among Christians. Secularist theories and ideologies plague discourse about these subject in ways many Christians don’t even recognize. Any discussion of diversity and identity, however, must… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 43: Holy Week

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 43: Holy Week

This entry is part 43 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 43: Holy Week Weekly memory verse: John 11:25 – “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.’” Weekly hymn: “My Song Is Love Unknown” (free download) Weekly catechism: What is the duty of those who are rightly baptized? It is… Continue Reading

The New Song

The New Song

This entry is part 9 of 9 in the series Sing to the Lord a New Song You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

In Psalm 96, David emphasized, through various poetic devices, the necessity of singing confidently about the Lord’s reign, even though it is not yet a present reality. He wants us to sing this way because in so doing, it shapes our hearts. A recognition and acknowledgment of the realities of Christ’s future reign causes us… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 42: Parables of the Kingdom

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 42: Parables of the Kingdom

This entry is part 42 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 42: Parables of the Kingdom Weekly memory verse: Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Weekly hymn: “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” (free download) Weekly catechism: What is baptism? Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ, to be a sign… Continue Reading