There is no doubt that some of the practices of ancient Hebrew worship bear remarkable resemblance to the worship practices of the pagan nations around… Read More »How do we explain similarities between Hebrew and pagan worship?
The very first conflict following the Fall was a conflict over worship. Genesis 4:3–8 relates how Abel’s offering to the Lord’s was accepted, while Cain’s… Read More »The First Worship War
Paul’s Words to the Ephesians The beginning of Ephesians 5 is striking. Paul writes to former idolaters and fornicators, reminding them of their new life in… Read More »tobyMac and the state of Evangelical piety
Creation is the very basis of and foundation for worship. The central principle of biblical worship is the fact that it is God-initiated and based… Read More »Worship Roots
I have had a chance over many months to get to know the hymnal Cantus Christi published by Canon Press, associated with Pastor Douglas Wilson and Christ… Read More »Some Thoughts about the hymnal Cantus Christi
So here are the primary points of my argument: Culture is the behavior of a people. The formation of certain kinds of behaviors falls squarely… Read More »Practice Makes Perfect: Culture and the Liturgies of Life
In 1 Cor 10:17 Paul says, Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one… Read More »A Modest Proposal: One Loaf in Communion
Over the past several weeks I have been making the argument that in order to shape the behavior–the culture–of a people, we must give attention… Read More »Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
We saw last week that in order to counteract the negative effects of worldly liturgies, the liturgies of our churches must be shaped by Scripture.… Read More »Reenactment
Last week I mentioned that we are inevitably shaped by worldly liturgies, and so we need something to counteract this. This is where it will… Read More »Corporate Worship is Formative
Our aim over the past several weeks has been to discover how Christians can cultivate higher inclinations toward what is true and good, but we must… Read More »Worldly Liturgies
What is Christian love like? Where does it come from? Should we desire that our love be utterly spontaneous? Should we seek to love naturally?… Read More »Are Christians free to love however they please?
Behavior is shaped by liturgies because, as Lewis stated, our inclinations are organized through trained habits, and habits are formed through rituals. And it is… Read More »The Form of the Liturgy
In a healthy marriage, there are a thousand throwaway I love yous. This demands explanation, and there’s probably a better wording to make this point. But… Read More »A Thousand Throwaway I Love Yous
Perhaps one of the best ways to help us contemplate how behavior is shaped in the way that I have been explaining over the past several… Read More »The People’s Work
Bob Kaulfin is now saying what many of us have been practicing for years. Glad to see it: A Call for Musical Pastors | Worship… Read More »Kauflin calls for dropping the term “worship leader” in favor of “music pastor”
I know this post is somewhat badly timed, but I wanted to provide a bit of help for those who are looking for good resurrection hymns,… Read More »Some thoughts concerning Hymns on Christ’s Resurrection
Last week I made the argument that all pastors and church musicians (or “worship leaders”) should give themselves to the study of worship, hymnology, and… Read More »Worship, hymnology, and philosophy of ministry reading list for pastors and church musicians
We spend a lot of time thinking about how our culture has affected Christian worship, and we often reflect on what sorts of things we… Read More »Worship Implies a Theology
A primary focus of my ministry is teaching courses in the history and theology of worship, congregational song, and philosophy of ministry to future (and often… Read More »Why pastors and church musicians need to study worship, hymnology, and philosophy of ministry