Many Evangelicals are reacting against a mind/heart disconnect in worship, reaching for an experience of worship that transcends the merely intellectual. They desire to know God deeply by... More > experiencing His presence as they worship. This desire has led to a subtle yet pervasive paradigm-shift in the philosophy and practice of worship. While worship was once understood as an enactment of praise, it is now viewed as a real, metaphysical “encounter” with God.
The desire for experience as a kind of knowledge has driven this shift, and is a result of many changes associated with postmodernism. One critical feature of postmodernism is the exaltation of experience as an equally authoritative way of knowing. It suggests that we acquire knowledge through our experiences, and that these experiences convincingly illustrate reality for us in a manner that nothing else can. The result is the “postmodern worshiper,” who desires to know God by experiencing Him in worship.< Less
Many Evangelicals are reacting against a mind/heart disconnect in worship, reaching for an experience of worship that transcends the merely intellectual. They desire to know God deeply by... More > experiencing His presence as they worship. This desire has led to a subtle yet pervasive paradigm-shift in the philosophy and practice of worship. While worship was once understood as an enactment of praise, it is now viewed as a real, metaphysical “encounter” with God.
The desire for experience as a kind of knowledge has driven this shift, and is a result of many changes associated with postmodernism. One critical feature of postmodernism is the exaltation of experience as an equally authoritative way of knowing. It suggests that we acquire knowledge through our experiences, and that these experiences convincingly illustrate reality for us in a manner that nothing else can. The result is the “postmodern worshiper,” who desires to know God by experiencing Him in worship.< Less
This volume contains four brief essays written by a worshiper to worshipers. Topics include the shape of worship, preaching, communion, and imprecatory Psalms.
This volume contains four brief essays written by a worshiper to worshipers. Topics include the shape of worship, preaching, communion, and imprecatory Psalms.
Sports. It is not too difficult to see that it has a “dark side”. But what if God desired for coaches and athletes to be light in the darkness? And what if God was in the process of... More > redeeming sports? What if His intent was that in whatever we do—including sports—we do it all as a means to declare and display the significance of Who He is?
I believe this is His intent. And this is my purpose in writing SPORTS AS WORSHIP. As you consider what it means to worship God through sports, my hope and prayer is that the sports field becomes a sacred place where you experience Life with God and shine brightly for Him as you coach or play ball.< Less
Worship does not have to be boring and lifeless. It can be exciting and life changing. This central ministry of the Christian Church is lacking effectiveness and power in most Mainline North... More > American Churches. What can change this? See what the pastor of what then was the fourth largest United Methodist Church in worship attendance on North America and learn from this one who grew the church from just 75 in worship to a weekly average of over 3,000 and annual receipts from $75,000 to over $12,000,000.< Less
Worship does not have to be boring and lifeless. It can be exciting and life changing. This central ministry of the Christian Church is lacking effectiveness and power in most Mainline North... More > American Churches. What can change this? See what the pastor of what then was the fourth largest United Methodist Church in worship attendance on North America and learn from this one who grew the church from just 75 in worship to a weekly average of over 3,000 and annual receipts from $75,000 to over $12,000,000.< Less
Sung worship has always been an important part of Christian tradition. The lyrics sung in churches shape the faith of individual believers, engage in the spaces of mission and evangelism, and in... More > their own unique way they ‘do’ theology. However, in recent times worship songs have been silent about technological advances and scientific discoveries. This silence is examined here in detail. This exploration takes us into a shared temporal-spiritual-metaphorical space – the place of worship. Through exploring this space interesting and unusual observations are made about its rationale and why our songs are devoid of modern conceptual imagery. It is possible that we need truly contemporary worship songs if we are to engage seriously in mission, and also to prevent us from becoming theologically image-poor, and here this argument is put forward with clarity and passion.< Less
