As worship pastors, we have the unique privilege of placing the very words of worship into the mouths, hearts, and minds of the people we lead—an enormous assignment carrying with it profound implications. We have the responsibility not only of …
A Special Word of Encouragement to Those who Lead Worship Read more »
When theology is appropriately superintending and informing doxology, the outcomes can be staggering. When theology is appropriately guiding worship service praxis and design and, specifically, when the biblical pattern of transcendence then immanence is applied to how worship elements are …
In last week’s blog, I made the following statement: “understanding God in his transcendent otherness is not simply important, but, perhaps surprisingly to many, it turns out to be one of the most consequential concepts a worship leader can embrace …
If someone were to ask me, “how important is transcendence in worship planning,” I would argue that understanding God in his transcendent otherness is not simply important, but, perhaps surprisingly to many, it turns out to be one of the …
As I set out to write about the rhythm of transcendence and immanence depicted in Scripture, I was compelled by the Spirit to read the entire cannon, cover to cover, in one sitting (actually, in one sitting spread out over …
As transcendence is a descriptive term used to characterize the Creator-creature distinction, so also immanence expresses an aspect of the Creator-creature relationship. Immanence refers to God’s choice to be intimately involved in the world that he created. Though God in …
Defining Immanence through the Lens of God’s Transcendence Read more »
Deus non est in genere encapsulates the motto of the early church fathers: “God is always greater.”[1] No matter how vast, expansive, or complex the human conceptions of God are, he is always grander than the mind can imagine or …
For almost twenty years, I have been engaged in worship planning and leading. Being a Southern Baptist in the “free church” tradition, I have always been free to construct worship services in any way that I wished. Other than my …
For many people a hymn is nothing more than some truth made pretty. But such an understanding would be like viewing a person as a soul with some pretty skin. Yet just as a human has a whole anatomy working …
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 end with Israel. God’s creation of these worship days and festivals was not arbitrary; rather, …
