Exploring the Worship Spectrum: 6 Views

Front Cover
Zondervan, May 11, 2010 - Religion - 272 pages

An exploration of what worship looks like from a biblical standpoint and why the topic of worship can be so contentious among Christians.

Because worship is inherently theological--because it's a manifestation of humanity's response to God's holiness--it's important to take seriously how we worship and the roles it serves in personal displays of adoration and in community with other believers.

Exploring the Worship Spectrum provides an overview, critique, and celebration of six prominent worship styles:

  • Formal-Liturgical – represented by Paul Zahl
  • Traditional Hymn-Based – represented by Harold Best
  • Contemporary Music-Driven – represented by Joe Horness
  • Charismatic – represented by Don Williams
  • Blended – represented by Robert Webber
  • Emerging – represented by Sally Morgenthaler

This unique format allows those with a heart for worship to compare different perspectives and draw their own conclusions on what the Bible teaches. It allows readers to understand the various approaches to worship, carefully evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and make personal choices without adopting a judgmental spirit.

The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

From inside the book

Contents

PAUL F M ZAHL
23
A Traditional Worship Response
37
A Charismatic Worship Response 45
45
BEST
59
A Liturgical Worship Response 79
76
A Charismatic Worship Response
84
JOE HORNESS
99
A Liturgical Worship Response
153
A Liturgical Worship Response
192
A Contemporary Worship Response
200
An Emerging Worship Response
208
SALLY MORGENTHALER
217
A Liturgical Worship Response
231
A Contemporary Worship Response
238
A Blended Worship Response
247
Recommended Reading
258

A Contemporary Worship Response
160
ROBERT WEBBER
175
Discussion and Reflection Questions
264
Copyright

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Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 252 - Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
Page 56 - Transubstantiation, (or the change of the substance of bread and wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.
Page 27 - But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him.
Page 117 - And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Page 112 - Lord is gracious : unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Page 170 - God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Page 101 - And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.
Page 13 - For to worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.
Page 253 - Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Page 89 - To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!

About the author (2010)

Paul E. Engle, series editor for Counterpoints Church Life, is an ordained minister who served for twenty-two years in pastoral ministry in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and Michigan. He is an adjunct teacher in several seminaries in this country and internationally. He serves as associate publisher and executive editor in the Church, Academic, and Ministry Resources team at Zondervan. He and his wife Margie, live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Paul A. Basden (PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is one of the senior pastors at Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, Texas. He has also served as pastor of other churches in Alabama and Texas and as an adjunct professor at Beeson Divinity School. He is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author of The Worship Maze.

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