Theology of Worship

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Theology of Worship

• Class 5
• Christology of Worship

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Ephesians 13-14

• Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
  Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
  with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
• For he chose us in him before the creation of the
  world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In
  love
• he predestined us to be adopted as his sons
  through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his
  pleasure and will

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Ephesians 13-14

• to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has
  freely given us in the One he loves.
• In him we have redemption through his blood, the
  forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the
  riches of Gods grace
• that he lavished on us with all wisdom and
  understanding.

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Ephesians 13-14

• And he made known to us the mystery of his will
  according to his good pleasure, which he purposed
  in Christ,
• to be put into effect when the times will have
  reached their fulfillmentto bring all things in
  heaven and on earth together under one head, even
  Christ.

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Ephesians 13-14

• In him we were also chosen, having been
  predestined according to the plan of him who
  works out everything in conformity with the
  purpose of his will,
• in order that we, who were the first to hope in
  Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

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Ephesians 13-14

• And you also were included in Christ when you
  heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
  salvation. Having believed, you were marked in
  him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
• who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
  until the redemption of those who are Gods
  possession to the praise of his glory.

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Questions

• What is/are Gods ultimate purposes as revealed
  in this passage?
• Worshipthe glory of the Father (that we would
  be to the praise of his glory)
• Recapitulation of all things (Iraneus)to bring
  all things in heaven and on earth together under
  one headChrist

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Questions

• In what ways has God blessed us?
• How are these blessings ours?
• How are these blessings ours?
• How have we been drawn into the life of the
  Trinity?

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About Assignments

• Next class (Feb. 4) Engaging With God
  (Peterson), chapter 1 (bring book to class)
• Christology of Worship due Feb. 13

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Postscript from last class

• What did Jesus mean when he said, This is my
  body. . . my blood?
• Roman Catholic position transubstantiation
  (elements literally become Christs body blood)
  
• Lutheran position constubstantiation (elements
  become spiritually Christs body blood, while
  still remaining bread and wine)

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• What did Jesus mean when he said, This is my
  body. . . my blood?
• Reformed position Christ is in a manner present
  yet in a manner absent (Calvin)
• Free churches communion is only a memorial of a
  past event

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What Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed all believe
in common

• Communion means the real presence of Christ
• Communion is with the whole Christ (God and Man)
• Jesus is present with us as truly God and as
  truly a human!

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Christology of Worship

• Chris-tol-o-gy (kri stole je)
• theological interpretation of the nature, person
  and deeds of Christ.
• Websters Collegiate Dictionary
• The most important thing we need to know about
  worship
• Rather than staking out our sectarian claims to
  the right way to worship, we should be seeking
  out common ground which is indeed non-negotiable
  but also universally applicable
• Ron Man, Proclamation and Praise, p. x.

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Instructions (syllabus)

• 1000-1500 words
• It should summarize the ways Christs ministry as
  Redeemer, Prophet, and High Priest provide a
  basis for our worship under the new covenant, and
  our participation in his ongoing ministry of
  proclamation, intercession and worship of God.

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Instructions (syllabus)

• In addition to being grounded in Scripture, your
  paper should draw on your course texts (Torrance
  and Man), and may also draw from relevant
  resources on reserve for this course.

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Resources

• Torrance, Worship, Community and the Triune God
  of Grace.
• Man, Proclamation and Praise Hebrews 212 and
  the Christology of Worship.
• Reggie Kidd, With One Voice Discovering Christs
  Song in Our Worship

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From With One Voice (Kidd)

• Our worship on earth is a participation in a
  gorgeous liturgy that Jesus Christ leads in
  heaven (p. 9).

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Ron Man, Proclamation and Praise

• Key verse Hebrews 212 (quoting from Psalm 22)
• What are the key Scriptural passages which are
  the foundation of a theology of Christs role as
  our Worship Leader?
• What do we mean by saying Christ leads us in our
  worship?
• Your study will deal primarily with chapters 1
  through 4.

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Ch. 5 Towards a Christology of Worship

• What conclusions flow from a Christology of
  worship?
• The living Christ is present in our midst when we
  gather for worship.
• Only in and through Christ can we enter into
  Gods presence in worship.
• Our worship is pleasing and acceptable to God not
  because of its own excellence, but because of
  (and only because of) the excellence of His Son.

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Ch. 5 Towards a Christology of Worship

• The Word of God, by which Christ proclaims His
  Fathers name to His brethren, deserves priority
  and centrality in our worship.
• The corporate praise of Gods people is an
  integral and crucial part of the gathering of the
  church.
• No matter how they may differ in the externals,
  all true expressions of worship share in common
  that they are led and mediated by Christ in the
  power of the Holy Spirit.

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Ch. 5 Towards a Christology of Worship

• When we preach or lead worship, we do so
  representing Christ whose ministry it is. He is
  the preacher He is the worship leader.
• Because Christ leads us in our worship, we can
  enter boldly and confidently into Christs
  presence.
• By His grace God has provided in Christ the
  worship He requires of us.
• Our singing Savior shows us the appropriateness
  and necessity of our own songs of praise.

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Ch. 5 Towards a Christology of Worship

• We need to consider a Christocentric view of
  illumination.
• We need to repent of trying to do worship in our
  own strength.

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Theology of Worship

• Engaging with God
• in the Old Testament

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John Witvliet, Trinity The Opening of Worship

• Where does God dwell?
• Quote from C.S. Lewis (pp. 1-2)
• According to Witvliet, what are the benefits of a
  Trinitarian understanding of worship?

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Benefits of a Trinitarian Understanding of Worship

• It gives a grammar or logic to our worship
  (3-5).
• It is fundamentally distinctive from all other
  beliefs or creeds (5-6).
• It is pastorally significant (6-9).

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Benefits of a Trinitarian Understanding of Worship

• It makes the shape of our worship clear (9-14).
• Congregating
• Greeting and call to worship
• Praise and adoration
• Expectant prayer

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Benefits of a Trinitarian Understanding of Worship

• It shapes and enriches our Worship Habits (15-25)
• Memory and Hope
• Trinitarian balance
• Trinitarian integration
• Correcting theological astigmatism
• Communion

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Benediction

• May the God of peace, who through the
• blood of the eternal covenant brought back from
  the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of
  the sheep, equip you with everything good for
  doing his will, and may he work in us what is
• pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
  glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• Heb. 1320-21

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