Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
COURSE SYLLABUS
WRSP 410
BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF WORSHIP
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A study of the principles of worship as found in the Old and New Testaments. Includes study of
the Tabernacle as a model of worship; worship in the lives of biblical characters; and the biblical
roots of worship practices developed by the early church.
RATIONALE
This course is the first in a series of five on worship offered by the Liberty University Center for
Worship and Music Ministries. It examines the biblical foundations of worship in order to equip
the student to be effective in the professional realm of worship services and to encourage
believers toward a healthy lifestyle of worship.
I.
PREREQUISITES
None
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASES
Click on the following link to view the required resource for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm.
III.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer and Internet access (broadband recommended)
B.
Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)
C.
DVD player
D.
Holy Bible
E.
A Bible concordance
WRSP 410 Syllabus
IV.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:
A.
B.
V.
Cognitive skills
1.
Comprehend how interpreters synthesize biblical information related to
worship in three areas: worship survey (chronologically in the Bible as
well as studied by method of terminology), worship evangelism, and the
psalms as models for worship.
2.
Evaluate the effectiveness of organization, and the impact on participants,
of a worship service.
3.
Synthesize biblical teaching with practice.
4.
Conduct original work in exegeting passages that deal with a common
sub-topic within worship, assessing the appropriateness of biblical
passages not mentioned in class.
Affective and performance skills
1.
Participate in the planning and execution of a worship service, valuing the
biblical foundation for practice, and integrating values adopted or altered
while in the course.
2.
Value the practice of thanksgiving, both individually and corporately.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings, video lessons, and lesson notes
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
As the first activity in this course, please read the syllabus and Student
Expectations. After reading the syllabus and Student Expectations, the student
will then complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Pre-Video Assignments (to be completed before studying this course’s video
lessons)
1.
Defining Words for Worship
The student will write a 6–8-page word study on 3–5 key terms of worship
in the Bible. Outside sources such as a Bible concordance should be
utilized, and the paper should include a chart that diagrams how the key
terms relate to other biblical terms.
2.
Worship in the Psalms
The student will write a 3–4-page essay addressing the following question:
“What is the overarching theme in the book of Psalms relative to
worship?”.
3.
Relating Worship to Evangelism
Page 2 of 4
WRSP 410 Syllabus
The student will write a 3–4-page essay addressing the following question:
“How does worship relate to evangelism?”.
4.
Further Defining Worship
The student will write a 3–4-page paper on one aspect of worship selected
from a given list. Course textbooks may be referenced in the paper.
D.
Worship Service Observation
The student must attend a worship service outside of his or her home church and
denomination. Using a form provided in the course, the student will record
observations about the service and answer questions provided.
E.
Post-Video Projects (to be completed after studying this course’s video lessons)
1.
Locating, Exegeting, and Teaching Scripture
The student will select a topic from given lessons and write a series of 3
devotionals, each devotional being 2–3 pages long. The series should
incorporate biblical concepts discussed in the course.
2.
Giving Thanks
The student will conduct six 20-minute prayer sessions of thanksgiving
and then write a journal with four parts, conveying four activities: 1) 2–3
pages of what was learned during these prayer sessions, 2) a presentation
about the experience to a church or small group, 3) a summary of the
experience, and 4) a follow-up on audience members to find out if they
now practice thanksgiving more effectively.
3.
Planning a Worship Service
The student will plan a worship service centered around a selected topic
that includes brief times of reading and comments as well as worship
activities. This plan must be written out in its entirety.
4.
Interview with Senior Pastor
Using the two forms provided, the student will interview his own senior
pastor and will share with the pastor the concepts of this course. Interview
notes will be submitted using one of the forms, and the senior pastor will
submit the other form via fax.
Page 3 of 4
WRSP 410 Syllabus
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Pre-Video Assignments
Defining Words for Worship
Worship in the Psalms
Relating Worship to Evangelism
Further Defining Worship
Worship Service Observation
Post-Video Projects
Locating, Exegeting, and Teaching Scripture
Giving Thanks
Planning a Worship Service
Interview with Senior Pastor
10
125
125
125
125
100
Total
B.
100
100
100
100
1010
Scale
A = 940–1010 A- = 920–939 B+ = 900–919 B = 860–899 B- = 840–859
C+ = 820–859 C = 780–819 C- = 760–779 D+ = 740–759 D = 700–739
D- = 680–699 F = 679 and below
C.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
Page 4 of 4
COURSE SCHEDULE
WRSP 410
Resources:
Hill, Enter His Courts with Praise: Old Testament Worship for the New Testament Church (1993).
McCann, Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah (1993).
Morgenthaler, Sally, Worship Evangelism (1999).
WRSP 410 DVD set.
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1–4
Hill: pp. 1–10
McCann: pp. 13–124
Mogenthaler: read in
entirety
5–8
View all lessons from the
WRSP 410 DVD set
9–16
Review lessons as
prompted by project
instructions
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
Course Requirements Checklist
Defining Words for Worship
Worship in the Psalms
Relating Worship to Evangelism
Further Defining Worship
10
125
125
125
125
Worship Service Observation
100
Locating, Exegeting, and Teaching Scripture
Giving Thanks
Planning a Worship Service
Interview with Senior Pastor
TOTAL
100
100
100
100
1010
NOTE: Each course week (except week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends
on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.