Worship
PT 526
Reformed Theological Seminary – Charlotte
Spring 2016
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Professor:
Dr. Stephen G. Myers
Telephone: 704-763-3732
Email: s.goodnight.myers@live.com
Office Hours:
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM
Required Texts:
Aniol, Scott. By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture. Grand
Rapids: Kregel, 2015.
Chapell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice.
Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009.
Hart, D.G. and John Muether. With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of
Reformed Worship. Phillipsburg: P&R, 2002.
Johnson, Terry. Reformed Worship: Worship that is According to Scripture. Greenville:
Reformed Academic Press, 2010.
Lefebvre, Michael. Singing the Songs of Jesus: Revisiting the Psalms. Fearn: Christian
Focus, 2010.
Old, Hughes Oliphant. Worship: Reformed According to Scripture. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
Ryken, Philip Graham, Derek Thomas and Ligon Duncan. Give Praise to God: A Vision
for Reforming Worship. Phillipsburg: P&R, 2003. (We will be reading only a portion of
Give Praise to God, which will be on reserve in the RTS library.)
*Each student is encouraged to obtain a copy of his/her denomination’s directory of
worship. This is not required for the course, but it will prove beneficial.
*Students are encouraged to bring a copy of The Trinity Psalter to each class meeting.
Course Structure and Objectives:
In this course, we will study the Biblical and theological foundations of worship, building
from those foundations a theoretical and practical understanding of worship. Among
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other topics, we will consider the elements of worship, the structure of worship, and the
intention of worship. The goal is to prepare students to be worshippers and effective
leaders in worship.
Course Requirements:
Assigned Reading: All assigned reading must be completed prior to the final exam.
There will be a question on the final exam asking how much of the assigned reading you
have completed.
Exam: There will be a final exam covering all material discussed in class. The exam will
consist of short answer and essay questions intended to test an overall command of the
theology and practice of worship. The exam will be given during the seminary exam
period and will account for 25% of the final grade.
Reflection Papers: Each student will complete 4 short papers addressing some of the
primary underlying issues in worship. These papers are not intended to be researchintensive papers; rather, they are to contain the student’s own considered reflections on
the particular topic. While materials supplemental to lectures, assigned readings, and
Scripture may be consulted, such consultation is not required. By reflecting on these four
underlying issues, the student will both refine and articulate his or her own “theology of
worship.” Each paper will be 3-5 pages (double-spaced) and each will account for 15%
of the final grade. The papers will address the following issues:
Paper 1: Frequently, people comment that all of the Christian life is to be
understood as worship. Simultaneously, most Christians maintain, or at least
assume, that there is something distinctive about the gathered, corporate worship
of the Church. How do you understand the balance between worship as life and
worship as a distinct act of the gathered Church? Due March 10.
Paper 2: Most Reformed Christians would agree that Scripture ought to provide
both the shape and the content of our corporate worship, yet understandings of
what that means can vary quite widely. What is your understanding of the role of
Scripture in worship? How should Scripture provide the shape of worship? How
should Scripture provide the content of worship? Due March 31.
Paper 3: Doubtlessly, one of the most contentious issues within worship
discussions is that of music; disagreements over music and musical style have
caused extensive debates and have split entire congregations. What is your
understanding of music in worship? What purpose is music to serve in worship?
How does that purpose guide your choices regarding music – style,
instrumentation, specific selections, etc? What role should the Psalter play in
sung congregational praise? By what criteria do you evaluate whether a
hymn/song is a “good hymn/song” for worship? How do the thoughts you
expressed in paper #1 and paper #2 influence your thoughts in this paper? Due
April 14.
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Paper 4: When God’s people assemble for worship, that worship has an intended
“audience” – someone or some group to whom that worship is directed and for
whom it is intended. Some people emphasize that worship is directed toward God
alone (the “vertical dimension” of worship) while others insist that worship is at
least partly directed toward the congregation itself (the “horizontal dimension” of
worship). What is your understanding of the appropriate “audience” for worship?
Is there a “horizontal dimension” to worship? If so, is the goal of that horizontal
dimension primarily evangelism or discipleship? How does all of this affect your
approach to, and handling of, worship? Due May 5.
Planning of a Worship Service: The class will be divided into several mid-sized groups
and each group will be responsible for planning and leading a class worship service. At
each group’s worship service, bulletins will be distributed to the class and each member
of the group will be expected to lead in at least one part of the service. These worship
services will be full, complete worship services and will include the singing of at least
one Psalm. The only abbreviation will be the sermon; in lieu of a full sermon, a 3-5
minute summary of the sermon and its central applications will be given. These class
worship services will be held during the concluding weeks of the semester. In addition to
the worship service, each group will submit to the professor the following:
- A complete list of the components of the worship service. This can be a copy
of the bulletin distributed to the class.
- Along with the Scripture passage for the sermon, a 1-3 sentence summary of
the sermon’s central message must be included. This provides the foundation
for establishing the overall cohesion of the service, both for the students
preparing the assignment and the professor evaluating it!
- A 3-5 page (double-spaced) explanation of the arrangement of the service.
Why have the elements been arranged in the way they have been arranged?
Why have the specific hymns, etc, been selected? Are there any notable
inclusions or exclusions?
The dates for each worship service will be set in the early portion of the semester. One
grade will be assigned for each group and that grade will account for 15% of each
student’s final grade.
Policy on Late Assignments:
All late assignments will be assessed a 10 point deduction per day that the due date is
exceeded.
Policy on Class Absences:
Attendance at lectures is mandatory. Unexcused absences will be penalized.
Tentative Lecture Schedule:
As the name implies, this schedule is subject to change, allowing for either more or less
time to be given to various topics as needed. The assigned readings indicate the portion
of the readings most relevant for each topic.
February 4 – Introduction; What is Worship?
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February 11 – Worship in the Scriptures
- Aniol, chapters 1-2
- Chapell, chapters 1-3
- Hart and Muether, chapters 1-2
February 18 – Worship in the Scriptures
- Aniol, 3-5
February 25 – Finding the Shape of Worship
- Aniol, 6-7
- Chapell, chapters 4-6
- Hart and Muether, chapters 3-4
- Johnson, all
- Ryken, chapter 1
- Old, chapter 1
March 3 – Finding the Shape of Worship
- Aniol, 8-9
- Chapell, chapters 7-9
- Hart and Muether, chapters 5-6
March 10 – Finding the Shape of Worship; Planning/Ordering a Worship Service
- Aniol, 10-11
- Chapell, chapters 10-12, 17-18, 22, appendix
- Hart and Muether, chapters 7-8, conclusion
- Old, chapters 3, 10
- Reflection Paper #1 Due
March 17 – No Class; Spring Break
March 24 – The Components of a Worship Service; the Word Proclaimed (Preaching,
Reading of Scripture)
- Chapell, chapters 19-20
- Hart and Muether, chapters 9-10
- Old, chapter 5
March 31 – The Word Sung (Music)
- Chapell, chapter 24
- Hart and Muether, chapter 11
- Lefebvre, all
- Ryken, chapter 10
- Old, chapter 4
- Reflection Paper #2 Due
April 7 – The Word Prayed (All types of prayer)
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-
Chapell, chapters 13, 15-16, 21
Old, chapter 6
April 14 – Responding to the Word (Confessions of Faith, collection/alms)
- Chapell, chapter 14
- Old, chapter 9
- Reflection Paper #3 Due
April 21 – The Word Displayed (Sacraments)
- Chapell, chapter 23
- Old, chapters 2, 7
April 28 – Special Services (Weddings, Funerals, Ordination, etc.); class worship
service?
- Old, chapter 8
May 5 – Special Services; Concluding Observations; class worship service?
- Reflection Paper #4 Due
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