Theology of Worship Study Guide

REL375 / Final Exam / Prof. Michael Andres

 

Music and Arts in Worship

 

Relate the biblical Creation-Fall-Redemption motif to the use of music and art in worship (e.g. creativity, image of God, corrupt art, redeemed art).  Explain the following issues regarding discernment in the use of art in worship:  Emotional Expression vs Manipulation; Entertainment vs Worship Art; Pop Art vs Classical vs Church Art; Excellence, Excess, and Simplicity; Visual vs Word. 

 

Give a brief theology of music in worship (e.g. music a gift of God, part of created order, human voice supreme musical instrument, emotional power of music, rightly employed, is a vital and moving aid to worship, etc.).  What were some principles given in class for use of music in worship (e.g. harmony with Bible and theology, sufficient pastoral breadth, etc.)?

 

Briefly describe the use of non-musical arts in worship found in Scripture (e.g. temple artists, dance, procession, reading psalms, etc.).  How has the church used non-musical arts in worship throughout church history?  What were some principles given in class for use of visual art in worship (e.g. Scriptural presentation of Jesus fundamental, exposure to wide variety of human portrayals of Jesus, any image of Jesus is an incomplete human creation, etc.)?  Give reasons why the Second Commandment does or does not prohibit use of images of God or Christ in worship.

 

Prayer in Worship

 

Be prepared to explain the teaching about prayer from the following passages:  1 Kings 8:23-53 (Solomon’s temple prayer); Jeremiah 14:2-8; 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 (Hannah’s prayer); Matthew 6 (Lords’ Prayer); John 17; and 1 Timothy 2:1-4.  Define and explain the relevance of Amida (or Telfilah).  What are six different types of psalms?  What does this imply about prayer in worship?  Specify and explain four different types of corporate prayer (e.g. Praising, Thanking, Blessing; Lamenting and Confessing; Supplication; Interceding).  According to Martin, what are some principles of corporate prayer (e.g. ‘we’ not ‘I’, simple, addressed to God, etc.)?

 

Worship and Culture

 

What are strengths and weaknesses of adapting (being relevant) to culture in worship?  What are strengths and weaknesses of being counter-cultural (world-denying) in worship?  Give theological and biblical reasons for your answers.

 

What were Finney’s ‘new measures’?  Describe revivalist worship.  Explain the influence of nineteenth century revivalism on the contemporary worship.  What is the Liturgical Renewal Movement?  How did Vatican II – Constitution on Sacred Liturgy – change Roman Catholic worship?  What is the significance of Youth for Christ rallies, Billy Graham crusades, and the Pentecostal/Charismatic movements to contemporary Praise and Worship music?  Specify and describe influences on late 20th century worship (e.g. Existentialism, McLuhanism, relational theology, aesthetic relativism, ecumenism, and consumerism).  Describe the shift from evaluating worship historically-theologically to evaluating it pragmatically-aesthetically.  Give reasons why this is or is not a good shift.  What is the theology of contemporary worship music (e.g. Eastern intuitive emotional, less theological content, OT tabernacle model, worship as music, praise as unmediated sanctification, etc.)?  What are some parallels between Medieval and contemporary evangelical worship?

 

Specify and describe some of the cultural revolutions in the postmodern era (e.g. sociological, scientific, religious, etc.).  What are some characteristics of postmodern persons?  What are the characteristics of postmodern worship (e.g. transcendence, mystery, narrative, etc.)?  What are some characteristics of global worship?  What is the content and significance of the Nairobi Statement on Worship and Culture?

 

Worship and Leadership

 

What qualifies a person to lead worship?  Describe a contemporary evangelical model and criteria for worship leadership.  Describe a Reformed/Anglo-Catholic model and criteria for worship leadership.  Of what significance is Ephesians 4:7, 11-13 to the discussion of worship leadership?  What is the view of worship leadership found in the Belgic Confession?  What are different views of participatory worship?  Discuss the use and ethics of power in worship leadership.

 

Worship and Community

 

How should worship address the fragmented, individualistic culture?  What are some problematic approaches to developing community in worship?  Give a theology of community in worship (e.g. Trinitarian God, body of Christ, one in Spirit, etc.).  Describe community in early church worship.  Define and explain the significance of the Greek words koinonia and homothymadon.  According to Marva Dawn, explain how specifically the following elements of worship can build community:  hospitality, music, spiritual gifts, communal prayer, and preaching.

 

Worship and Justice

 

Explain the significance of Amos 5:18-24 regarding worship and justice.  How specifically can our worship become more just?  Specify and explain how the theme of justice can be integrated into the following elements of worship:  call to worship, prayers, songs, preaching, Lord’s Supper, baptism, the offering, and worship space.  What are some names of God that can be used to accentuate God’s concern for justice?