Status Updates From Doxology and Theology: How ...

“We’ve got to do more than lead songs; we’ve got to disciple people. If nobody’s following us Monday through Saturday, we’re not leading worship; we’re just leading songs.”

“When pastors learn to empower creatives (as opposed to importing creativity), it allows the congregation to lead worship through word, symbol, music, visual art, and architecture that uniquely reflects our tribe—our unique, local, context. This is contextualizing in the best possible sense: the gospel has impacted our lives, and we respond with our own celebration and proclamation of that changeless gospel.”

“… the [church] body passively consumes… note for note something that came from another context. Rather than making disciples and carefully discerning context, we can simply purchase and import from others. But if we want to empower Christ’s church to use their gifts… it’s worth the effort.”

“Here is the very heart of biblical worship: God speaks, and we respond. This fundamental principle of “revelation and response” should guide every form and part of our worship service. God speaks through His Word, His Son, His Holy Spirit, and we respond through our words, songs, bodies, and service to each other and the world.”

“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering! Not “pray for us.” Not even “pray for the people we’ll be serving.” They wanted Jesus to get glory; that’s the point. That’s worship as the goal of missions.

“If we are not using Scripture in our worship sets then we are leading people into idolatry. If the Word is how we put God on display, which leads to worship and joy and mission, then we must be filling our worship gathering with the Bible.”