Worship Syllabus
Note: This course was first taught at Baxter Institute, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in May 2001. All materials, class discussions, homework, and examinations were done in Spanish.The class met five hours per day for five days in an intensive format. This is the approximate equivalent of a two hour class in the semester system.
Programa de Licentiatura
Instituto de Baxter, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
21-25 mayo, 2001
Profesor: Dr. Bob Young
Christian Worship
The Worship of the Church
Course Description
An examination of worship focused on definitions, historical studies, doctrinal and theological considerations, and applications which identify and strengthen contemporary worship responses. In more detail, the course (1) begins with general definitions by emphasizing worship concepts, words, and motifs in biblical literature, both the Old Testament and New Testament; (2) traces the historical development of worship through the Old Testament, Judaism, the New Testament, and church history; (3) considers specific New Testament teachings to guide understandings and practices in public worship today, and (4) considers appropriate worship responses today, both individually and for the church when it assembles.
Goals and Objectives--Methodologies and Assessments
- 1. The student will be able to define worship, identifying historical, cultural, church, and biblical dynamics. The student will be able to carefully and studiously answer the question, "What is worship?"
- 2. The student will understand the cultural, sociological, psychological dimensions of worship through an overview of the pervasiveness of worship and a survey of the presence of worship in our world through various cultures and idolatry. The student will be able to answer the question, "Where in our world and experiences do we see worship?"
- 3. The student will have an appreciation of worship concepts in the OT and NT as reflected in Hebrew and Greek word studies, and in understanding the basic principles of worship.
- 4. The student will be exposed to a history of worship, with emphasis on Jewish and synagogue roots and historical responses in the Christian era.
- 5. The student will understand the vertical and horizontal aspects of worship, and be able to list the purposes of worship.
- 6. The student will integrate the various aspects of worship with the specific needs of his local congregation by developing a sermon on the topic of worship (outline to be presented to the class).
- 7. The student will carefully study the teachings of the New Testament on worship, considering historical foundations, elements, actions, attitudes, emotions, purposes, misunderstandings, influences, and theological bases.
- 8. The student will be able to thoughtfully discuss contemporary worship issues and be able to make practical applications of the biblical and other resources presented in class.
- 9. The student will grow in appreciation of individual worship responses, and will as a result experience more meaningful worship and be better equipped as a participant in worship and as one who guides God's people in worship.
Course Outline
[MONDAY MORNING]
Assignments:
- Student will bring a diagnostic reflection on the subject of worship.
- Student will bring a reaction paper to the adoracion/alcance summary prepared by the professor. The reaction may be a parallel piece written by the student or a short essay.
- Student will come prepared to discussion or present their own materials and ideas about worship.
I. Introduction
- A. What is the origin of worship? Where did worship come from? Where did human beings get the idea of worship?
- B. In a general sense, what is worship? Where, when, who, why, what, how?
- C. Kinds of worship
- 1. Resources:
- 2. Liesch, p. xv, models of worship
a. family, pre-Sinai family worship model
b. small-group: synagogue model, Pauline model
c. large-group: tabernacle-temple model, Revelation model
- D. Finding worship motifs in the world, culture, and Scripture
[MONDAY AFTERNOON]
II. Definitions
- A. How is worship defined in secular settings? Do all people, all societies worship?
- B. What is idolatry?
- C. Biblical Foundations: A study of Biblical passages and words.
- 1. Biblical passages
[Resource: Everett Ferguson summary from Church of Christ]
- 2. Word studies
a. Hebrew words
b. Greek words
[Resource: Worship Words]
c. English words
d. Spanish words
Homework: Student will complete sermon outline and content by Friday. Tonight, the student should begin process.
English Resources:
A Sermon Development Model
Worship--Matt. 15:7-9
Reflections on Worship
Worship Essays #1 (reprinted from "Christian Chronicle," August-October, 2000)
Worship Essays #2 (reprinted from "Christian Chronicle," August-October, 2000)
Worship Essays #3 (reprinted from "Christian Chronicle," August-October, 2000)
Sermon on Worship--Psalm 95
Sermon on Worship--Matthew 4
Sermon on Worship--John 4
Sermon on Worship--Hebrews 10
Spanish Resources:
Un Modelo Para la Preparacion del Sermoneo
Adoración--Mateo 15:7-9
Reflexiones De la Adoración: la Asamblea
Ensayos De la Adoración #1 (reprinted from "Christian Chronicle," August-October, 2000)
Ensayos De la Adoración #2 (reprinted from "Christian Chronicle," August-October, 2000)
Ensayos De la Adoración #3 (reprinted from "Christian Chronicle," August-October, 2000)
Un sermón: adoracion--Salmo 95
Un sermón: adoracion--Mateo 4
Un sermón: adoracion--Juan 4
Un sermón: adoracion--Hebreos 10
[TUESDAY]
III. History
- A. Old Testament
- 1. Basic Principles
- 2. Worship in the Family and Home
- 3. Public Worship, in the Tabernacle and Temple
- 4. Individual Worship
- 5. Idolatry
- 6. Worship in the Wisdom Literature
- 7. Worship in the Prophets
- B. Judaism (generally the period between the Testaments)
- 1. Worship in the synagogue
- 2. Individual worship
- C. New Testament
- 1. Forms of worship
- 2. Elements of worship
- 3. The essence of worship
- D. Church History
- 1. Early church--New Testament
- 2. Early church--Patristic period
- 3. Catholicism
- 4. Reformation
- 5. Restoration
- 6. Contemporary considerations
Homework:
Student will complete sermon outline and content by Friday. Tonight, the student should continue the process. See resources lists above.
[WEDNESDAY]
IV. Public Christian Worship Today
- A. Roots
- B. Elements of worship (what we do in general, not specific)
- 1. Examples: praise, adoration, thanksgiving, remembrance, sacrifice, confession, teaching, requests. Are there other elements you would add?
- 2. [Resource: Everett Ferguson summary from Church of Christ]
- C. Acts of worship, practices--specific things we can or cannot do.
- 1. Distinguish elements of worship from acts of worship.
- 2. [Resource: Everett Ferguson summary from Church of Christ]
- 3. Appropriate activities--guidelines
a. In accord with will of God
b. Reflecting character of God
c. Spiritual
d. Edifying
- 4. Appropriate activities--specifics
a. Lord's supper
b. Prayer
c. Singing
d. Giving/Sharing
e. Reading/Preaching
- D. The attitudes/emotions of worship
- 1. Dependence/humility
- 2. Rejoicing/celebration for the result in our lives
- 3. Gratitude
- 4. Anticipation/hope
- E. The purposes of worship
- 1. Glorify God, praise
- 2. Identify/Exemplify the church
- 3. Edify Christians
- 4. Promote sharing
- 5. Properly impress outsiders
- 6. Commemorate, proclaim, and celebrate salvation
- F. Misunderstandings of worship
- 1. External/mechanical
- 2. Individualistic
- 3. Emotional uplift
- 4. Performance
- G. Positive/Negative influences
- H. Theological considerations and foundations
- 1. The church and her high priest (Heb. 10:21-22).
- 2. The nature of God
- 3. The atoning work of Jesus
- 4. Access through the Holy Spirit
- 5. Concepts of the church
a. Temple
b. Priest/priesthood
c. Sacrifices
- 6. The result in our lives
[Resource: Everett Ferguson summary from Church of Christ]
Homework: Student will complete sermon outline and content by Friday. Tonight, the student should continue the process. See resouces lists above.
[THURSDAY]
V. Individual Worship Responses
Experiencing Two Different Kinds of Worship
VI. Practical Applications
[Resource: Excerpt from Lynn Anderson, Navigating the Winds of Change]
Homework:
Student will complete sermon outline and content by Friday. Tonight, the student should conclude the process. See resources lists above.
[FRIDAY MORNING]
VII. Conclusion
- Class Summary
- Concluding Questions
Which actions or activities can be considered worship?
What emotions or attitudes characterize biblical worship?
- In-class Presentations of Sermon Outlines
- Review for Final Examination
[FRIDAY AFTERNOON]
In-class Presentations of Sermon Outlines
Final Examination
http://www.bobyoungresources.com/academics/syllabus_worship.htm