A reexamination of the actual practice of worship that goes beyond the merely academic to provide a practical perspective through the eyes of the worship leader and the congregation. The most effective approach to worship is one that blends historical and traditional practices with contemporary elements. Worship Old and New is a scholarly, up-to-date, and thought-provoking resource for anyone serious about exploring worship and how to bring about a worship renewal in the church. Now reformatted and updated for an easier, more logical approach to worship theology, this revised edition is divided into four major sections, addressing: The biblical foundation of worship—found in the Old and New Testaments as well as the early Christian movement. The biblical theology of worship—how worship is an enactment of the Gospel. A brief history of worship—from ancient and medieval, to twentieth-century renewal. An overview of how worship is practiced—from content and structure, to the role of music and art. New information is incorporated into each section to give you a better grasp of the biblical themes of worship, a deeper understanding of Old Testament customs, and a solid grounding in modern-day renewal movements. This book is ideal for ministerial, classroom, and congregational settings.

The revised edition of this book, first published in 1982, comes at a time of self-conscious evaluation by Christians of how they worship on Sunday.

With the many models of worship available, choosing a style to worship God can be a bit overwhelming. Is it better to go with traditional or contemporary models? Christians may find themselves asking how early believers worshiped and whether they can provide insight into how we should praise God today. Rooted in historical models and patristic church studies, Ancient-Future Worship examines how early Christian worship models can be applied to the postmodern church. Pastors and church leaders, as well as younger evangelical and emerging church groups, will find this last book in the respected Ancient-Future series an invaluable resource for authentic worship.

An exhaustive study of what the Old Testament says about worship renewal, including its form, function, place, and expression. Includes illustrations. As worship leaders struggle to keep (or make) worship alive and meaningful, they are compelled to study the biblical teaching on the subject. They could do no better than turn to Andrew Hill's robust contribution. Hill contends that the Old Testament has much to teach New Testament believers about worship--by theological principle if not by explicit example and direct application. With exceptional care and thoroughness, Hill explores the multifaceted aspects related to worship in the Old Testament. These include worship's form and function, place and piety, arts and actions. In a review in Presbyterion, Robert Yarbrough of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School had this to say about the author's study: "Hill provides solid review of Old Testament history as it relates to development of worship views and styles. He interweaves questions, concerns, and insights, however, that are distinctly modern, making his book engrossing rather than dry reading." This book, explains Hill, should be regarded as one ingredient necessary to concoct a serum for worship renewal in the church. Indeed, the Old Testament has much to teach us about worship. While the needs of individual churches differ, all approaches to worship renewal must be comprehensive enough to consider the biblical, historical, and theological sources of Christian worship.

Planning Blended Worship: The Creative Mixture of Old and New is a guide to planning creative worship for congregations that follow the traditional fourfold pattern of worship (gathering, word, table, and dismissal), or those who prefer a free-church, evangelical style, but who are also interested in the core practices (space, texts, and so forth) that have characterized Christian worship throughout the centuries. Robert Webber designed this volume to show pastors, music directors, and other worship leaders the practical, structural, and theological steps for designing worship services characterized by biblical depth, historical awareness, and contemporary relevance. The author includes charts and forms at the end of each chapter that clearly show how music and other arts can be integrated with liturgical texts.

Even as worship wars in the church and music controversies in society at large continue to rage, many people do not realize that conflict over music goes back to the earliest Christians as they sought to live out the "new song" of their faith. In A New Song for an Old World Calvin Stapert challenges contemporary Christians to learn from the wisdom of the early church in the area of music. Stapert draws parallels between the pagan cultures of the early Christian era and our own multicultural realities, enabling readers to comprehend the musical ideas of early Christian thinkers, from Clement and Tertullian to John Chrysostom and Augustine. Stapert's expert treatment of the attitudes of the early church toward psalms and hymns on the one hand, and pagan music on the other, is ideal for scholars of early Christianity, church musicians, and all Christians seeking an ancient yet relevant perspective on music in their worship and lives today.