-Renewal of Scripture in Worship
* How much Scripture is read?
* What precedes and follows the reading?
* What function does Scripture appear to fulfill in the service?
· Read Scriptures to be used in five different translations
· Read in context
· Decided which version you'll use
* The renewal of Scripture and prayer are primary in today's worship
· People aren't doing it at home or elsewhere (unless they're desperate)
* How much prayer is voiced?
· Are we expressing prayers of confession?
-Prayer & Scripture
* What precedes and follows the prayers?
· The type of prayer needs to fit in the service moment properly
· Should there be a prayer response? What should it be?
* What function does prayer fulfill? What kinds of prayers do we pray?
· Basically, we commonly use two types
¤ Pastoral prayers
¤ "Bless the gift & the giver"
* Prayer & Scripture cannot be removed from worship
* People assume that Scripture has no role but to "set up" the sermon
* Worship in the shape of Scripture
· The Scripture gives us the words to describe the Word
· F. Russell Mitman: Worship in the Shape of Scripture (Pilgrim Press, 2001)--helps define worship in the form of Scripture
* Scripture
· Can provide the implied structure of the service
· Provides the content for the service
· The "words" reveal the Word
· The sermon appeals to reason
· Scripture interprets Scripture
· Becomes the text of a conversation between God and His community
· A sermon is only one "act" within a corporate liturgical action
· The sermon is only one expression of the "Word" event
* Preaching
· Proclaims the "big" picture
· Preach the smaller aspects of proclamation
· Conversation with God, not "about" God
-Conversation with God
* Introduction
· 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25--
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
· What is the nature of our conversation? We should still be able to find Christ as Savior
* Sequence of Conversation
· Luke 1:26-38
¤ Introduces us with God
¤ Opens a dialog
¤ Comforts us
¤ Message of God
¤ Scripture poses or provokes questions
· Matthew 1:19, 14:13
¤ Crowds follow
¤ Disciples spoke first
¤ Jesus challenges
¤ Inadequate resources
¤ "Let them wait"
* In every Scriptural encounter there is a pattern of activity
· Gather of the people
· Confession of sins
· The Word explained
· An offering is given
· People are sent forth
· There is always a common type of encounter...
-Worship Models--a sequenced set of actions that flow smoothly from one even to then next
* Definition: "A unified order of sequenced actions that has a shape made possible by an undergirding structure arising from the very form of the Word-event itself." (Mitman, 47)
* Scripture identifies the "specifics" within the order
* Listen to what the text is saying when we are planning worship, regardless of whether we are using the model it may describe
* Liturgy growing out of the Word--though there should be some sense of spontaneity, it is biblical to present the service with dignity and in order
· Order reflects the Scriptural way God converses with His people
· The acts reflect the Scriptural purpose; many of our people get frustrated about our service elements because they don't understand the purposes behind them
· Worship must connect with concrete acts of service, inward and outward
¤ It is not supposed to just "stand alone," but to prepare and empower us to go out into the world
¤ Our people are seeing no connection between Sunday morning worship and Monday morning business
¤ A service of "edutainment" fails to connect what we are singing about with how we are to live
· It is possible in any worship context (try to use as many different ones as possible) to teach the Scripture
· Spend time with the text--at least five translations
· Begin all study and planning with prayer and discernment
· Ask questions of the text to be preached on itself
· Narrow the focus, decided upon the primary text; it can get too broad and too difficult to focus
· Read the Scriptures aloud, and from various translations; also see how effectively you can read it
· Write "orally" when preparing any public presentation, not from the standpoint of academic or professional writing, but keep grammar inline
· Discover the pathos of the Scripture--what has captured you in the Scripture that you have to speak about it?
· Make sure the words are to God and not just about God
Drama in Worship
- Conditioned by culture
- Began with Judaism
* Retell the story (like "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella"
* Expression of worship in tabernacle & temple
* Action of the sacrifice--incense was meant to cover the odor of sacrifice
* Celebrations at home--like Sabbath, or Satyr:
· Why do we recline at the table? That is the Arabic symbol of a free man; shows freedom. The response of the child: "Because we are free."
- Early days of Christianity
* Initiation process--catechism & rituals
* Reading and proclaiming the Word of God (telling the stories of the Bible)
* Celebration of the Lord's Supper itself became a drama
- Value of Drama
* It seeks to draw the congregation into the story
* Will serve to heighten the communication of the event
* Provides for a variety of expression
* There may be people who cannot participate in any other way but can in this; make sure you're using people who can do it well, though. Remember, it's all in the timing
* Really just a religious allegory
- Historical Glimpse of Drama--from the fall of Lucifer to the Second Coming
* Pagan Greek and Roman
* Early Christian
· 10th century--Holy Week (Quem Queritas)--"Whom seek ye?"
· Later, Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem
· Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
* Medieval
· Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
· Became longer, more formal presentations
· Used for missions
· Miracle plays--stories of miracles
· Mystery plays--stories of redemption
· Morality plays--dramatized allegories
* Gradual decline--Reformation suspicious of Drama
* 16th--18th centuries
· Lutherans
· Jesuits
* Oberammergau Passion Play--1643
* 20th century
· Full-scale dramatic presentations
· Mini-drama (in the context of worship)
· Worship
· Dramatic elements to be used in the service
· Children's sermon--children need to be involved in everything
· Opportunities outside of worship to include dramas (like musicals, reader's theater)
· Choral staging--a group as the character (ˆ la Greek theater)
· Realistic actions--use subtexting
¤ When I walk into a scene, I was coming from somewhere and had been doing something prior to the scene; also
¤ While on the scene, ask myself, "What is going on my mind?"
¤ Don't forget about typecasting
· Presentational performance--that's all drama is. Don't think of music or drama as "performance" (except in that it must be prepared and rehearsed)
¤ "Presentational"--it is a different way of presenting content (not a display of great performance skills)
¤ Present a situation that leaves questions to be answered by the pastor/preacher from the Bible
- Style--What is it?
* Five Misconceptions about Style
· Style is content (either the old hymn is the only praise song is acceptable to God, or the praise chorus is...)
· Style is structure--when put together into any kind of traditional form or anti-traditional
· Style is linked entirely with music
¤ It isn't, it's link to context--what your makeup is, what the church's makeup is, etc.
¤ Most church's are going to have the same "complexion" as the society they serve
· Style is useful to bring people together ("If we do this/sing this, people will come")
· Style impacts church growth--this is not necessarily true
¤ It isn't the style that matters, it's the exciting celebrative spirit of the service
¤ It's not the style, it's the spirit, the people, and the truth