Practicing Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW11

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P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

The Ministry of Praise and Worship (continued)

VII. To Be an Effective Worship Leader One Must Creatively Use Resources to Blend the Old and New (the Ancient and the Modern) in Worship and Praise

A. The broadness of expression in the Church of Jesus Christ

1. The biblical plethora: Revelation 5 (from every tribe, language, kindred, and nation)

2. Within these many different styles are reflected, expressed, and enjoyed

a. Differences according to time: traditional styles versus contemporary styles

b. Differences according to culture: southern gospel to hip-hop

c. Differences according to volume

d. Differences according to meanings of music

3. The “fight” is real and meaningful

4. Not “either/or” but “both/and”

B. Why is a blended worship approach so important?

1. Variety is truly the spice of life, and the nature of God’s person and working

2. To hear the Lord’s voice afresh: the case for contemporary

3. To remember the Lord’s work in our past: the case for traditional

C. One person’s garbage is another person’s wealth: the tyranny and phases of ethnocentrism (see Acts 10: Peter and the Jewish band’s reaction to Cornelius)

1. Phase one: ours is preferred over theirs

2. Phase two: ours is better than theirs

3. Phase three: ours is right , theirs is somewhat iffy