NS551:  WORSHIP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND TODAY.  Mark Roberts.

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DESCRIPTION: This course examines the theology and practice of early Christian worship as found in the writings of the New Testament. These writings will be studied in relationship to Old Testament theology, Greco-Roman religious practice, early Christian experience, and diverse contemporary forms of worship. Questions to be addressed include: What is Christian worship? Whom do Christians worship? How is worship a function of a Christian community? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in worship? In what sense is Christian worship Trinitarian? What should be the role of women in worship? What is the relationship between worship and evangelism? What are the purposes of Christian worship? How should worship interact with culture? To what extent should all genuine forms of Christian worship include certain core expressions or themes?

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will prepare students to help the church worship "in spirit and in truth." The student who completes this class should be able to speak about worship from a biblically-informed theological perspective, and to make connections between this theology and the worship life of the church. Students will be able to think critically and creatively about worship in their own particular tradition.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Worship is one of the church’s most important callings. Therefore it is something about which Christian leaders, lay and as well as ordained, should consider from biblical, theological, and cultural perspectives. The fact that worship is something about which Christians differ accentuates the need for seminary students to study the theology and practice of Christian worship.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets on three weekends (Friday evening and all day Saturday) for a minimum of 30 hours of contact time.  It will focus on the close reading of biblical texts with both lecture and discussion formats.

REQUIRED READING:

Dawn, Marva J., Reaching Out without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time (Eerdmans, 1995).

Martin, Ralph P. Worship in the Early Church. (Eerdmans, 1975).

Maynard-Reid, Pedrito U., Diverse Worship: African-American, Caribbean & Hispanic Perspectives (InterVarsity, 2000).

Peterson, David, Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship (InterVarsity, 1992).

Roberts, Mark D., Visual Arts in Faith and Worship and The Soul of Worship (online at markdroberts.com)

RECOMMENDED READING: See the syllabus on the first day of class.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.       All required readings (10%)

2.       Active participation in class discussions (10%)

3.       Five reading response papers (40%)

4.       Final Term Paper (40%)

PREREQUISITES: NS501.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: M.Div. core:  New Testament Theology (NTT).

FINAL EXAMINATION:  No.