Historical Worship Streams & the Fullness of God’s StoryTimothy HuberPastor of Worship & the ArtsWalnut Hill Community Church

Timothy Huber

Pastor of Worship & the Arts at Walnut Hill Community Church Five campuses in Southwest Connecticut

Married to Laine for 24 years

Father to Madeline, 20, and Tevis, 17

Email: thuber@walnuthillcc.org

Twitter: @TimothyHuber

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

My Story

What are we doing when we gather together in worship?

Worship

“Worship does God’s Story!” From Ancient Future Worship by Robert Webber

God’s Story

The work of a Triune God In the beginning GOD… Genesis 1:1 The Word was with God..in the beginning John 1:1-3 The Spirit of God hovered over the waters Genesis 1:2

God’s Story

Creation and Perfection The Fall The Incarnation Re-creation and Restoration

God’s Story Faithfulness Pursuit of His People Community Love Unmerited Favor and Grace Hope

Worship

Worship is not about what we do for God, but what He has done for us.

Mark 10:45 – The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

Worship

Worship is a response to who God is and what He has done.

Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Old Testament Worship

Abraham: nomadic worship Moses: Tabernacle worship David: Ark in Jerusalem Solomon: Temple worship

Old Testament Worship

Personal and corporate prayerGod’s word and teachingSacrifice and ritualFeasts and festivals

New Testament Worship

The Church: A New PlaceActs 2:42 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

New Testament Worship

God’s WordThe Table – EucharistPresence of the SpiritPraying, Singing, OfferingFellowship and Community

Worship Context Confession We stand in need of God’s

Grace

Psalm 51Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from

my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Worship Context Confession We stand in need of God’s

Grace

Lament All creation groans for

restoration

Psalm 44Awake! Why are you sleeping, O

Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us

forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction

and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the

dust; our belly clings to the ground. Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your

steadfast love!

Worship Context Confession We stand in need of God’s

Grace

Lament All creation groans for

restoration

Praise Response to character and

saving acts

Exodus 15I will sing to the LORD, for he

has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he

has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength

and my song, and he has become my

salvation; this is my God, and I will

praise him, my father’s God, and I will

exalt him.

Worship Context Confession We stand in need of God’s

Grace

Lament All creation groans for

restoration

Praise Response to character and

saving acts

Thanksgiving Gratitude for what He has done

Psalm 138I will give you thanks, O

LORD, with my whole heart;

before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

for you have exalted above all things

your name and your word.

Worship Context Confession We stand in need of God’s

Grace

Lament All creation groans for

restoration

Praise Response to character and

saving acts

Thanksgiving Gratitude for what He has done

Adoration Contemplation of who God is

Psalm 8O LORD, our Lord, how majestic

is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

Worship in God’s StoryRemembers the pastAnticipates the futureActualizes past and future for the present

We like our poles.

We don’t like tension.

Historical DivisionsEast – West SchismDoctrinal & TheologicalGeographicPolitical

Orthodox ChurchChrist as victor of allAnticipating the restoration of creationEmbrace the mysteries of God

Western ChurchChrist’s death on the cross for our sinSuffering and salvationSacrifice as the focal point of the Mass

ReformationRenewed focus on authority and power of ScriptureRejection of the institutional churchGreater emphasis on individual’s condition before God

Worship as EducationCentered on the sermonMaking a logical case for ChristianityIn part, a response to the Enlightenment

Worship as ExperienceEmphasize the personal faith experience, in Word and TableRevival Worship: song, sermon, invitationChrist for me

FragmentationFocusing on part of the story, to the neglect of the rest.

Three Streams Evangelical Charismatic Sacramental

Charismatic Evangelical

Sacramental

EvangelicalStream

Evangelical

Jesus

ScriptureSermon Personal

Mind

CharismaticStream

Charismatic

Holy SpiritExperience

Praise& Worship

PersonalHeart

SacramentalStream

Sacramental

Godthe Father

Tradition

RitualCorporateBody

Charismatic Evangelical

Sacramental

Worship in the fullness of God’s story

Selective Bibliography Books: A Concise History of Christian Thought – Tony Lane Desiring the Kingdom – James K. A. Smith Imagining the Kingdom – James K. A. Smith Ancient-Future Worship – Robert Webber

Podcast: Communio Sanctorum: History of the Christian Church – Lance

Ralston

Questions &Discussion