Biblical Foundations of Worship – WRSP 510

Course Description

A study of the principles of worship as found in the Old and New Testaments. Includes study of the Tabernacle as a model of worship, worship in the lives of biblical characters, and the biblical roots of worship practices developed by the early church.

Rationale

The Bible has lots to teach us about worship. Unfortunately, many believers today have reduced “worship” to something that has more to do with feelings than what the Bible actually teaches. Believers are called to worship in every aspect of their lives—not just on Sunday mornings. What does the Bible actually teach about worship? How does the Bible present worship as occurring in the everyday life of a child of God? What does the Bible have to teach us about what the church should do corporately as they gather?

While these questions are of crucial importance to pastors and worship leaders, they are also just as significant for teachers and parents, students and employees (no matter the field). This course is designed to dig deep into the Word of God and explore what God has revealed about what it means to worship him. Scripture clearly portrays that there are right and wrong ways to worship God, and He has been clear in his Word about what we need to know, as believers, to rightly worship him.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (6)

Throughout the course, the student will participate in Class Discussions. The student will post a thread of 250–300 words discussing various assigned topics related to biblical worship, and then post replies to the threads of at least 2 classmates with 150–200 words each. The student's thread should include at least one biblical reference. No title page is required.

Worksheet Assignments (2)

The student will complete two worksheets challenging him/her to summarize, articulate, and apply what he/she has learned in the course.

Book Reflection Assignments (2)

The students will read Scripture’s Knowing, by Dru Johnson, and You Are What You Love, by James K. A. Smith, and complete a Reflection assignment for each. The Reflection assignment will consist of a summary-reflection-application engagement for each chapter. 

Paper Assignments (3)

The student will write three (3) concise papers summarizing and engaging specific aspects of what he/she has learned from the Learn items from the assigned Modules: Weeks. Each paper should be between 1 1/2 to 3 pages in length.

Capstone Project Proposal Assignment

To better equip the student to accomplish the Capstone Research Project for this class, the student will submit a proposal for what he/she will write about. The student will provide his/her name, title of the paper, an outline of the paper, a methodology statement, and then a bibliography of at least 12 sources the student plans on using for the Capstone Project.

Capstone Research Project Assignment

The Capstone Research Project will require the student to write a paper of 12–16 pages, utilizing at least 10 sources.