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Worship And Spiritual Formation

Every aspect of liturgy shapes the faith of the worshiping community, altering its understanding of both God and the Christian life. This article explores some of the ways in which this occurs and suggests ways in which the church's worship can more adequately reflect the fullness of the gospel.

Worship And Spirituality

This author suggests that Christians reexamine the specific nature of worship and spirituality. Worship has to do with interiority and with patterns of living that are shaped by the living, dying, rising, and coming again of Christ. In worship, the emphasis is less on the mind and more on the spirit. In spirituality, the emphasis is less on rules by which we live and more on the formation of the person.

Spiritual Formation And The Liturgical Tradition

A service book is the primary carrier of the church's liturgical tradition and, as such, is a rich treasury of the prayer of the church. A service book is also a fundamental expression of what the church believes, since the church's prayer and belief are inseparable. In communicating the faith of the church, the forms provided by a service book are an important means by which Christians are rooted in the faith and, therefore, an important component for spiritual formation.

The Formative Power Of Public Worship

Corporate worship forms a community into the body of Christ and has great influence in shaping the spirituality of its members. Every worshiping community has a great responsibility for how this influence is wielded. Communities that take seriously their corporate worship life will find great benefits in the spiritual growth and vitality of individual members. This article describes how worship forms the faith of the community and provides suggestions for how communities can do this more effectively.

The Relationship Between Private And Public Worship

Genuine worship and prayer is extremely difficult in the hurried pace of everyday life. Stress and busyness reduce not only the time we spend in prayer and worship but also the attention and energy we bring to it. This article reflects on the importance of opening ourselves to the awareness of God's presence in both private and public worship.

Living The Eucharistic Prayer

The author of this article explores the eucharistic prayer and asks how we as Christians can live this prayer and how we can be formed by this prayer. The author hopes to illustrate how the weekly ritual of assembling around Christ in prayer for the world will form in Christian people the mind of praise and the habit of service.

Worship And Spirituality In The Jewish And Christian Traditions

Christian corporate worship grew out of Jewish liturgical practice. Understanding the unique spirituality of Jewish worship can suggest both how the first Christians approached their own worship and how Christians today can more fully integrate their own spiritual pilgrimage with corporate worship.

Contemporary Models Of Worship And Spirituality

A variety of recent publications and programs have rethought how Christians can express their faith and develop their spiritual life in the modern world. This article identifies seven unique approaches to Christian worship and spirituality, and describes their commonalities and differences, providing a thought-provoking perspective from which individual Christians and particular churches or denominations can reconsider their own expressions of faith.

Theological Dimensions Of Worship And Spirituality

The following are twelve succinct theses regarding the theological bases of worship and spirituality. Offered here as a catalyst for thinking and dialogue, these statements highlight the importance of lay spirituality.

A Call To A Spiritually Based Ministry

The following article, written by an American Baptist, is a call for members of that tradition and all Christian traditions to place a vibrant spiritual life at the root of all Christian ministry.

Living The Eucharistic Prayer

The author of this article explores the eucharistic prayer and asks how we as Christians can live this prayer and how we can be formed by this prayer. The author hopes to illustrate how the weekly ritual of assembling around Christ in prayer for the world will form in Christian people the mind of praise and the habit of service.