Over at theresurgence.com, Mark Driscoll is posting a series on spiritual disciplines. His latest is on worship. It's a quick read, in which he defines several important terms, such as glory, sacrifice, false worship, idolatry, Trinitarian worship, Jesus the perfect worshiper, and unceasing worship. Here is what he says about unceasing worship:
Jesus’ life destroys any notion that worship is a sacred thing we do at a special time and special place. All of life is to be lived as ceaseless worship; cutting our grass and cleaning our dishes are as sacred and God-glorifying as raising our hands in church. Jesus Himself modeled this: He spent roughly 90 percent of His earthly life doing chores as a boy and working a carpentry job as a man. Paul sums up the life of unceasing worship best in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
And while we're on the subject of Mark Driscoll, his new book, Vintage Church, co-authored with Gerry Breshears, has just been released. I greatly respect Driscoll's ecclesiology as well as his wit in writing. This is sure to be a doozy. Here are the chapter titles:
1. What Is the Christian Life?
2. What Is a Christian Church?
3. Who Is Supposed to Lead a Church?
4. Why Is Preaching Important?
5. What Are Baptism and Communion?
6. How Can a Church Be Unified?
7. What Is Church Discipline?
8. How Is Love Expressed in a Church?
9. What Is a Missional Church?
10. What Is a Multi-Campus Church?
11. How Can a Church Utilize Technology?
12. How Could the Church Help Transform the World?
Appendix: Sample Church Membership Covenant
[HT: Justin Taylor]
Related Posts:
- Americanism 3: American Idolatry
- Driscoll on Worship Leaders
- Driscoll on Church Worship
3 comments
Comment by Drew on January 14, 2009 at 4:55 PM
I have rather mixed emotions about Driscoll, but I do like his books generally. Although, right after I read Vintage Jesus (not Vintage Church, but you get the idea), I read Tim Keller's The Reason for God, and that blew me away. Driscoll's apologetics book was good, but I'll never really read it again probably because Keller did so much better on the same topic.
Nice to be "talking with you" via all these worship e-mails lately!
Drew
Comment by Ryan on January 15, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Drew,
I agree with you about Tim Keller. In fact, Keller is the most influential national church leader in my life. I particularly appreciate his Gospel-centeredness in all that he says and does, while at the same time not neglecting cultural engagement. There are times I wish I was in an urban setting (like you and Keller), just so I could be closer to the type of ministry that you guys get to do. It is with joy, however, that I remain where I am (semi-suburban, semi-rural, college town, contemporary church), because this is where God has called my family at this point in our life.
I would also have to say that Driscoll is quite influential in my life. He is also Gospel-centered, culturally engaging, and has the highest view of Scripture. His structure of church worship, coincidentally, is very similar to my own convictions, but the people of urban Seattle are obviously a different breed than those in Michiana. And although Mark says some crazy and stupid things, for which he elders often correct him, I love his subversiveness to the stagnant American church, that we both believe has compromised the Gospel for culturally accommodated psycho-therapeutic moralism.
Comment by Drew on January 16, 2009 at 6:53 AM
Agreed about Driscoll. I was actually thinking about all of our e-mails lately that have been sent around, and about what you were saying (which was great to me and very refreshing), and I thought about Driscoll and Mars Hill and they way they do things. So apparently, in my head, this sort of idea is already associated with that church.
I love Driscoll's biblical-centeredness and have learned a lot from him. My current semi-paradoxical podcast list is Mars Hill (Grand Rapids), Arvada Vineyard, Mars Hill (Seattle).
Thanks for joining us and sharing your thoughts.