The Worship Leader | Christ In The Cosmos, Church & CultureSample

What Should We Picture

Remember the famous bully parting line, “sticks and stones will break your bones, but words can never hurt you.” It sounds nice, but any person knows this phrase is chock-full of deception. The truth is, words are like containers. They are filled to the brim with meaning, and they are profoundly forming. Words shape the way we see life. Words filled with encouragement and admonishment can shape us for maturity in the same manner that negative and demeaning words filled with poison can deface our soul.

In an effort to take words more seriously, we would like to bring two ideas predominantly into view in this study, and we would invite you to learn more in our book Reconsidering the Worship Leader & the Liturgy .

We would like to consider the way in which we use words, particularly related to the title of “Worship Leader,” and our relationship to the word “Liturgy.” These two simple concepts, when brought together, ignite a whole slew of cultural images in our minds; from images of a guy with swoopy bangs lit up with lights; to a man with a high tenor voice perched behind a guitar; to a church adorned with stained glass windows and filled with grey hair and outdated upholstery. We picture music, the building, the stage, and the attire, and our mind has been shaped culturally to make a caricature of these two ideas. Our question however in this study is, what does the Bible want us to think of, picture, hear, and sense when we consider a Worship Leader and the Liturgy.

In today’s study, you will get a glimpse into Jesus’ role as our Worship Leader and Liturgist. He is greater than the angels (HEB 1:3-4), humans (HEB 2:5-11), Moses (HEB 3:1-5), the Sabbath (HEB 4:1-3), the priesthood, and Aaron the high priest (HEB 5:1-10), Abraham and Melchizedek (HEB 7:1-10), the old covenant and law (HEB 8:13), the temple system (HEB 9:11-17), and all sacrifice (HEB 10:10).

To listen to, buy, or experience the music, resources, or writing of The Liturgy Project, and other similar work, and/or learn how your work can be a part of our movement of scriptural creativity, visit The Garden City Project. Also, to learn more about how you can get involved and grow in your worship and mission register for our global LIVE ONLINE Make Jesus Culture Conference.