The One Who Serves: Foundations of Worship and Spirituality (DP1040L)

Content

This unit covers three main areas of content:

1. Corporate Christian worship—exploring the biblical foundation of worship, the understanding of worship from a Lutheran perspective, the Trinitarian and Christological nature of worship, worship as divine service, the work of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament , and the purpose of the liturgy;
2. Personal spiritual formation—exploring Christian spirituality both as a form of practice and as a field of theological inquiry. Luther’s catechetical framework serves as a resource for meditation and prayer as students learn to pray the catechism;
3. The relationship between corporate worship and personal spirituality, including the church’s tradition of public prayer as a resource for personal spirituality.

Learning outcomes

Pedagogy

This unit requires the student to have access to online unit material and weekly seminars (hopefully as a study cohort). Students will engage with foundational biblical and confessional understandings of worship and spirituality from a Lutheran perspective. Weekly topical content, weekly readings and reflection on selected readings in the workbook provide the basis for weekly discussions. The two essays provide the opportunity for the student to demonstrate their learning from reflection on readings and discussion.

Indicative Bibliography

• Baker, Robert C., ed. 2010. Lutheran spirituality: life as God’s child. St Louis, MO: Concordia.
• Bradshaw, Paul. 2010. Early Christian worship: a basic introduction to ideas and practice. 2nd ed. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
• Hanson, Bradley. 2000. A graceful life: Lutheran spirituality for today. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.
• Just, Arthur. 2008. Heaven on earth: the gifts of Christ in the divine service. St Louis, MO: CPH.
• Kleinig, John W. 2007. Introduction to worship: course notes. North Adelaide, SA: Australian Lutheran College. [Supplied by lecturer]
• Precht, Fred L., ed. 1993.Lutheran worship: history and practice. St. Louis, MO: Concordia.
• Renner, Paul. 1989. Together in God’s presence: a simple explanation of the liturgy with questions for study and discussion. Adelaide, SA: Lutheran Publishing House.
• Senn, Frank C. 2012. Introduction to Christian liturgy. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.
• Veith, Gene. 2010. The spirituality of the cross: the way of the first evangelicals. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Concordia.
• Weedon, W. Thank, praise, serve and obey: recover the joys of piety. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2017.

Assessment