WORSHIP IN CHURCH HISTORY: 5. Post-Reformation (c. AD 1650–present)

Church History, Priority of Worship, Reformation, Revelation and Response, Theology and Doxology, Traditional/Contemporary Debate, Worship Wars

WORSHIP NOTESVolume 20, No. 2 (February 2025) Broad Movements This is a period with a great deal of different developments (including the modern missionary movement and the enormous expansion of Christianity worldwide);  this chart below traces some of the broader historical trends and compares their tendencies (chart adapted in part from Marva Dawn, How Shall We Worship?, 108–13):   This period is characterized by the multiplication of Protestant confessions and […]

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WORSHIP IN CHURCH HISTORY: 3. The Middle Ages (c. AD 400–1500)

Church History, Reformation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 20, No. 1 (January 2025) Welcome to the 20th year of Worship Notes! After jumping ahead in our survey of Worship in Church History, in order to deal with the Protestant Reformation in October, and then focusing on Christmas after that, we go back to deal with the Middle Ages. Rise of Priesthood, Saints, Mariology The Patristic-Age debates concerning the true nature of Christ and the need

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WORSHIP IN CHURCH HISTORY: 4. The Protestant Reformation (c. AD 1500–1650)

Reformation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 19, No. 10 (October 2024) NOTE: We are purposely skipping past the Middle Ages (3. in the series) until next month, because of the timeliness of dealing now with the Reformation (Reformation Day being October 31). The Beginning The beginning of the Protestant Reformation is usually traced to October 31, 1517, the date on which Martin Luther posted hisNinety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church

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WORSHIP IN CHURCH HISTORY: 2. The Patristic Age (ca. AD 100–400)

Church History

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 19, No. 8 (August 2024) The Patristic Age is also known as the age of the Church Fathers (the great early theologians of the church). On the Margins The church was still gathering in small communities. Occasionally there were persecutions, as the new faith collided with Judaism and with Roman emperor worship; in times of persecution, there was often a feeling that the Lord must be going

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WORSHIP IN CHURCH HISTORY: 1. The Apostolic Age (ca. AD 1–100)

Church History

WORSHIP NOTESVolume 19, No. 7 (July 2024) Early Church House Worship (artist unknown) Sparse Information We have little detailed information as to exactly what the earliest gatherings of the church might have looked like. We are not told a lot in the Bible, and other historical sources are few as well. Relationship to Judaism We do know that there was considerable continuity, at least at first, with Judaism. The first

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