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

GOOD & POOR FORMS

James K. A. Smith says this about Liturgy, “Liturgy is the shorthand term for those rituals that are loaded with Story about how and whose we are, inscribing in us habits by marshaling our aesthetic nature.”[1] That’s a mouthful! What he says in his book Imagining the Kingdom is that everyone has a liturgy—a form. We all have a way of defining the world and we all desire to live into some kind of story—the stadium, the supermarket, the church, the college, etc. Everything in all of life follows a pattern (a liturgy) in how it gathers and speaks to us, how it solicits a response from us, and desires to commission us into its mission and purpose. Everything has a story and something that it’s directing us to worship. If we’re not careful, we can be overtaken by the liturgical formation of lesser influences. These powers will only lodge deep within us in the form of lesser loves.

God forms us. Jesus forms us. Jesus’ formation of us goes far beyond an order of service or what’s in the bulletin on Sunday morning. He follows a “shape” and ministry in the kingdom. His ministry in the kingdom as a Worship Leader is shaping our response here on earth. Therefore, there is no such thing as “no form.” Everything forms us! Therefore, we need to distinguish between good and poor forms. 

As we close this 9-Day Study we would like to issue a challenge. First, we would like to challenge Worship Leaders worldwide to reconsider their ministry, their title, and how to form people to follow Jesus in the cosmos, church, and culture. Can we please think beyond the stage and music? Second, we’d like to challenge all worshippers of Christ to take seriously how God has laid out the habits of creation, the church, and culture, and think about how he wants to lead worship in and through you in your places of work, rest, and play. 

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.   

[1] Smith, Desiring the Kingdom, 139.