Worship Theology

Kicking off the third season of the Worship/Theology podcast, Dr. Jeremy Perigo and guest co-host Dr. Angela Perigo engage with Nick and Becky Drake to explore the importance of including children in worship. Nick and Becky lead Worship for Everyone, a ministry that brings together the big family of God in worship. In addition to leading this ministry, Becky works as a School Chaplain at The Blue Coat School in Birmingham, while Nick is ordained in the Church of England and ministers at Gas Street Church in Birmingham, UK. This episode focuses on the challenges and opportunities of creating an intergenerational worship experience that elevates children and engages adults as they enjoy Jesus. The Drakes share insights from their journey, emphasizing the need to see children as active participants rather than mere performers. Additionally, they delve into the theological foundations of all-aged worship, highlighting the significance of children in biblical narratives and the importance of fostering a community where everyone can worship together. The Drakes encourage church and worship leaders to consider the importance of belonging for children and youth in their churches and the mutual joy that comes from worshipping together across generations.

In this episode of the Worship Theology Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Perigo and the Reverend Professor Steve Walton discuss Christian worship from the book of Acts. Walton is a leading New Testament scholar and the Senior Research Fellow in New Testament at Trinity College, Bristol. He has published numerous books and articles on Acts and is authoring the forthcoming three-volume series on Acts for the Word Biblical Commentary series.  In this podcast, they explore numerous topics around the unique contributions of the Book of Acts to a biblical theology of worship. The conversation delves into the role of Jesus in Christian worship, the activity of the Holy Spirit in worship gatherings, the practices of the first Christians, the impact of Gentiles on early Christian worship, and a Lucan critique of modern worship practices. This discussion emphasizes the importance of Scripture in shaping worship and the need to focus on God above personal worship preferences.

In this episode of the Worship/Theology Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Perigo interviews Pastor Michael Miller, founding pastor and senior leader of UPPERROOM. They discuss the theology, worship practices, and story of a church community centered around the presence of Jesus. UPPERROOM is known for its commitment to prayer and worship, with prayer meetings happening morning, noon, and night. In this podcast, they explore the importance of God's presence in worship, the value of prayer, and the cultural impact of being a house of prayer.  Pastor Miller shares his background growing up in a conservative church and his encounter with the Holy Spirit that led him to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in worship. The conversation explores themes such as ministering to the Lord, worship as a resting place, the "in and out" lifestyle, the power of the Lord's Table, and the hope found in this emerging generation.

In this Worship/Theology Podcast episode, Dr. Jeremy Perigo interviews Dr. Joshua Busman about his article titled “A Fun and Funky Disco Pastiche: David Crowder Confronts Evangelical Performance Anxiety.” They discuss the concept of performance anxiety in evangelical worship and how it affects both worship leaders and congregants. They explore the tension between authenticity and performance in worship, the role of control and authority in worship spaces, and how worship leaders navigate the divide between performance and worship. In the article and podcast, Busman highlights David Crowder as an example of a worship leader who “deftly negotiates this divide by embracing moments of performance within his worship sets.” Busman and Perigo explore these tensions and also give practical solutions for engaging as church musicians and worship leaders

Journey with Dr. Jeremy Perigo and Nashville-based artists, Zach & Maggie, as they reflect on musicmaking inside and outside of the church. In addition to working alongside notable artists including Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, and a long tenure with hymn writers Keith & Kristyn Getty, their lively original compositions pair Zach's skilled guitar/vocals with Maggie's impressive violin/mandolin/vocals. The Rabbit Room states, "The music of Zach & Maggie is at once playful, captivating, and stealthily intelligent."  In this conversation, they discuss the joys and challenges of playing in and outside of the church. They also examine the "sacred" and "secular divide, their bluegrass influences, the use of surprise in arrangements, church music and performance, the need for good theology and singable melodies, artistic beauty, and musical excellence. Their newest album Elephant in the Room is a brilliant, quirky, creative project that is worth putting on repeat.

In this podcast, Dr. Jeremy Perigo hosts Dr. Steven Félix-Jäger discussing his recent book Renewal Worship: A Theology of Doxology. Recorded live at the Society for Pentecostal Studies, they unpack topics such as global worship shifts, emotional manipulation, pneumatology, sacramentalism, lyrical theology, shifts in worship studies, relational theology, dialogical worship, revivalism, and much more. They draw from Félix-Jäger's scholarship on Pentecostalism alongside his work as a visual artist and worship leader. Join in these pioneering discussions on the impact of Pentecostalism in global worship. 

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts Dr. Ron Man as they discuss the biblical foundations of worship. Ron is a worship educator and serves on the steering committee of the Biblical Worship Section of the Evangelical Theological Society. He is also the director of Worship Resources International. His most recent book, Let Us Draw Near, is an expansive examination of the theme of worship in Scripture. Together, they unpack key themes, including dialogical worship, Trinitarian song, Jesus as a Worship Leader, and why theology matters.

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts scholar, pastor, and musician Zac Hicks. Hicks is currently pastor of Church of the Cross in Birmingham, Alabama, and is the author of several books, including, most recently, Before We Gather.  Drawing from Hicks' The Worship Pastor and Worship By Faith Alone, they discuss practical and theological issues around justification, the priesthood of all believers, and confession. Additionally, they engage in dialogue around topics such as Thomas Cranmer's Reformation of Worship, the roles of the worship pastor, failures in ministry, faith and works, and Pauline Christology. They wrap up by highlighting the types of songs the Church needs to be writing and other practical encouragements. . 

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts Dr. Melanie Ross, Associate Professor of Liturgical Studies at Yale Divinity School. They explore themes surrounding Evangelical practices and theologies of worship, particularly from Ross' books Evangelical Worship: An American Mosaic (2021) and Evangelical vs. Liturgical? Defying a Dichotomy (2014).  Beyond monolithic political assessments of Evangelicals, Ross presents a nuanced and diverse view of Evangelicals and their liturgical identities. Enjoy their discussion surrounding the paradoxes and unique contributions of evangelical liturgical theology.

Two Dordt University Professors, Dr. Justin Bailey and Prof. David Platter, are joining Dr. Jeremy Perigo on this episode. Drawing from Bailey's academic work in beauty and culture and Platter's experience as a working studio artist and educator, they reflect on the challenges and opportunities of visual art in corporate worship. They grapple with questions such as why Catholics have all the good art, why did some Reformers reject art, and what makes visual art Christian. The discussion invites Christians to consider how best to engage with art and worship leaders to curate a vision for the arts in their churches. The podcast was recorded live at Dordt University in a Worship Arts class.

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Perigo hosts Revd. Associate Professor Dr. Daniel Thornton of Alphacrucis University College in Australia. Dr. Thornton is an ordained minister, worship leader, musician, educator, and theologian with significant experience in production, theater, and composition.   Together, they discuss Thornton's scholarly research into modern Christian worship songs, which utilizes music semiology focused on texts, writers, and the audience to analyze congregational songs. Beyond the lyrical theology, hear them unpack topics such as what makes a song popular, meaning making, the influence of the industry and the local church, the future of the genre, trends in novelty and traditionalism, and how YouTube influences Christian worship. The discussion concludes with pastoral guidance and encouragement for those serving in local churches.

How has worship music shifted in the last ten years in the USA? Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts Dr. Shannan Baker, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Music and Digital Humanities at Baylor University. Their discussion focuses on the musical, theological, and market shifts of CCLI's Top 25 songs from 2010-2020. Topics include lyrical theology, Trinitarian worship, the rise of collaborations, different types of adlibs, increases in repetitive bridges and tags, and a few rounds of “Which CCLI song would you use.”

On this second episode of season two, Dr. Jeremy Perigo hosts worship historian Dr. Adam Perez of Belmont University. Together they discuss how the history of contemporary worship song impacts local churches today. With a specific focus on worship in the 1980s and 1990s, Perez shares how studying the history of Christian worship gives us important tools and skills to shape how we lead today. Discussions include tracing the networks of dissemination of worship, research on the marketing and distribution of worship songs, Reformed perspectives on contemporary worship, and much more. Also, join them as they play a few rounds of which CCLI song would you use.  This episode specifically explores the complexities of the history of worship alongside the potential flexibilities of leading in contemporary contexts. 

In the first episode of season two, Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Dr. Matthew Kaemingk, a public theologian based at Fuller Seminary. Together, they discuss Reformed worship, public theology, the need to become vocationally conversant as ministry leaders, and how to bridge the vast chasm between our worship and worship. Those who listen to the end will also hear theological ties between workplace theology, 30 Rock, and a Neocalvinist perspective. 

In the final episode of the first season, join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he welcomes back Geraldine Latty and Carey Luce as they discuss the practice of creativity and emotional breadth in worship. Hear topics such as the use of gospel choirs, planning time for creativity, utilizing musical tensions, emotional and musical manipulation, the theology of the Spirituals, building community through singing, and learning from other cultural expressions of worship. Geraldine and Carey are London-based worship artists with a massive amount of experience in music, songwriting, theology, education, and worship leadership. 

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo with guests Kenny & Claire Hilliard as they examine the importance of lyrical theology. Kenny and Claire are Nashville-based songwriters with a passion for serving the local church. This podcast was recorded live at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa during a worship arts and theology class.

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Rich and Lydia di Castiglione, UK-based worship leaders and songwriters, to discuss writing worship songs that simultaneously acknowledge pain, suffering, grief, and hope. They explore how worship songs can express empathy and the entire emotive bandwidth of the Christian life. Hear the stories and theology behind their worship songwriting, which embodies the “already and not yet” of the kingdom expressed in the writings of George Ladd. Rich and Lydia are a part of KXC (Kings Cross Church) and are passionate about seeing the most broken and abused come into freedom and fullness of life.

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he sits down with London-based musician and educator Carey Luce as they explore creativity in church music.  Carey is a lecturer at London School of Theology and recently served as visiting worship artist in residence at Dordt University. Their discussion topics include curating musical creativity, education models for improvisation, Stevie Wonder & Bela Fleck, church music pedagogy, playing in different church contexts, pushing into new genres, competency vs. character, exploring your unique sounds and the sounds of others, rehearsal as worship, and much more.

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts New Testament scholar Dr. Conrad Gempf as they discuss worship in the New Testament. Dr. Gempf has taught at London School of Theology for years and is a creative voice bridging the academy and the Church. Discussion topics include the Lord's Supper, biblical interpretation, worshipping Jesus, the cultural backgrounds of the first Christians, worship in Corinth, worship in Galatia, and much more.

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo, along with Sara and Sam Hargreaves, as they discuss the crucial intersection between gathered worship and scattered worship. Sam and Sara help give theological insight and creative worship practices that connect our Sunday worship with Monday work. The Hargreaves are scholarly practitioners serving both as theological educators and worship leaders in numerous church contexts. Hear some innovative ideas relating our corporate worship to our everyday lives.   Their discussion includes worship in everyday life, smashing the sacred/secular divide, vertical worship, horizontal worship, outward-focused worship, multisensory worship, liturgical theology, worship discipleship, formative worship, and much more.

Join us for this unique discussion hosted by Dr. Jeremy Perigo on multicultural churches and multicultural worship with Dr. Dan Backens and Pastor Kevin Turpin of New Life Church in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Drawing from over twenty years in ministry leading a multicultural church together, these two leaders discuss challenges around race, church planting, and staying in relationships in ministry. Hear how the place of corporate prayer has catalyzed a space for corporate expression and identity in their diverse community. 

Dr. Tanya Riches, a researcher and Senior Lecturer at Hillsong College, joins us in unpacking the intersections of her ministry and scholarly work in mega churches, Pentecostal liturgical theology, and Aboriginal-led Australian congregation.  Don't miss this stimulating discussion around branding worship, Pentecostal worship, Hillsong, navigating ethnography and theology, experiencing the Holy Spirit, cultural identity, vocation, and much more. The conversation wraps up by exploring ways to create hospitable spaces for those often left out of corporate worship spaces. 

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo and Dr. Eric Sarwar, a missiologist, minister, and musical peacemaker, as they unpack Eric's musical peacemaking ministry and his recent Ph.D. dissertation, “Psalms, Islam, and Salam: The Punjabi Psalter as Public Witness in Pakistan.” Interfaith dialogue, worship, mission, musical genres in Pakistan, liturgical identities, the role of the Psalms, ethnomusicology, and peacemaking are just a few topics examined in this unique discussion.

Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Dr. Lester Ruth to discuss the theological roots of the contemporary worship movement. Drawing from Ruth's recent collaborative work with Dr. Swee Hong Lim titled A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship, this podcast unpacks two streams of theological and liturgical development in contemporary praise and worship. Hear how theological and liturgical shifts over the last fifty years changed the face of Protestant worship. Join the discussion as they unpack topics such as the presence of God, attractional worship, biblical theologies of worship, Davidic Worship, seeker-sensitive worship, audio production, fog machines, and the interplay of theology and worship. This discussion was initially recorded in a worship arts class at Dordt University with students of Dr. Angela Perigo and includes some of their unique questions.

Dr. Jeremy Perigo and Dr. Simon Chan sit down to discuss Chan's book Liturgical Theology. Chan spans a unique space in his academic and pastoral work serving as an Assemblies of God minister and systematic theologian focusing on liturgical theology and spirituality.  Join this discussion as they delve into weaknesses of Evangelical and Charismatic theologies and practices of worship, drawing in insights from Reformed and liturgical streams.

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo in this special conversation with Prof. Paul Mealor, one of the world's most performed living composers. Paul's Motet, Ubi caritas, was performed in front of 2.5 billion viewers at the Royal Wedding Ceremony of His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine Middleton (now TRH The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge) at Westminster Abbey. His compositions have topped classical and pop charts and are utilized in numerous worship contexts. Jeremy and Paul unpack numerous topics around composing for liturgical contexts and the integration of theology, music, and experience. Journey with them as they discuss highbrow v. lowbrow, music that preaches, transcendent experiences in music, and much more.

Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Dr. Constance Cherry to discuss her decades of church leadership, scholarly reflection, and university teaching. This episode focuses on the biblical foundations of Christian worship and the need to be intentional about the shape and structure of corporate worship. Every church has a liturgy, even if leaders aren't familiar with the term or react against the idea of a liturgy. You have a liturgy! You may just not be intentional about why you do what you do. Hear conversation around Cherry's book, The Worship Architect, including planning worship as an encounter with God, the calling of a pastoral musician, and how to lead in bringing change in local churches.

Recent discussion around theology and worship music often centers around getting lyrics more "theological" or getting the form or structure of worship "right." Dr. Nathan Myrick's book Music for Others reveals that singing orthodox lyrics might not be enough. In this discussion, Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Myrick to discuss the ethical issues in congregational worship song. They cover a lot of ground, from the Christian punk of the 90s and 00s to how our worship music can form ethics towards restorative justice. Join this important discussion as they chat about how Christian worship music can fuel love and care for others. 

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he sits down with Dr. Angela Perigo, Director of Faith Formation at Dordt University, to discuss how to recognize a divine call to create corporate services that engage all of God's people in worship. Drawing from Angela's recent doctoral worship that focuses on a Spirit-shaped ecclesiology, they unpack theological and liturgical issues involved in increasing engagement with children, women, and those who are differently abled.

In part two of this discussion, Jeremy Perigo and Graham Kendrick unpack various topics surrounding leading and planning worship, including the pastoral and theological demands of leadership, liturgical songs, public praise, spiritual warfare, trending songs, the local church, and much more. Graham finishes the discussion with well-tested words of wisdom for worship leaders. Join us for part two of this unique conversation with “the father of modern worship music.”

From hymnbooks to transparencies and cathedrals to coffee shops, Graham Kendrick and Jeremy Perigo discuss the massive shifts in Christian worship in the UK over the past few decades. The conversation quickly turns to the theology of congregational song. In addition to content, how does the form of the song help carry certain types of messages? What biblical themes are missing in worship songs? How do worship songs form us? Join us for part one of this unique conversation with “the father of modern worship music.”

Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Geraldine Latty, a London-based songwriter, performer, worship leader, vocal coach, and choir director, to discuss the ever-expanding role of leading corporate worship. They work together to cover the gamut of related topics, including defining worship leadership, passing down the tradition, performance in worship, theology & song, planned v. spontaneous, personhood, and much much more. Be encouraged and challenged by this expansive yet practical discussion. 

“Performance” is often a dirty word within popular-level worship training resources. Yet, in a recent monograph, Church Music Through the Lens of Performance, Marcell Steuernagel proposes in worship that “all participants are performing in church music.” Through an interdisciplinary approach focused on performance studies, Steuernagle opens up fresh frameworks for viewing music, identity, and congregational worship. Against the backdrop of undergraduate texts such as Cherry's Worship Architect, Leisch's The New Worship, and the Reinstras' Worship Words, Dr. Jeremy Perigo and Dr. Marcell Silva Steuernagel sit down at the Society for Christian Scholarship in Music conference to discuss Steuernagel's core content elucidating implications for the performance of Christian worship. This collaborative discussion argues against a bifurcation between worship and performance in the musicking of local churches. 

Dr. Jeremy Perigo sits down with Dr. Diane Chandler to discuss the intersection of spiritual formation and ministry praxis. Drawing from Chandler's Christian Spiritual Formation: An Integrative Approach to Personal and Relational Wholeness, this podcast focuses on vocation, burnout, physical health, communal spirituality, and how imago Dei and imago Christi invite us to a more holistic and integrated approach to life as leaders.

Bieber, Mel Gibson, Rob Bell, stadium rock culture, and VIP packages to meet worship arts are impacting our theology and practice of worship. How is media shifting our worship? Are we selling worship? Do we worship Christian celebrities? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Perigo hosts Prof. Pete Ward of Durham University in the UK as they discuss Pete's research into the rise of worship as an economic commodity and the rise of worship celebrities. This discussion draws in themes from Pete's Selling Worship and Celebrity Worship. Also, listen to the end to hear a little of Pete's current work into bluegrass as he ponders why gospel music draws those from many faith traditions.

In this episode, Drs. Jeremy Perigo and Glenn Packiam explore a Charistmatic theology of worship and its impact on the study and practice of Christian worship. We also unpack some of the themes from Glenn's recent books, Worship and the World to Come and The Resilient Pastor.