Covenant Worldwide
Christian Worship
Course Description
This course is designed to motivate and equip pastors and worship leaders to develop worship ministries in local churches that are biblically based, bring glory to God, are full of both reverence and joy, are a delight and pleasure to God and His people, and are vital parts of an overall approach to ministry and church growth. In this course we will take a biblical, historical, and contemporary look at the Regulative Principle of Worship. The course is presented in a format that combines lecture and discussion utilizing the participation of the students as well as the professor. Students will leave the class with a theological and biblical foundation for corporate worship in a local congregation, as well as practical helps in planning and leading worship services that are excellent in quality, culturally relevant, and full of both awe and celebration.
Instructor: Dr. Mark Dalbey
Course Contents
Course audio files are in MP3 format.
Study Guides are in PDF format.
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MP3 Lectures & Resource List (numbered items are the course lectures) | Lecture Transcript | Study Guide |
| Course Syllabus | | PDF |
| 1. The Kind of Worshippers the Father Seeks | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 2. Relationships Among Worship Leaders: Unity & Praise | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 3. Biblical Overview of Worship (1): Pre-Moses | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 4. Biblical Overview (2): Moses | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 5. Biblical Overview (3): David and Solomon | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 6. Biblical Overview (4): Judah, Psalms, & Prophets | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 7. Biblical Overview (5): New Testament | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 8. Historical Overview of Worship (1): Pre-Reformation | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 9. Historical Overview (2): Reformation | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 10. Historical Overview (3): English Puritans, Scottish & American Presbyterians | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 11. The Regulative Principle of Worship | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 12. Gospel-Centered Worship | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 13. Worship Leadership & Participation (1) | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 14. Worship Leadership & Participation (2) | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 15. Planning a Worship Service | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 16. NO LECTURE: Only a Completed Worship Service in Study Guide | | PDF |
| 17. Worship & Music (1) | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 18. Worship & Music (2) | PDF HTML | PDF |
19. Contemporary Issues: Dance, Drama, PowerPoint, & Body Posture, Plus: Unified or Diverse Liturgies? | PDF HTML | PDF |
| 20. The Sacraments, Weddings and Funerals, & Finding Resources | PDF HTML | PDF |
| Appendix A: Gospel-Centered Worship and the Regulative Principle | | PDF |
| Appendix B: Biblical, Reformed and Gospel-Centered Worship | | PDF |
| Appendix C: Chapel at COvenant Theological Seminary | | PDF |
| Appendix D: Gospel Worship Seminar | | PDF |
| Appendix E: Ohio Valley Presbytery Worship Service | | PDF |
| Appendix F: Pastor & Musician: The Dynamic Duo | | PDF |
| Appendix G: Thoughts For Hymn Paper | | PDF |
| Appendix H: Worship at the 31st General Assembly | | PDF |
| Appendix I: Worship that is Biblical, Reformed, and GA Relevant | | PDF |
| Appendix J: Weddings "Preparations & Preaching" | | PDF |
| Appendix K: Funerals "Preparations" | | PDF |
| Appendix L: Various Worship Resources | | PDF |
Related Readings
All of the books specified as related reading for this course are listed below. Books may be ordered from a local Christian bookstore, through a mail order catalog, from the Covenant Seminary Online Store, or from the Covenant Seminary Bookstore on campus (call toll-free at 877-213-3353).
- Gospel-Centered Worship, Mark Dalbey (article posted to student portal)
- Worship in Spirit and Truth, John Frame (P&R Publishing, 1996)
- Worship by the Book, D.A. Carson, ed. (Zondervan, 2002)
- Let Us Sing, Lawrence Roff (Great Commission Publications, 1991)
- With One Voice: Discovering Christ's Song in Our Worship, Reggie Kidd (Baker Books, 2005)
Download audio and study guides from Jerram Barrs' Christian Worship course.