Learning, Relearning & Unlearning

I’m preparing to teach a new course, Contemporary Worship Leadership, at St. Stephen’s University in a week or so.

It’s exciting to finalize the syllabus, and to consider the gift of contemporary worship expression in enriching both the full body of worship work done through the ages, and in enriching our emerging communities of faith in the world.

Writing the chapter and responses for Broadman Holman’s new worship book (to be released next year) continues to be an exploration both of what is evident in the 21st century Church, and what is less evident in my own heart — namely the nature of worship that arises from people saturated in postmodern cultural milieus.

I am also reconsidering the necessity we all have to learn, relearn, and unlearn in our process of growth.

Learning is usually exhilarating, if the subject holds our interest.

Relearning can be renewing, as we remember core truths that have inspired and centered us in the past.

Unlearning is a grueling process requiring humility, forgiveness, mental effort and spiritual strength.

I’m praying for my students to have the maturity it takes to embrace all three of these growth opportunities, and to reliquish their minds to God as they develop both philosophy and skills that will serve the Church and the culture.

AVAILABLE NOW

Sheltering Mercy and Endless Grace help us rediscover the rich treasures of the Psalms—through free-verse prayer renderings of their poems and hymns—as a guide to personal devotion and meditation. Sheltering Mercy helps the reader pray Psalms 1-75; Endless Grace leads in prayer through Psalms 76-150.

The church has always used the Psalms as part of its prayer life, and they have inspired countless other prayers. Each book contains 75 prayers drawn from the Book of Psalms, providing lyrical sketches of what authors Ryan Smith and Dan Wilt have seen, heard, and felt while sojourning there. Each prayer is a response to the Psalms written in harmony with Scripture. These prayers help us quiet our hearts before God and welcome us into a safe place amid the storms of life.

These artful, poetic, and classic devotional books are a perfect gift, and feature compelling stunning illustrations and hardcover binding, offering a fresh way to reflect on and pray the Psalms. Co-written with Ryan Whitaker Smith, Brazos Publishing.

Pre-Order below, and join my email list, to get author notes and updates about the book and events around it. 

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