Baptists and Worship () von R. Scott Connell

Worship is dialogue. It is more than that, but it is not less than that. The way Baptists have worshiped for three and a half centuries demonstrates this consistently, in spite of their penchant for freedom and autonomy. No one tells Baptists how to order their worship services. They don't have a common liturgy that they must follow, and yet their services look remarkably similar.This is largely due to two controlling factors in their worship: The Bible that they embrace as inspired, inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient; and the Christ-revealing gospel that is contained within its pages. When the word of God is followed closely, a shape for worship order begins to emerge. It is the same "gospel-shape" that is found throughout the Bible.When the word of God is applied to a worship service in which God and his people are engaged in a worship conversation, a consistent contour of gospel elements and content begins to emerge that reveals the glory of the Christ we gather to worship. He is so glorious that when we behold him, we are transformed into the same image from one degree to another. This is the power of corporate worship (2 Cor 3).

Scott R. Connell is privileged to serve as the Pastor of Worship at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, one of the true legacy churches in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention. Previous to his tenure there, he was an Associate Professor of Worship Leadership at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he directed the undergraduate worship program. He is married to his beautiful wife Mary, and together they have seven childrenCaleb, Isaac, Samuel, Noah, Jonathan, Grace, and Phinehas.