Richard C. Leonard
Richard C. Leonard is a featured instructor and contributor at Worship Training.
Videos, Audio & Articles by Richard C. Leonard (72)
downloadAdvent (Biblical)
The historic starting point of the Christian year is the commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christian "Pascha," or Passover. However, for most Christians, the Christian seasons begin with Advent, a time of preparation for the celebration
downloadProphetic Leadership In Old Testament Worship
A careful survey of scriptural evidence discloses that the worship of the Lord is most significantly influenced, and often expressly led, by persons functioning in a prophetic role (as opposed to a priestly role). Prophets served as mediators of the covenant;
downloadPercussion Instruments (Biblical)
Percussion instruments are those that make their sound when struck or shaken; biblical percussion instruments include cymbals, the sistrum, bells, the gong, and the tambourine. Cymbals The usual Hebrew word for cymbals is m?tziltayim (1 Chron. 15:16; 16:42; 25
downloadThe Importance Of The Psalms (Biblical)
The book of Psalms is one of the most important sections of the Bible and is frequently quoted in the New Testament. The Psalms were used in the worship of the Israelite sanctuary, and church and synagogue have continued this usage. The book of Psalms provides
downloadClassification Of The Psalms (Biblical)
Students of the Psalms have attempted to categorize them by content, literary type, and cultic usage. Though each of these methods has its value, an approach to the Psalms through the concept of the covenant correlates both the general theological stance of th
downloadThe Setting Of Hymns In The Greco-Roman World (Biblical)
Singing hymns to deity was an established practice in the Greco-Roman world long before the emergence of Christianity. Christian hymns differed from pagan hymnody, however, in celebrating a redemptive historical event; they have a "prophetic" quality. With Ste
downloadProcessional (Biblical)
Traditional Christian worship often begins with a processional in which the officiants and other representative worshipers, such as the choir, enter the sanctuary. Processions may also occur outside the church on festive occasions. The procession is based on b
downloadInvocation (Biblical)
Although the presence of the Lord is always with the people of God, worshipers may especially focus on the divine presence through a prayer of invocation. The invocation is based on scriptural models for "calling upon the Lord" and celebrating the dwelling of
downloadCall To Worship (Biblical)
Worship that begins with a call to celebration, such as that in many of the psalms, follows a well-established biblical procedure for summoning the assembly into the presence of the Lord and encouraging its praise of the great King. In ancient cultures, most p
downloadCreed (Affirmation Of Faith) (Biblical)
The historic creeds of the church have their origins in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Although the Bible contains no formal creedal statements, it contains affirmations of faith that have something of the character of the later Christian confes
downloadBenediction (Blessing) (Biblical)
As traditional Christian worship begins with acts of entrance, it also closes with acts of dismissal, chiefly a benediction. The benediction invokes the blessing of the Lord upon the congregation and sends the worshipers forth in the strength of God. Historic
downloadPrayers Of Intercession (Biblical)
In the religious life of the biblical communities, as in that of the churches of today, prayer was both individual and corporate. Although the biblical worshiper always approaches the Lord as a member of a larger covenanted community, there is a distinction be
downloadThe Visual Arts In Worship
As worship arts, the visual arts include architecture, sculpture, painting, mosaic, and the crafting of artifacts. These arts create durable objects that may be seen and handled. Although of lesser importance in the biblical perspective than some other art for
downloadHoly Week (Biblical)
In the Western church, Holy Week is not a separate season but a part of Lent. In the Eastern church, Holy Week is a season to itself. Holy Week commemorates the final events that led to the death of Jesus. The Passion of Christ The term passion, from the Latin
downloadWorship In The New Testament Era
Worship in the New Testament period was ordered around baptism and the Eucharist. Baptism marks the entrance of the believer into the worshiping community, while the Lord's Supper, together with the teaching of the Scriptures, forms the content of the worship
downloadThe Covenant In The Psalms Of Celebration, Part II (Biblical)
Whereas in the psalms of petition the focus is often on the worshiper and his needs, in the psalms of celebration the emphasis is on the dominion and authority of the Great King, the grantor and guarantor of the covenant. Psalms of Historical Recital Ancient t
downloadThe Covenant In The Psalms Of Celebration, Part I (Biblical)
Whereas in the psalms of petition the focus is often on the worshiper and his needs, in the psalms of celebration the emphasis is on the dominion and authority of the Great King, the grantor and guarantor of the covenant. Enthronement Psalms Of all acclamation
downloadThe Covenant In The Psalms Of Petition, Part II (Biblical)
The covenant between the Lord and his people, represented especially by the Davidic king, is the governing theological concept in psalmic worship. The covenant is the basis for the worshiper's appeal to the Lord, and covenant terminology supplies themes and mo
downloadThe Covenant In The Psalms Of Petition, Part I (Biblical)
The covenant between the Lord and his people, represented especially by the Davidic king, is the governing theological concept in psalmic worship. The covenant is the basis for the worshiper's appeal to the Lord, and covenant terminology supplies themes and mo
downloadPoetic And Musical Features Of The Psalms (Biblical)
The Psalms are first of all poetic song. As such, they incorporate many of the features of poetry and music, including picturesque language, a principle of the correspondence of lines, metrical patterns, and instructions for performance. Metaphorical Language
downloadAuthorship And Origin Of The Psalms (Biblical)
Although they bear the stamp of gifted poets such as David, the Psalms are conventional worship texts, adapted to the needs of the community as a whole. The prophetic voice that often speaks in the Psalms reflects their development through the work of the Levi
downloadStructure Of The Book Of Psalms (Biblical)
The Psalms are organized in five books. The general organization of the book of Psalms reflects the growth of the collection in several stages. The superscriptions of many psalms contain information relevant to their collection, as well as their performance. D
downloadSeason After Pentecost (Biblical)
The liturgical calendar, which sequentially presents events in the life of Christ, ends with Pentecost. The season between Pentecost and Advent is called the "season after Pentecost" in most Christian traditions. Although it does not feature any major festival
downloadEaster (Pascha) To Pentecost (Biblical)
The celebrations of the Easter season have always been the most joyous festivals of the church year, for they focus on the event that vindicates Jesus as Lord and Messiah and that offers the promise of life for those who belong to him. "But Christ has indeed b
downloadLent (Biblical)
The season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, has traditionally been a penitential season, a time of preparation for the commemoration of the events of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection. Ash Wednesday In the Bible, ashes applied to the body are some
downloadBackground To The Christian Festivals
Emerging from its Judaic background, the Christian church did not continue the observance of the festivals of Israelite worship but developed a liturgical calendar of its own, based principally on major events in the life of Christ. The Pentateuch mandates the
downloadWorship In The Second And Third Centuries
Worship during the second and third centuries continued to follow the course set by New Testament liturgical traditions. Consequently, the discussion of worship during this period centered on the significance of baptism and of the Eucharist, understood in its
downloadSilence (Biblical)
Silence is often unrecognized as an act of worship. However, it is an important element in the biblical attitude of awe before the majesty and mystery of a holy God. The biblical worshiper encounters God in the first instance as the Holy One, whose being canno
downloadEpiphany And After (Biblical)
The Epiphany, or manifestation, of Christ is a celebration of his revelation to the peoples of the world. The Epiphany season follows Christmas and extends to the beginning of Lent. Epiphany The name Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning "manifestation" or
downloadChristmas (Biblical)
As the celebration of the birth of the Savior, Christmas calls attention to the mystery of the Incarnation, the vulnerable participation involvement of God in the human scene. The New Testament offers no directive to celebrate the birth of Christ. The account
downloadThe Literary Arts
By far the most important of the fine arts in Israel and the early church was the field of literature. The Bible itself is the result of the sensitivity of literary artists to the Spirit of God. Each of the many forms of biblical literature contributes to our
downloadMovement Arts In Worship
Worship and liturgy not only involve the use of the fine arts but may themselves be understood as art forms within the broader category of dance and other movement arts. These arts contribute to the worshiper's awareness of something "happening" in the corpora
downloadA Theology Of Child Dedication
Child dedication is a nonsacramental rite observed by churches which practice only believers' baptism. Theologically and in other ways, it parallels infant baptism as a ceremony marking the child's entrance into the Christian community and the beginning of his
downloadA Liturgy For Child Dedication
The ceremony of infant or child dedication is observed by churches which practice believers' baptism; these churches typically are free churches which do not follow a detailed or historic liturgy. As a result, considerable variation may be found in the format
downloadHistorical Origins And Development Of Christian Marriage
Despite challenges from some quarters, Judaism and the early Christians considered marriage a good gift from God, part of God's good creation. Marriage is considered a sacrament by both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians. The Orthodox permit divorc
downloadHistorical Origins And Development Of Child Dedication
Although its origins are obscure, the modern practice of dedicating children to God appears to have originated among Anglo-American revivalist Congregationalists and Baptists in the eighteenth century. Dedication of children or infants is a practice commonly f
downloadOrganization And Discipline Of The Worshiping Community
The organization of the church was relatively fluid throughout the New Testament period. Various offices are mentioned, but their duties and interrelationships are not always clearly defined. General patterns emerge, however, permitting some description of the
downloadOld Testament Words For Assemblies And Festivals
Biblical worship is corporate. The worshiper comes to God as a part of a larger community bound to the Lord in covenant and celebrating in festal assembly. The Israelite worshiper is a member of the congregation ('edah, Num. 1:2; 27:13) or assembly (qahal, Num
downloadOld Testament Expressions For Worship
There is no general term for "worship" in the Old Testament. Instead, many words are used to describe the actions of worshiping the Lord. The Hebrew word usually translated "worship" in English means, literally, to bow down (see section 106 below). Worship is
downloadNew Testament References To The Practice Of Jewish Worship
The New Testament records a number of occasions on which Jesus, the apostles, or the early Christians are found taking part in Jewish festivals or other acts of worship. The accounts of these events involve terminology descriptive of Jewish worship. Jesus and
downloadOld Testament Words For Offering And Sacrifice
Sacrifice and offering were a part of Israelite worship, and extensive portions of the Pentateuch are devoted to the regulation of these activities (Lev. 1–7; 22–23; Num. 18; 28–29; and others). This brief survey can only mention the major terms associated wit
downloadOld Testament Terms For The Place Of Worship
The places where the Lord's people met to celebrate the presence of their God are designated by a special vocabulary relating to the sacredness of the place and the actions performed there. Yahweh's worshipers were acutely aware of the sacredness of the place
downloadRecovering The Gifts Of The Laity
The significance of the release of spiritual gifts for worship has been rediscovered in the contemporary church. It is part of the recovery of the theology of the laity, the "people of God." Within the worshiping community, each member may contribute to the co
downloadTerms From Old Testament Worship Used To Interpret Christ
It is significant that the New Testament authors apply words and images from Israelite worship to Jesus Christ. In so doing, they show how the church sought to interpret Jesus, whom it recognized to be the Christ. Jesus Christ, in his appearance as the incarna
downloadImages Associated With The Manifestation Of The Holy
The awesome experience of God cannot be reduced to scientific or even to conceptual language; it can only be suggested by word pictures. In Scripture the imagery of light, fire, earthquake, and storm are often associated with the manifestation of the holy. The
downloadHoly Places, Holy People
Although holiness belongs to God, it may be imparted to objects, or even to people, which become the bearers of the holy. The Holy Place The men and women who first received the biblical revelation were acutely conscious of the ways ordinary things could take
downloadMusic As A Worship Art
Music plays an integral part in biblical worship. As one of the arts most accessible to the ordinary worshiper, it became important in the expression of the faith of the corporate community. The Importance of Music in Worship Although the Mosaic directives for
downloadCharacteristics Of The Church
The church is the assembly of the "saints," or holy ones, a people called out of the world by God. The early church was an urban movement. It held a world view which differed from that of the prevailing culture, yet it came to include people of all social clas