Podcast · Devotional & Spiritual

Worship Theology

by Jeremy Perigo · English · Devotional & Spiritual

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo and guest theologians, scholars, musicians, and Christian leaders as we bridge faith and ministry praxis. WorshipTheology is a podcast to fuel and nurture vital discussions on worship, music, and theology. Join us as we think deeply about Christian worship.

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest: 16 Jun 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

16 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

Exploring the Worship Theology of Robert E. Webber with Dr. Jonathan Powers

Join this very special episode exploring the worship theology of Dr. Robert (Bob) E. Webber, who urged evangelicals toward theological substance and historical rootedness in worship. Dr. Jeremy Perigo hosts leading Webber scholar Dr. Jonathan Powers (Asbury Theological Seminary) to discuss Webber’s quest to bring worship renewal to evangelicals through his writings, teachings, and the establishment of the Institute for Worship Studies. Webber was a monumental voice and pioneer in evangelical worship studies. His insights have shaped modern evangelical worship practice and scholarship. Hear…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E48 · 27 May 2026 · 48 min
Welcoming Every Child: Worship, Autism, and Belonging -- With Dr. Armand Léon van Ommen
Join this compelling conversation with Dr. Léon Van Ommen, a theologian and author specializing in autism and worship. This podcast discussion sheds light on the importance of embracing all individuals, regardless of their neurodiversity, within the context of corporate worship. By acknowledging the uniqueness of each person's experience, leaders can help their church communities foster a more inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. The episode encourages moving away from programmatic solutions towards creating a culture of belonging. In this discussion, van Ommen encourages…
E47 · 12 May 2026 · 38 min
How can we help kids sing praise? – With Dr. Luke Gambill
Discover the importance of engaging kids in worship through music. Learn insights from Dr. Luke Gambill, a leader at the intersection of the Christian music industry, church worship, and worship music education. Luke is a Dove-award winner and has worked and partnered with individuals such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Selah, Don Moen, Wes King, Paul Baloche, Travis Cottrell, Laura Story, Brian Doerksen, Laura Story, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Michael Neale, Geron Davis, and even The Robertson Family (Duck Dynasty). He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music…
E46 · 21 Apr 2026 · 53 min
Was John Calvin a Children’s Pastor? -- With Dr. Randall Zachman
In this episode of the Worship/Theology Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Perigo explores John Calvin’s contributions to children’s ministry and intergenerational worship with Dr. Randall Zachman, Professor Emeritus of Theology at Notre Dame, and Dr. Kyle Dielman, Associate Professor of Theology and History at Dordt. Drawing on Zachman’s influential book, John Calvin as Teacher, Pastor, and Theologian, the conversation emphasizes Calvin’s critical yet underemphasized roles as pastor and teacher. They discuss Zachman’s view that "Calvin labors as a teacher of pious doctrine to children." The discussion…
E45 · 7 Apr 2026 · 57 min
How Can We Create a Culture of Worship for the Whole Church? -- With Sam & Sara Hargreaves
In this episode of the Worship/Theology Podcast, we continue our season called "Kids in the Mix." Dr. Jeremy Perigo engages with Sara and Sam Hargreaves of Engage Worship to explore theological postures and practical expressions of worship for the whole church. They discuss the importance of creating inclusive worship experiences that engage all ages and the vital approaches churches can embrace to foster a culture of welcome and belonging in corporate worship. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding congregants' diverse needs. Drawing from their new resource, Whole…
E44 · 17 Mar 2026 · 46 min
What Are the Favorite Worship Songs of Young People? -- With Dr. Emily Snider Andrews
In this episode of our Kids in the Mix series, Dr. Jeremy Perigo chats with Dr. Smily Snider Andrews on her research into the worship song preferences of children and teens. Dr. Snider Andrews is the Executive Director of the Center for Worship and the Arts and Assistant Professor of Music and Worship at Sanford University. Dr. Snider Andrews shares insights from her emerging research on young worshipers, discussing their "heart songs," including the influence of age and denominational backgrounds of these worship songs and hymns. Together, they discuss the importance of amplifying young…
E43 · 3 Mar 2026 · 59 min
How Can We Create Prayerful Spaces for Kids? – With Phil Sokell-Miles
In this conversation, Dr. Jeremy Perigo and Phil Sokell-Miles of 24-7 Prayer & Prayer Spaces in Schools explore the exciting and organic emergence of prayer spaces in schools across the globe. Drawing on Phil’s new book, Sticky Note Prayers, they discuss the importance of relational spirituality and how children's personal experiences of worship shape faith formation. This episode emphasizes the need for safe, inviting environments for prayer that can foster genuine encounters with God, and the critical role of prayer in addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of children and young…
E42 · 17 Feb 2026 · 46 min
Can We Teach Kids How to Play Contemporary Worship Music? -- With Dr. Laura Benjamins
In this third episode of our Kids in the Mix series, Dr. Laura Benjamins (Assistant Professor of Music, Redeemer University) and our host, Dr. Jeremy Perigo, explore the intricate relationship between worship and music education. At the core of the discussion are the possibilities and challenges of training children to play contemporary worship music. This episode draws on numerous scholarly articles by Benjamins and focuses on topics such as the transition from classical to contemporary worship, the role of communities in musical formation, and the possibility of mentorships in developing…
E41 · 2 Feb 2026 · 39 min
Can We Write Worship Songs for All Ages? -- With Nick & Becky Drake
In this second episode of our Kids in the Mix season, Dr. Jeremy Perigo connects with Dr. Nick and Becky Drake, founders of Worship for Everyone, to explore the significance of intergenerational worship. Rather than writing worship songs for adults and then other songs for children, the Drakes intentionally write worship songs for everyone. In this episode, hear about the challenges and joys of writing songs that resonate with all ages, and the theological foundations that support intergenerational worship. This unique conversation explores the importance of creating inclusive worship…
E40 · 21 Jan 2026 · 53 min
Can Kids Lead Worship? -- with Dr. Nelson Cowan
In our first episode of this new season of the Worship/Theology podcast, called Kids in the Mix, Dr. Jeremy Perigo dialogues with Rev. Dr. Nelson Cowan on key ideas from his new book, Let the Children Lead. Cowan is the Director of the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. Together, they dive into a deep discussion about the importance of integrating children into corporate worship, exploring formative experiences in worship, and the need to unlearn transactional models of ministry. In this episode, Cowan emphasizes the role of children as leaders in worship, the…
E39 · 2 Jun 2025 · 51 min
How can church history help preachers & ministry leaders? A special episode on preaching & history
In this special episode, guest host Dr. Kyle Dieleman, Associate Professor of Theology & History at Dordt University, gathers a panel of preachers and historians to explore how Church history can help us see the work of God in the long history of God's people, which can help preachers and churches better understand and proclaim the work of God in unique contemporary lives and contexts. Joining Dr. Dieleman, Dr. David Komline (Professor of Church History, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI), Dr. Kenneth J. Woo (Associate Professor of Church History, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary,…
E38 · 13 May 2025 · 50 min
Faithfulness, Foucault & Critical Reflection in Worship Leadership with Dr. Truls Åkerlund
In this episode, recorded live in Seattle, join Dr. Jeremy Perigo and Dr. Truls Åkerlund as they discuss Åkerlund’s recent scholarship around the Foucauldian understanding of discourse as it intersects with worship and ministry leadership. Dr. Åkerlund is Professor of Leadership at the Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology. He has authored numerous articles on ecclesial leadership and several books, including A Phenomenology of Pentecostal Leadership (2018) and his most recent work, Tråden heter trofasthet (2024). Though pastors and worship leaders in independent churches and…
E37 · 15 Apr 2025 · 48 min
Digital Doxology with Revd. Prof. Mark Cartledge
Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts Revd. Prof. Mark Cartledge, Principal of the London School of Theology, to discuss worshipping online. Dr. Cartledge is a professor of practical theology with research interests in digital ecclesiology. This discussion draws from Cartledge’s recent work in singing online, diving into theological and practical issues in this relatively new phenomenon. Together, they unpack topics such as digital worship as a “third” space, arguments against digital corporate worship, constructive approaches to engage everyone in hybrid liturgical spaces, and much more. They…
E36 · 28 Mar 2025 · 43 min
Worship for Everyone with Nick & Becky Drake
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…
E35 · 26 Jun 2024 · 59 min
Worship in the Book of Acts with Revd. Prof. Steve Walton
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…
E34 · 5 Jun 2024 · 48 min
God's Resting Place with Pastor Michael Miller of UPPERROOM
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…
E33 · 21 May 2024 · 52 min
Evangelical Performance Anxiety with Dr. Joshua Busman
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…
E32 · 1 May 2024 · 45 min
Is it Sacred or Is It Secular?: Musicmaking Inside & Outside of the Church with Zach & Maggie
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…
E31 · 10 Apr 2024 · 48 min
Pentecostal Theology of Worship with Dr. Steven Félix-Jäger
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…
E30 · 20 Mar 2024 · 54 min
Let Us Draw Near: A Biblical Theology of Worship with Dr. Ron Man
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.
E29 · 13 Feb 2024 · 1 hr 7 min
Gospel-Centered Worship with Dr. Zac Hicks
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…
E28 · 23 Jan 2024 · 42 min
Monolith or Mosaic: Evangelical Worship Theology & Practice with Dr. Melanie Ross
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.
E27 · 2 Jan 2024 · 45 min
A Vision for Visual Art in Worship with Dr. Justin Bailey & David Platter
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…
E26 · 29 Nov 2023 · 1 hr 8 min
Meaning-Making in Christian Congregational Song with Dr. Daniel Thornton
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…
E25 · 8 Nov 2023 · 1 hr 1 min
Musical, Theological & Commercial Shifts in Worship Songs with Dr. Shannan Baker
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.”
E24 · 25 Oct 2023 · 1 hr 5 min
Complexities & Flexibilities of Contemporary Worship with Dr. Adam Perez
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…
E23 · 27 Sep 2023 · 53 min
Reconnecting Work & Worship with Dr. Matthew Kaemingk
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.
E22 · 19 Apr 2023 · 52 min
Emotional Breadth & Creativity in Congregational Song with Geraldine Latty & Carey Luce
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…
E21 · 13 Feb 2023 · 48 min
Worship Songs that Give You Cavities with Kenny & Claire Hilliard
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.
E20 · 30 Nov 2022 · 53 min
Writing Worship Songs with Messy, Gritty Hope with Rich & Lydia Dicas
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…

About Worship Theology

Worship Theology is a English devotional & spiritual podcast from Jeremy Perigo. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Jeremy Perigo
Language: English
Category: Devotional & Spiritual
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest episode: 16 Jun 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1620390894

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