Practice for Heaven

Do you wonder what our worship will be like in Heaven? The center of our faith is based on believing in Jesus Christ, with the assurance that we will live with him and the Father for eternity. God gives us a glimpse of what that will be like in heaven while we are on earth. Throughout the Bible, we see the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the throne of God. With angels and trumpets, white robes and crowns, we see that God is enthroned with true worship from beings that desire to give him their undivided worship and praise. The visions of heavenly worship presented throughout scripture are the most concrete images that the Bible gives the church for interpreting how we should conduct earthly worship in our corporate gatherings. Practice for Heaven looks at the role of music in the bible, the corporate consensus of what has been acceptable for public worship in the past, and why church music should look to heaven for creating music to aid the churches ongoing worship. Just as a musician practices his or her instrument, all of our worship-and all of our music in corporate worship-is essentially practice for heaven.

Gabriel C. Statom was educated in music and worship at The University of Mississippi, Princeton University, Florida State University, Westminster Choir College, Northern Seminary and The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Dr. Statom is Director of Music at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN where he leads a vibrant multi-faceted music ministry of choirs, orchestra and staff. He is artistic director of the Memphis Masterworks Chorale, and directs the Laudis Domini Vocal Ensemble, an auditioned choir that presents a cappella sacred music for worship and concert. He has conducted in the United States, Europe, and Argentina, including performances at Oregon Bach Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, and Carnegie Hall. He is married to Ginger McCollum Statom, and has four daughters: Margaret, Jennie, Sarah, and Ellen.

Ron Man serves as Pastor of Worship/Missionary in Residence at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee. As Director of Worship Resources International, he also teaches extensively overseas and in the U.S. on the biblical foundations of worship (see www.worr.org for many links and free resources, including the monthly online newsletter Worship Notes).