Dr. Lester Ruth is the research professor of Christian worship at Duke Divinity School. He is passionate about studying the history of worship to enrich the worship life of current congregations, regardless of style. He believes that careful reflection on the worship of other Christians—whether past or present, whether Protestant, Roman Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox—can serve to enrich the church today. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Emory University, Asbury Theological Seminary, and Stephen F. Austin State University. Dr. Ruth is a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy and the Society for Pentecostal Studies. He is also the former president of the Charles Wesley Society. His most recent studies have been on the band-based worship known as contemporary praise and worship. He co-authored, with Dr. Lim Swee Hong, A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship (2021) and Lovin' On Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship (2017).
Last Updated: September 10, 2025
The lectionary says, “repent and prepare,” but the rhythms of many congregations say, “children’s Christmas program.” The calendar says, “fast and pray,” but Sunday schools schedule Christmas parties with cake and cookies. Advent says, “not yet, not yet,” but church-goers clamor to sing their favorite Christmas carols.
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