John Frame’s Influence on My Life

I first learned about John M. Frame while taking a Theology of Worship course at Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando campus) in the Spring of 2000 with Dr. Reggie Kidd. Reggie organized his course into three categories: normative, situational, and existential. I loved this organization and shared it with my pastor at the time, Ted Strawbridge. Ted immediately said, “Yeah, that’s Frame!” That was my first introduction to John’s “tri-perspectivalism” and his technical vocabulary of the normative (God’s Word), situational (world), and existential (self) perspectives.

I then began reading his books on worship and soon had him for a professor while working on my master’s degree at Reformed Theology Seminary (Atlanta campus). I believe I had John for three courses: Doctrine of God, Pastoral and Social Ethics, and Apologetics. I asked John to be my advisor for my master’s thesis, and he graciously agreed. We spent several afternoons talking about my thesis over lunch. I am grateful for those conversations! Two years after graduating from RTS, I wrote my first book, The Art of Worship: Opening Our Eyes to the Beauty of the Gospel (an expansion of my thesis). It was published in 2006 by Wipf and Stock Publishers. John wrote the Foreword.

Just before moving to California to take a new worship leader position at Valley Springs Presbyterian Church, I was asked to write a chapter for a book in John’s honor. My chapter would be on John’s contributions to contemporary worship. I was very honored and worked on this writing assignment once we were in California. The book, Speaking the Truth in Love: The Theology of John M. Frame, was published in 2009 and was presented to John at the 2009 meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. My chapter is titled, Rethinking, Reforming: Frame’s Contributions to Contemporary Worship (see link below). Reggie wrote a chapter on John’s contributions to worship, in general.

In 2015, I was hired to be the worship leader at Covenant Church in Palm Bay, Florida. After a few months, I made the short trip (one hour) to Orlando to visit with John at RTS. We talked for probably two hours, more than I’m sure he had planned on that day! I brought him up to speed on all that had taken place since we last spoke. It was so cathartic and sweet to catch up with this dear friend and mentor. I would later visit RTS to be present at a luncheon held in honor of John’s retirement. I would also attend the memorial service for his beloved wife, Mary, in 2022.

Most recently (March 6, 2025), I visited John (now retired) in his home in Oviedo. I sat on his couch while he sat in his chair, and we talked for an hour, catching up once again. I am so grateful for this dear man and all the many ways he has influenced so many through his books, his lectures, and his life. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of John M. Frame.