Biography

Matthew Westerholm, PhD, is a Christian educator, pastor, pianist, and composer.  He believes that people are starving for the greatness of God, and has committed his life to meeting this greatest need.

Currently, Matthew serves as Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Biblical Worship. Before this, he served as Pastor for Worship and Music at Bethlehem Baptist Church and Assistant Professor of Worship and Music at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis. Before moving to Minneapolis, he served at at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan as Dean of the Chapel and Director of Worship Arts and as a worship pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Matthew has also served as pianist and musical director for many conferences, events, and as ministry accompanist for singer Heather Headley (including arranging for Headley’s 2010 Grammy Award winning album, Audience of One).

With Dr. Joel Beeke, Matthew has co-written a chapter on the Lord’s Supper for A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life (Grand Rapids: RHB, 2012). He contributed to A Skeptic’s Guide to Arts in the Church, edited by Dr. Mark Coppenger. He has published academic articles and book reviews in the Puritan Reformed Journal and Themelios as well as contributed popular articles for DesiringGOD, The Gospel Coalition, 9 Marks Journal, and Doxology and Theology. He has  presented papers on worship for the Evangelical Theological Society and workshops on worship for Doxology and Theology conference, Calvin’s Institute of Christian Worship symposium, the DesiringGod National Conference, and the Canvas Conference.

As a composer, Dr. Westerholm’s songs are sung in churches throughout North America.  His song, “The First Place,” has been published in several of collections, including the 2013 RCA/CRC hymnal, Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Other songs have appeared in Worship Leader Magazine’s SongSelect and a release by Vertical Church music on Provident Records.

Dr. Westerholm received his BA (Music/Church Music) from Trinity International University, and his MA (systematic theology) from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and his PhD in Christian Worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His 2016 dissertation was entitled, “‘The Hour Is Coming and Is Now Here’: The Doctrine of Inaugurated Eschatology in Contemporary Evangelical Worship Music.”

Matthew loves classic and modern jazz, comic books, and Chicago sports.  And while he feels comfortable behind a piano, he only feels at home with his wife Lisa and their three boys: Ethan, Owen, and Levi.

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“Deep Personal Convictions about Corporate Worship.” Southern Seminary Magazine 89, vol. 1 (Spring 2021).

June 19, 2019, “Leading Theologian and Worship Pastor Joins Southern Faculty.”

Biographical Q&A , October 5, 2013

January 23, 2010. “Composer-teacher to present at Calvin Symposium on Worship” Grand Rapids Press.