Over the past two decades, the church has sought to incorporate technology into its worship services in ways that mimic modern society; professional audio consoles, stage lighting, projection screens, and theatrical sets are now customary. Because how people experience sacred space forms their views about it, what technical artists do in practice also shapes the congregation's beliefs about God. This book is the first exegetical discourse aimed at establishing a theology of church technical arts, and examining how a biblically informed theological understanding might help better shape praxis for contemporary church technical artists. The tabernacle construction narrative (Exodus 35:30-36:1), Christ's mediation from within the church (Hebrews 2:12-13), and Paul's exhortation to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16) are viewed in light of current practice to form a portrait of the technical artist, establishing that those who serve their local church through the audio, video, and lighting ministries are "producing worship."

No matter how great Sunday's worship service was, there's always another Sunday lurking at the end of the next week that must be planned. Church leaders often fall into ruts, working on automatic pilot just trying to get things together, which does not allow for much creativity or focus on designing services that lead to transformation for those involved in them. Engage is a step-by-step, stress-free guide to planning worship services that allow for and foster true life change. Comprehensive in scope, Engage provides teaching pastors, worship leaders, and volunteers with the tools they need to work together to develop and implement a worship planning system that improves communication, enhances creativity, and honors Jesus every week.

A resource for youth and their leaders, this handbook introduces the history, theology, and practice of Reformed worship.

Originally published: London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2010.

(Book). No church musician today is completely prepared to offer their music ministry in the varied and demanding settings of worship without a working knowledge of music technology. Providing instrumentations of great sounds created, arranged and enhanced for worship is a real workout, even for those of us who are not technologically challenged. This book brings you easy-to-understand instructions for everything from synthesizers, MIDI and sequencing to percussion, bass and guitar technology. Subjects such as the history of music technology in worship, hard disk recording, and using music technology in small to large traditional settings are explored.

“In my lifetime, worship has changed from something we do before an audience of God to something a few semi-professionals do for an audience of us. Danny was my worship leader for years, and he has earned the right to be heard.” —Philip Yancey, Author, What’s So Amazing About Grace? Worship experiences of today’s Christians remain diverse. Wallpaper Worship challenges the status quo of the modern-day worship service and illustrates how to move worship form an observation-based to an active-participant-centered activity. Drawing from John 4, Danny Byram identifies the cause of the passive, wallpaper worship experience and provides practical solutions. This book is a must-read for all worship leaders and anyone seeking powerful participation from church congregants.

One of Discerning Reader's Best Books We are not created to worship. Nor are we created for worship. We are created worshiping. Too often Christians have only thought of worship in terms of particular musical styles or liturgical formats. But a proper view of worship is far larger than what takes place in churches on Sunday mornings. Worship is not limited to specific times, places or activities. God is by his very nature continuously outpouring himself. Because we are created in his image, we too are continually pouring ourselves in various directions, whether toward God or toward false gods. All of us, Christian or not, are always worshiping, whether or not that worship is directed toward God. We are unceasing worshipers. The fruition of a lifetime of study, reflection and experience, this volume sets forth Harold M. Best's understanding of worship and the arts. Widely respected as one of the foremost thinkers and practitioners in his field, Best explores the full scope of worship as continuous outpouring in all settings and contexts. With careful exposition and eloquent analysis, Best casts a holistic vision for worship that transcends narrow discussions of musical style or congregational preference. On this broader canvas, Best addresses popular misunderstandings about the use of music and offers correctives toward a more biblically consistent practice of artistic action. Incisive, biblical, profound and comprehensive, Best's landmark volume is one by which all other statements on worship and the arts will be measured.