Contemporary worship continues to gain strength as the form of worship of choice for many churches across the country. The Art of Worship is a complete resource to which a musician or pastor can turn when asked to lead contemporary music. It provides in-depth instruction to every aspect of contemporary worship leadership--from assembling the team to choosing the music to conducting rehearsals. Author Greg Scheer takes a balanced, holistic approach, embracing the contemporary style without denying older traditions and encouraging excellence without ignoring the realities of the local church context. Worship team leaders, musicians, and pastors looking for a quality, comprehensive resource need look no further.

An Essential Guide to Understanding and Leading Worship Worship leaders are adrift in a sea of worship resources, but, incredibly, no single book provides a simple introduction to worship and worship leading. Essential Worship is a concise, easy-to-read primer on the basics of worship theology and practice. Each concept is introduced clearly and concisely. Diagrams, charts, and bulleted lists make the information easy to digest. And preparation and reflection questions help readers apply the material to their own church context. Whether one is a beginner or an experienced worship leader, readers from all traditions will find in this resource a solid foundation for future success. It is particularly well-suited for the first-time worship or praise band leader, as well as for pastors who want to be more intentional about the music in their services.

Provides practical advice on ways to upgrade a music team's sound and ministry, written for both volunteer and staff worship leaders and musicians who use contemporary Christian music. --From publisher's description.

Worship has always been at the center of God's heart. Ironically if you turn to the center of your bible you will see the book of Psalms. These are songs written over 3,000 years ago, which are still sung to this day. The styles of the music accompanying them have changed dramatically over the years but the underlying constant throughout the ages is the intent of the musician to bring a proficient, heart-felt offering through his musicianship. But how does one accomplish such an undertaking? The answers lay just ahead in the chapters that follow. This comprehensive instructor's guide, which parallels the popular book "The Art to Leading Worship," is a practical teacher's manual which helps teach students, worship leaders, and musicians, in the applications necessary in attaining the goal of reaching a state of excellence in ones music and its presentation to a congregation. Pastors and conference leaders all over the world can utilize this in-depth instructional manual, making it available to attendees, in a way that some others have yet to fully attain. This manual goes fully in depth into how to create dynamics, mood, the differentiating between praise and performance, harmonies, practice and practice schedules, writing out sheet music, presiding and speaking before a congregation, eye contact, preparation, flow of songs and services, how to structure them and create one continuous work of beauty, power point, body language, preparation for single church sites or multi-campus churches and so, so much more. Michael Young, a worship leader that has been leading in worship for over 29 years and skillfully plays more than a dozen different instruments, will lead you through the learning process with clear and concise points that are easy to read and fun to follow. "The Art of Leading Worship" truly stands out in its genre as the book worship leaders from all denominations will turn to as the definitive 'how-to' guide in the future and this teachers manual will help in the process of raising up trained leaders in your church who can proficiently and joyfully lead your congregation in sincere and excellent worship. Be sure to pick up copies of "The Art to Leading Worship"- "Workbook" that accompanies this teacher's guide for all of your worship team members. Together let us make a joyful noise unto our Lord!

Worship has always been at the center of God's heart. Ironically if you turn to the center of your bible you will see the book of Psalms. These are songs written over 3,000 years ago, which are still sung to this day. The styles of the music accompanying them have changed dramatically over the years but the underlying constant throughout the ages is the intent of the musician to bring a proficient, heart-felt offering through his musicianship. But how does one accomplish such an undertaking? The answers lay just ahead in the chapters that follow.This comprehensive instructor's guide, which parallels the popular book "The Art to Leading Worship", is a practical teacher's manual which helps teach students, worship leaders, and musicians, in the applications necessary in attaining the goal of reaching a state of excellence in ones music and its presentation to a congregation. Pastors and conference leaders all over the world can utilize this in-depth instructional manual, making it available to attendees, in a way that some others have yet to fully attain. This workbook accompanies the instructor's manual and goes fully in depth into how to create dynamics, mood, the differentiating between praise and performance, harmonies, practice and practice schedules, writing out sheet music, presiding and speaking before a congregation, eye contact, preparation, flow of songs and services, how to structure them and create one continuous work of beauty, power point, body language, preparation for single church sites or multi-campus churches and so, so much more.Michael Young, a worship leader that has been leading in worship for over 29 years and skillfully plays more than a dozen different instruments, will lead you through the learning process with clear and concise points that are easy to read and fun to follow."The Art of Leading Worship" truly stands out in its genre as the book worship leaders from all denominations will turn to as the definitive 'how-to' guide in the future and this teachers manual will help in the process of raising up trained leaders in your church who can proficiently and joyfully lead your congregation in sincere and excellent worship.Be sure to pick up copies of "The Art to Leading Worship: Workbook" for all participants when you are hosting your creative arts workshop. Together let us make a joyful noise unto our Lord!

Help your church community engage with God through authentic, life-changing worship From Dr. Jon Duncan, Music and Worship Specialist, Georgia Baptist Convention, Atlanta, Georgia: Holy Gatherings is an effective worship education tool that should be on the shelf of every serious worship planner-leader. There are plenty of theological and theoretical discourses on the subject of worship. This work stands apart as it not only deals effectively with the "why" of worship; it serves well as a "how to" field manual that never erodes biblical footing. The result is a relevant work which will strengthen and deepen worship engagement among God's people. From Ron Willoughby, Lecturer in Contemporary Christian Studies, Cliff College, University of Manchester, UK: Finally! A clear, accessible primer on worship leadership. This book rescues worship leadership from the trap of performance-based crowd pleasing and the clutches of sterile worship models. Do yourself a favor: buy this book. Read it. Highlight it. Put it into practice. From Dirce Cooper, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, Worship Leadership Training, CUBA: Beginning with a solid foundation of a biblical understanding of worship, the authors offer practical steps to the designing and leading of corporate worship. Throughout the pathway, probing questions engage the reader in the pursuit of transformative worship. The combined experiences and distinct perspectives of a skillful musician/worship leader and a seasoned theologian/pastor have resulted in a treasure of insights that will serve worship teams as well as serious worship students around the world. From Graham Smith, Director of the Church Music Department, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board: What a blessing to have Dr. Argile Smith and Dr. Michael Sharp combine their many gifts from our Lord, which blest by the Holy Spirit, give such synergy to this much needed book on the highest priority of the human spirit---the worship of our Creator-God! We have needed such a defining book among worshippers and worship leaders for some time. Here, by the grace of God, is a gift from Him to us through these two worshippers and worship leaders! From Will McRaney, Ph.D, Director of Evangelism Strategy, Florida Baptist Convention: As scholars, practitioners, and local churchmen, Argile Smith and Michael Sharp have served us well by providing a great resource to help us worship God and lead others to worship God in both spirit and truth. You will be both inspired and informed by the work of their vast collective experience.

A Guide to Worship Ministry centers on four main areas of worship ministry: preparing for worship ministry, leading the worship ministry, preparing for Sunday, and discipling the generations through worship ministry. The book addresses topics such as discerning your call to ministry, working on a church staff, planning and leading worship services, and equipping your worship teams. A Guide to Worship Ministry looks at the day-to-day work of the worship minister, offering insights and personal stories. It is an important book for those getting started in worship ministry and a refresher for those who have years of experience in ministry.