Exploring The Worship Spectrum

An exploration of what worship looks like from a biblical standpoint and why the topic of worship can be so contentious among Christians. Because worship is inherently theological--because it's a manifestation of humanity's response to God's holiness--it's important to take seriously how we worship and the roles it serves in personal displays of adoration and in community with other believers. Exploring the Worship Spectrum provides an overview, critique, and celebration of six prominent worship styles: Formal-Liturgical – represented by Paul Zahl Traditional Hymn-Based – represented by Harold Best Contemporary Music-Driven – represented by Joe Horness Charismatic – represented by Don Williams Blended – represented by Robert Webber Emerging – represented by Sally Morgenthaler This unique format allows those with a heart for worship to compare different perspectives and draw their own conclusions on what the Bible teaches. It allows readers to understand the various approaches to worship, carefully evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and make personal choices without adopting a judgmental spirit. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

It was the goal of this study to explore the role of evangelism in the context of corporate worship. It argues that evangelical churches in North America must rethink their current strategies for corporate worship in light of the Church's increasingly liminal position in society and missteps concerning the Worship Evangelism movement, and proposes a theology and practice for missional worship that is intrinsically tied to the mission of Jesus Christ. The first section focuses on the current profiles of worship in the American evangelical church. It compares key denominational and non-denominational statistics while specifically determining how worship contexts interact with mission. Also discussed is the relationship of generational identity to the expansion of worship styles and choices, the assessment of the Worship Evangelism movement and its statistical failure, key problems with embedded theology, and the impact of postmodernism on all aspects of worship design. The second section concentrates on the biblical and theological foundations of worship and mission in an effort to establish their collaborative relationship. It draws from Scripture and Christian tradition, and it proposes a theology for twenty-first-century missional worship. The third section addresses the critical concerns of defining context and establishing a clear worship mission. Integral to this work are four "framing" elements of missional worship to guide the whole process: a God Focus, a Kingdom Expression, a Community Experience, and a Future Vision. Statistics presented in this paper confirm that the "worship-driven" evangelism philosophy is ineffective in reaching the unchurched, but successful in attracting transfer Christians from neighboring churches not able to compete with expensive worship productions. In response to this failure, the study challenges churches to pursue a worship mission by refocusing key theological and philosophical rubrics. The project further suggests that evangelical churches move toward a theology and practice of missional worship by defining their mission, defining a specific worship mission, exploring the worship spectrum, and expanding their overall worship paradigm.

EXPLORING WORSHIP is a 240-page textbook that gives worshipers a balanced theology of worship, and trains your worship team in the art of leading worship. This book covers all the bases, both devotional and practical. Equip them with one of the most comprehensive tools available today for worship leaders, musicians, songwriters, and singers. First written in 1986, Bob completely rewrote the book in 2018, producing this THIRD EDITION. This new edition is stronger than ever and relevant for today’s changing worship landscape. Used as a text internationally, Exploring Worship is a “must read” for worshipers. It lays a scriptural foundation for understanding what praise and worship really is, and then provides a practical framework for implementing praise and worship in the local church. This is one of the foremost worship texts used today by Bible Schools, Universities, and local church worship ministries.

Leading conservative evangelicals from Norman Geisler to Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer write informatively and respectfully about all facets of the controversial emergent church movement.

In search of a way to worship that is relevant today and into the twenty-first century, Moeller proposes an approach based on the "great commandment" to love God and one's neighbor as oneself. With special attention to the time, space, sounds, sights, touches, and symbols that form the context of every worship service, she argues for a collaborative approach to the worship service in which the participants are involved from preparation to celebration. Illustrating this highly evocative, thoroughly feminist theology of worship is a sample service that pays particular attention to how the process and design of worship impact the experience of the worshipers.

Contemporary! Traditional! Divisive words - particularly when referring to methods of worship. Unhappily, the whole controversy about worship styles has degenerated into arguments based on personal preference. Given the intensity of this worship controversy that is increasingly dividing professedly Bible-believing churches into distinctive camps, I have felt inclined to make my contribution to the concern. I am convinced that the Bible does establish clear guidelines for both what we are to believe (issues of faith) and what we are to practice (issues of obedience) and that this direction includes matters of worship. If there is any overriding biblical truth that must circumscribe every worship practice, it is that worship is all about God and not about us. There is little hope of worshipping in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord if we do not start with the Bible and stress what it stresses. The Beauty of Holiness is a guide to what the Bible says about the object, manner, and the heart of worship. We must never shy away from what the Bible says regardless of how out of sync with culture it seems to be. God’s Word not culture - whether modern or medieval - defines the way of worship.

Are Eastern Orthodoxy and evangelicalism at all compatible? To some Western evangelicals, the practices of Eastern Orthodoxy seem mysterious and perhaps even unbiblical. From an Orthodox perspective, evangelicals lack the spiritual roots provided by centuries-old church traditions. Are the differences between these two branches of Christianity as sharp as they seem? Or is there room for agreement? This book allows five leading authorities to present their different views in a respectful manner, have them critiqued by their fellow authors, and then respond to those critiques. Writing from an Orthodox perspective with a strong appreciation for evangelicalism, Bradley Nassif makes a case for compatibility. Michael Horton and Vladimir Berzonsky take the opposite stance from their respective evangelical and Orthodox backgrounds. And George Hancock-Stefan (evangelical) and Edward Rommen (Orthodox) each offer a qualified "perhaps." The interactive Counterpoints forum is ideal for comparing and contrasting the different positions to understand the strengths and weaknesses of these two important branches of Christianity and to form a personal conclusion regarding their compatibility.

Despite a strong belief in the institution and sacredness of marriage, studies show that Christian spouses experience divorce at least as much as the secular population. But whatever the reasons for a divorce--beyond the divorce itself--many Christians want to know: does the Bible support remarriage? The fact is that no consensus exists among evangelicals on their views of remarriage, leaving many Christians confused. This Counterpoints volume explores the biblical and practical cases for the three main evangelical views on remarriage after divorce: Remarriage is not acceptable after divorce - defended by Gordon J. Wenham Remarriage is acceptable only after adultery or desertion - defended by William A. Heth Remarriage is acceptable for a variety of reasons - defended by Craig S. Keener Each of the three contributors offers his point of view succinctly and with biblical support, and each interacts with the others to help readers come to their own conclusions. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.