Worship Together In Your Church As In Heaven

Our world is not just changing--it has already changed. Has the way we worship followed the trend?

Worship Together in Your Church as in Heaven is a practical and foundational resource for pastors and worship leaders of all kinds. It addresses an urgent need in the church today: as our communities become increasingly diverse, how can we offer worship that is authentic and engaging for all of God’s people, including longtime church members? The authors offer an empathetic, step-by-step approach, providing readers with knowledge, skills, and strategies to successfully introduce inclusive, multicultural worship in any setting. Davis and Lerner are expert practitioners and pioneers who invite us to break new ground with them, making worship that more closely reflects God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. “Multicultural is more than a buzzword. It is God’s desire for the church. Davis and Lerner’s practical approach shows us how to truly reflect God’s multicultural kingdom in worship.”—Rosario Picardo, Executive Pastor of New Church Development, Ginghamsburg Church, Tipp City, OH “This is an essential and practical guide that every worship leader, pastor, and church leader needs to read, learn, digest, and practice.” —James R. Hart, President, Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Orange Park, FL “Lerner and Davis’s superb book is a practical resource for connection and community-building in any environment.” —Lance Winkler, Director of Contemporary Worship, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS “Worship Together in Your Church as in Heaven offers a wealth of good theology, encouraging case studies, life-tested models, and strategies for developing multicultural worship in all kinds of communities. We’ve been waiting a long time for this book!” —Robin P. Harris, President, International Council of Ethnodoxologists; Director, Center for Excellence in World Arts “Worship Together in Your Church as in Heaven will help you identify the critical questions, take intentional steps, and promote a spirit of inclusion in your church. Your worship will reflect God’s love for all people, not just one kind of people, in an increasingly diverse society.” —Mark DeYmaz, Lead Pastor, Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas; author of Leading a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church

Rory Noland addresses the challenges of Christian worship head-on, offering practical suggestions gleaned from Scripture on understanding and experiencing vibrant worship. The first half of Worship on Earth as It Is in Heaven explores what it means to grow as a private worshiper. The practices of the psalmist David provide insight to help people worship God on their own. Second, Noland discusses corporate worship by exploring the glorious gatherings in heaven, as described in the book of Revelation. He presents immediately applicable ideas for becoming a better corporate worshiper. This book includes: • Slice-of-church-life scenarios. Every chapter begins with a brief scenario that presents a worship-related issue or a conflict corresponding to the chapter topic. • Group discussion questions. Based on the opening scenario, these questions help readers think about and discuss worship-related topics from different perspectives. • Issue-by-issue practical guidance from a biblical perspective. • “Ponder and Apply” application questions. Each chapter ends with a series of discussion questions and action steps to help readers identify key insights and make personal applications.

According to the Psalms, God is enthroned on the praises of His people--and it is from that throne that He governs the heavens and the earth. If this picture of God's rule, found throughout the Scriptures, is accurate, shouldn't the Body of Christ seek to praise the King of heaven and earth in ways that release His kingdom government into specific circumstances? John A. Dickson and Chuck D. Pierce, coauthors of Worship As It Is in Heaven, offer the church a fresh look at heaven's pattern of worship, instituted in David's tabernacle and renewed through Jesus' apostles in the earliest days of the church. This "apostolic worship" is God's chosen way of establishing His will on earth; through worship, the forces of darkness are pushed back and righteousness prevails. In Worship As It Is in Heaven, readers are invited to enter in to a fullness of worship that the world has too rarely seen: worship that is the conduit of God's government of peace, justice, and holiness on the earth.

Christianity Today's Book of the Year Award of Merit What happens when a diverse church glorifies the global God? We live in a time of unprecedented intercultural exchange, where our communities welcome people from around the world. Music and media from every culture are easily accessible, and our worship is infused with a rich variety of musical and liturgical influences. But leading worship in multicultural contexts can be a crosscultural experience for everybody. How do we help our congregations navigate the journey? Innovative worship leader Sandra Maria Van Opstal is known for crafting worship that embodies the global, multiethnic body of Christ. Likening diverse worship to a sumptuous banquet, she shows how worship leaders can set the table and welcome worshipers from every tribe and tongue. Van Opstal provides biblical foundations for multiethnic worship, with practical tools and resources for planning services that reflect God's invitation for all peoples to praise him. When multiethnic worship is done well, the church models reconciliation and prophetic justice, heralding God's good news for the world. Enter into the praise of our king, and let the nations rejoice!

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different ways for Christians to organize and worship? If you come from an evangelical church, do you puzzle over the practices in traditional liturgical churches -- why they do all the kneeling, sitting, standing, and everyone reciting the same thing at the same time? Do you sometimes feel there's something missing in your own worship service? If you attend a traditional church, do you understand why your church has a liturgy? Does it seem meaningless to you -- as if you're only going through the motions with little to no spiritual impact on your life? As It Is in Heaven, written by Father Paul A. F. Castellano, uncovers the answers to these and many more questions about the traditional church and the governmental structures that support it. As you read, you will gain deep biblical understanding about these structures, helping to enrich the foundations of your faith and give you a new appreciation for the traditions that have stood the test of time.

Just as diners visit a fine restaurant anticipating the ambiance and meal to come, so first-time guests and members alike come to church to experience the presence of God. In this follow-up book to The Complete Worship Leader, veteran worship leader and pastor Kevin Navarro helps church leaders create a complete worship service by implementing a four-part pattern of worship: longing for, preparing for, experiencing, and talking about a taste of heaven. Approaching the worship service as an act of hospitality, Navarro emphasizes clearing away obstacles and communicating the gospel. He shares practical ideas for churches of all kinds and sizes-everything from assisting guests to using the arts to centering the preaching on Christ. Pastors, worship leaders, and church leaders of any denomination and worship style will benefit from this practical guide.