About the Book
This title shows how worship is less about our preferred music style and more an attitude of the heart towards God. It examines what we can learn from the life of Jesus about the foundational values for worship. It offers many practical examples and ideas to help creative worship flourish in the local church. It is written in a lively informal style, while rooted in mature biblical reflection. It includes 'worship experience' sections to encourage readers to pause and worship! It is suitable for those responsible for leading worship in the local church looking for practical material, worship leaders and team members looking for ideas to enhance creativity in worship, and church leaders wanting biblically-based reflections on the wider issue of why worship is a key part of growing as a Christian. The authors draw on their experience as worship leaders to offer both down-to-earth teaching and practical examples and ideas to help creative worship flourish in the local church. They remind us that if we allow Jesus to inspire our worship, we will find it becoming rooted in Christ-like attitudes towards God, one another, our community, and the wider world.
About the Author :
Sam and Sara Hargreaves both completed the London School of Theology degree course in Theology, Music and Worship. For the past five years they have grown the worship and creative life at the Ascension Church, Balham Hill, South London, from a small rota of musicians into a large team of bands, worship leaders and creative arts leaders. High quality music has been complimented by alternative worship experiences; teaching has been supported by a variety of creative expressions; mission and evangelism has been enhanced with culturally relevant art forms. Creative use of worship has been a part of every aspect of church life - children and youth, small groups, prayer, community action, special events and regular Sunday services. Sam and Sara have also led musical and creative worship at Spring Harvest, New Wine and the Baptist Assembly, and run workshops at these events and other venues on worship, music and creativity.
Review :
Thoughtful and thought-provoking, active and action-provoking, pastoral and compassionate. Geraldine Latty, Worship Leader, Vocal Coach Combines accessibility with a refreshingly firm grounding in a theological understanding of worship too often absent in books of this kind. Chris Jack, Lecturer in Theology and Worship, London School of Theology Sam and Sara's words have weight... because they are listening acutely to the Word and the world. Andy Flannagan, Worship Leader, Song Writer, Author, Social Campaigner Sam and Sara have spent serious time thinking and engaging with some of the key issues surrounding contemporary worship and their book is an insightful and thought-provoking read. Al Gordon, Holy Trinity Brompton Overall it gave a helpful Trinitarian view of worship and it was refreshing that they drew so much from a New Testament perspective when so much teaching on worship seems to draw from the Old. The book was well-structured and the practical worship ideas helped earth the response to the teaching. They tackled the subject of humility and authority well, giving a good balanced view as well as stressing the need to be creative and, of course, Spirit led. I also liked the way the teaching was related to Scripture, a good model to lift up when so many aspiring musicians in the worship field perhaps separate theology from worship leading. A helpful resource, I am sure, to many that will inspire rather than inhibit new expressions. I particularly liked the 3rd paragraph of page 116: 'We need to take the pressure off ourselves, we don't have to be like anyone else. We shouldn't be competing with any other worship leader, and we certainly don't need to impress God. Because of Jesus, our worship is perfect, and by the Spirit we can draw near to the Father, who loves it when we worship him.' Reviewed by Dave Bilbrough, Songwriter and Worship Leader From The Church Times - May 2009 Clearly, the question behind this book is 'What would Jesus do?', but mercifully the authors are wise enough to recognise that questions about how to lead worship today will not be answered by simplistic references to Jesus or the New Testament. Sara and Sam Hargreaves run Engage (www.engageworship.org) which is a new initiative of the Music and Worship Foundation. It aims 'to resource youth, young adults and 21st-century churches for innovative worship'. Innovative worship, in this context, means worship that takes seriously art, symbol, and creativity; that engages all ages; and that draws from a wider musical repertoire than a Charismatic-worship-song genre. All of these concerns are reflected in the many practical ideas that are sprinkled through this book. Reviewed by Mark Earey From: The Good Bookstall - March 2009 Having joined in worship led by the authors and found the experience a very positive one; I wanted to like this book, and I did, although it was not what I expected. The key theme of the book is that worship is about our whole lives, and we should be exploring creative new ways of expressing that worship, some way beyond what passes for a 'time of worship' in many churches. So, if the title conjures up images of Jesus leading a congregation through a set of worship songs, your view of worship is too narrow! The book is in two parts. The first part starts with our understanding (and misunderstandings) of worship, and explores the idea of Jesus as our worship leader using the book of Hebrews. The much longer second part draws practical lessons about worship from Luke's Gospel. The book is written in an informal style, and includes practical activities/examples to try out, in the form of a book for private or group study. A creative and multi-sensory approach to worship is encouraged throughout, although the book also contains a fair bit of advice and comment about song selection and bands. I expected this book simply to confirm my own views. As it turned out, I learned a few things, had my thinking affirmed in some areas, and challenged in others. My guess is that most people with leadership roles involving worship will find the same. Well worth a read. Reviewed by Martin Brasier
