The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services

by Constance M. Cherry

Overview

There are many books available on the topic of worship today, but few provide a comprehensive, practical method for worship design. Constance M. Cherry, a worship professor and practitioner, provides worship leaders with credible blueprint plans for successfully designing worship services that foster meaningful conversation with God and the gathered community. Readers will learn how to create services that are faithful to Scripture, historically conscious, relevant to God, Christ-centered, and engaging for worshipers of all ages in the twenty-first century. The book sets forth basic principles concerning worship design and demonstrates how these principles are conducive to virtually any style of worship practiced today in a myriad of Christian communities. It will also work well as a guide for worship-planning teams in local churches and provide insight for worship students, pastors, and church leaders involved in congregational worship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801038747
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/01/2010
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	425,273
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Constance M. Cherry (DMin, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of worship and Christian ministries at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and is on the faculty of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, where she has taught since its inception. She speaks and teaches internationally and is a regular adjunct professor at several seminaries. Cherry has served local churches as a minister of music/worship and as a United Methodist pastor.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction: Why a Book about Worship Design? xi

Phase 1 Laying the Foundations for Worship 1

1 Establishing the Foundation: Biblical Worship 3

2 Setting the Cornerstone: Worship Is Centered in Jesus Christ 19

Phase 2 Building the Structure for Worship 35

3 Four Rooms for Encountering God: The General Order of Worship 37

4 The First Load-Bearing Wall: The Gathering 53

5 The Second Load-Bearing Wall: The Word 67

6 The Third Load-Bearing Wall: The Table of the Lord 85

7 The Third Load-Bearing Wall: The Alternative Response to the Word 97

8 The Fourth Load-Bearing Wall: The Sending 111

Phase 3 Creating Doors and Windows for Encountering God 123

9 Encountering God in Prayer: Capturing the Heart of Worship 125

10 Encountering God in Music: Singing the Church's Song 151

11 Encountering God in Music: Offering "Sound" Musical Leadership 179

12 Encountering God in the Christian Year: Remembering the Whole Narrative 205

Phase 4 Adding Style to the Worship Event 219

13 Principles of Worship Style: Expressing Your Corporate Identity 221

14 A More Excellent Way: Exploring Convergence 243

Phase 5 Nurturing Hospitality at the Worship Event 259

15 The Hospitable Worship Leader: Engaging Worshipers as Participants 261

Appendix A Ten Basic Steps in Designing Vital Worship 273

Appendix B Checklist for Designing Vital Worship 274

Notes 276

Index 297