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

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. The Metaphor Of An Architect Is Used Throughout The Book To Illustrate How Persons Responsible For Worship In The Local Church Function Similarly To Architects: They Envision The Concept, Do The Ground Work, Develop A Plan, Establish The Framework, Create Focal Points Of Beauty, And Design It All With A Special Purpose In Mind. In The Case Of Worship, The Purpose Is For The Community To Be In Relationship With The One True God Through Jesus Christ. This Book Provides A Reliable Architectural Plan For Designing Worship On A Weekly Basis. It Sets Forth Basic Principles And Demonstrates How Those Principles Are Conducive To Virtually Any Style Of Worship Practiced Today In A Myriad Of Christian Communities. --from Publisher Description. Phase One: Laying The Foundation For Worship. Establishing The Foundation: Biblical Worship -- Setting The Cornerstone: Worship Is Centered In Jesus Christ -- Phase Two: Building The Structure For Worship. Four Rooms For Encountering God: The General Order Of Worship ; The First Load-bearing Wall: The Gathering ; The Second Load-bearing Wall: The Word ; The Third Load-bearing Wall: The Table Of The Lord ; The Third Load-bearing Wall: The Alternative Response To The Word ; The Fourth Load-bearing Wall: The Sending -- Phase Three: Creating Doors And Windows For Encountering God. Encountering God In Prayer: Capturing The Heart Of Worship ; Encountering God In Music: Singing The Church's Song ; Encountering God In Music: Offering Sound Musical Leadership ; Encountering God In The Christian Year: Remembering The Whole Narrative -- Phase Four: Adding Style To The Worship Event. Principles Of Worship Style: Expressing Your Corporate Identity ; A More Excellent Way: Exploring Convergence -- Phase Five: Nurturing Hospitality At The Worship Event. The Hospitable Worship Leader: Engaging Worshipers As Participants -- Appendix A: Ten Basic Steps In Designing Vital Worship -- Appendix B: Checklist For Designing Vital Worship. Constance M. Cherry. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.