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Permalink Reply by Daniel Lyle on March 17, 2013 at 6:09pm

• Chapell, Bryan. Christ-centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009. Print. The church’s worship has always been shaped by its understanding of the gospel. Here the bestselling author of Christ-Centered Preaching brings biblical and historical perspective to discussions about worship, demonstrating that the gospel has shaped key worship traditions and should shape today’s worship as well. This accessible and engaging book provides the church with a Christ-centered understanding of worship to help it transcend the traditional/contemporary worship debate and unite in ministry and mission priorities. Contemporary believers will learn how to shape their worship based on Christ’s ministry to and through them. The book’s insights and practical resources for worship planning will be useful to pastors, worship leaders, worship planning committees, missionaries, and worship and ministry students.
• Frame, John M. Worship in Spirit and Truth. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Pub., 1996. Print. This fresh, practical study of worship throws needed light on questions about worship content, music, atmosphere, structure, freedom, clarity, recent trends and much more. You will profit from this insightful look at the kind of worship that pleases God.
• Johansson, Calvin M. Music & Ministry: a Biblical Counterpoint. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1984. Print. In Music and Ministry: A Biblical Counterpoint, Dr. Calvin Johansson looks to God’s Word for principles foundational to music ministry. He suggests that a heightened concern for musical style and quality is in order for the sake of the gospel.
• Kauflin, Bob. Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008. Print. Nothing is more essential than knowing how to worship the Godwho created us. This book focuses readers on the essentials ofGod-honoring worship, combining biblical foundations with practicalapplication in a way that works in the real world. The author, apastor and noted songwriter, skillfully instructs pastors,musicians, and church leaders so that they can root theircongregational worship in unchanging scriptural principles, notdivisive cultural trends. Bob Kauflin covers a variety of topicssuch as the devastating effects of worshiping the wrong things, howto base our worship on God’s self-revelation rather than ourassumptions, the fuel of worship, the community of worship, and theways that eternity’s worship should affect our earthly worship. Appropriate for Christians from varied backgrounds and forvarious denominations, this book will bring a vital perspective towhat readers think they understand about praising God.
• Peterson, David. Engaging with God a Biblical Theology of Worship. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity, 2004. Print. Worship is of immense concern in the church and ironically the source of controversy and dispute. Can we get behind the question of what style of worship we should engage in to understand the bedrock foundation for God’s people–honoring him as he desires? Is the dissatisfaction with worship voiced by so many perhaps a result of our having wandered from biblical teaching on the subject? Through careful exegesis in both Old and New Testaments, David Peterson unveils the total life-orientation of worship that is found in Scripture. Rather than determining for ourselves how we should worship, we, his people, are called to engage with God on the terms he proposes and in the way he alone makes possible. This book calls for a radical rethinking of the meaning and practice of worship, especially by those responsible for leading congregations. Here is the starting place for recovering the richness of biblical worship.
• Redman, Matt. Facedown. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2004. Print. Most believers understand that worship is not a compartmentalized aspect of the Christian experience but rather it is the motivation-the driving force-behind all that we do and are. We exist to worship God. For years we have been basking in God’s love and worshiping Him with uplifted hands and hearts. Now we need to go deeper and see that God is also an awesome, mysterious being that should engender our silent, even dumbstruck-reverence for His holiness, His “otherness”. Until we are undone by the knowledge of who God is in all His glory, we will only touch the edges of true worship. Matt Redman says, “When we face up to the glory of God, we find ourselves face down in worship.” This book shows the biblical record of those who found themselves prostrate before God.
• Redman, Matt. The Unquenchable Worshipper: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2001. Print. The Unquenchable Worshipper issues a passionate call for a return to an unadulterated, first-love lifestyle of worship. In his first book release, respected worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman writes: “The revelation of God is the fuel for the fire of our worship. And there is always more fuel for the fire. When we open the eyes of our heart, God’s revelation comes flying at us from so many different angles.” Open the eyes of your heart and let the gut-level message of The Unquenchable Worshipper cause you, like martyred missionary Jim Elliot, to say, “Saturate me with the oil of Thy Spirit, that I may be aflame. Make me Thy fuel O flame of God.” It’s time to dive into the heart of worship—will you take the plunge?
• Scheer, Greg. The Art of Worship: a Musician’s Guide to Leading Modern Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2006. Print. Contemporary worship continues to gain strength as the form of worship of choice for many churches across the country. The Art of Worship is a complete resource to which a musician or pastor can turn when asked to lead contemporary music. It provides in-depth instruction to every aspect of contemporary worship leadership–from assembling the team to choosing the music to conducting rehearsals. Author Greg Scheer takes a balanced, holistic approach, embracing the contemporary style without denying older traditions and encouraging excellence without ignoring the realities of the local church context. Worship team leaders, musicians, and pastors looking for a quality, comprehensive resource need look no further.

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Permalink Reply by Worship The Rock on March 17, 2013 at 7:10pm

Wow - thanks Daniel - this is a great list!

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Permalink Reply by James Calkins on March 20, 2013 at 12:24am

Great list, Daniel!

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Permalink Reply by Chris Moore on March 18, 2013 at 1:34am

Worship Evangelism by Sally Morganthaler (not sure of spelling right now)

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Permalink Reply by Shannon Lee Lewis on March 18, 2013 at 3:28am

I've read them all... and I do mean ALLLLLLL, & I have only encountered 2 that are "necessary reads"...

Kauflin's is near perfect, & Best's "Unceasing Worship"... the rest are just commentary on those two

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Permalink Reply by James Calkins on March 20, 2013 at 12:23am

Anything by Matt Redman. That guys has experienced God on a level I have not yet attained, and that is obvious when reading his books. Facedown, The Unquenchable Worshiper, etc.

I Am Not But I Know I AM by Louie Giglio. This is a great, quick read for worship leaders that should be worked in on a regular basis.

Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin. I haven't finished it yet, but so far it's got some great, practical advice and theological exhortations.

Chris Tomlin's The Way I Was Made.

The Pursuit of God and Whatever Happened to Worship by A.W. Tozer.

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Permalink Reply by David D Waggoner on March 26, 2013 at 7:26pm

"Order in the Courts" by Paul Wilbur

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Permalink Reply by Worship The Rock on May 5, 2015 at 2:24pm

The updated list, Top 100 books on worship, is here: http://blog.worshiptherock.com/2015/02/top-100-books-on-worship.html

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Permalink Reply by Beverly Jean Gonzalez on May 8, 2015 at 5:18pm

The Responsibility of the Christian Musician by Glenn Kaiser is a classic!

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