Resources

The Art of Worship: A Musician's Guide to Leading Modern Worship (Baker, 2006)

Description
Is your church launching a contemporary service, trying to balance traditional and modern musical tastes, or seeking relevant worship for a secularized society? If so, here is the complete guide to making it happen. From enlisting and training an effective leadership crew to overcoming opposition from resistant church members, The Art of Worship charts a clear course through every aspect of worship. Comprehensive technical details, biblical principles, and action steps make this an invaluable resource for musicians, leaders, pastors, and students reaching for new horizons in ministry.

Author
Greg Scheer (M.A., University of Pittsburgh) is a composer, church musician, and choir and music director who has served in several churches. He was director of music ministries and a professor at Northwestern College (Iowa) for five years. Scheer is currently minister of worship at Church of the Servant (CRC) and a music associate with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Endorsements
"The Art of Worship is a very practical tool. It will enable the worship leader or worship committee to thoughtfully analyze their current style of worship and to plan step-by-step for future change."
—Robert E. Webber, Northern Seminary, author of Ancient-Future Faith

"This comprehensive guide to the nuts and bolts of contemporary worship leadership will challenge both new and veteran leaders to rethink their approach to a host of practical challenges. Greg Scheer demonstrates that we never have to choose between integrity and relevance in preparing to lead God's people in worship."
—John D. Witvliet, author of Worship Seeking Understanding

Reviews
"This will be a book that is talked about for years. It is rooted in a thoughtful, Biblical worldview and emerges from his work in very respected congregations. While the theological underpinnings are discussed in greater depth elsewhere, this book is a reliable and user-friendly guide."
—Byron K. Borger, Hearts & Minds BookNotes

"One of the best practical guides for those who lead congregational worship with a band. ... I highly recommend The Art of Worship for any pastor or corporate worship leader who currently uses or is thinking of using contemporary music in their service. This book should be around for a long time."
—Bob Kauflin, worshipmatters.com

"This is the absolute best and the most definitive book I have ever read that provides full, complete, up-to-date ideas, suggestions and ways to balance traditional and modern (contemporary) musical tastes, or seeking relevant worship for a secularized society. The author deals in detail with enlisting and training an effective and musical leadership team, overcoming opposition from church members who are resisting such a move, how a church can absolutely fail…or…succeed in the launching of a contemporary ministry, and he charts an absolutely clear course that takes the reader through every aspect of what is involved in the worship experience. Scheer deals deeply with comprehensive technical details, biblical principles, and action steps to make this book invaluable as a resource for musicians, worship team leaders, pastors…and… students who need what is in this book!
—Bob Burroughs, Creator Magazine Monday Morning Email

More information from Baker Books
Author's personal home page