Words have great significance, but they are easily taken for granted. In Worship Words, the third volume in the Engaging Worship series, the authors make a careful examination of the role and use of language in the worship of the church. Their goal is to help pastors and worship leaders come to a renewed appreciation and understanding of words in worship and to inspire them to use words more intentionally--to the greater glory of God and the greater blessing of God's people. Topics in this reflective yet highly practical book include dimensions of language, repetition, authenticity, metaphor, tradition, lament, and worship planning. It is broad-ranging in its audience, addressing important questions that cut across worship styles and various church traditions.
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From the Back Cover
Learning the Grammar of Worship
In Worship Words, Debra and Ron Rienstra carefully examine the role and use of language--in praying, singing, and preaching--in the worship practices of the church. The authors' goal is to help students, pastors, and worship leaders come to a renewed appreciation and understanding of the beauty and power of words in worship and to inspire them to use words more intentionally--to the greater glory of God and the greater blessing of God's people.
"Deeply personal, wise, and practical, this book by Debra and Ron Rienstra provides trustworthy guidance to all who seek to employ faithful and energized language in worship. Their insights on the words of prayers, hymns, and sermons move us from the chatty excesses of much worship today to language that is lively, crisp, inviting, profound, and full of wonder."--Thomas G. Long, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
"This book is an extraordinarily rich treasure chest of new insights, the best of research, and time-tested wisdom. Because of the unusual combination of their brilliant literary, musical, and theological gifts, the Rienstras offer phenomenal contributions to all of us who care about the church's worship. I most heartily recommend this book to everyone who seeks to glorify God fittingly."--Marva Dawn, author of Reaching Out without Dumbing Down, A Royal "Waste" of Time, and Talking the Walk
"I keep only classic worship books on my shelves. Worship Words will be there, assuming I ever get it back from my worship musician friends. Who knew! Music isn't everything!"--Sally Morgenthaler, author of Worship Evangelism
"What a stretching book full of rich ideas and thoughtful challenges to all of us who design worship experiences! I will put Worship Words in a spot on my bookshelf where it can be reached easily and used often as a resource for my own thinking and planning and to remind me of the profound significance of the language we use to call people to worship, to sing praise and lament, and to offer prayers to a holy and sovereign God. I am deeply grateful for the wisdom, experience, and research shared with us by the Rienstras."--Nancy Beach, Willow Creek Community Church
In Worship Words, Debra and Ron Rienstra carefully examine the role and use of language--in praying, singing, and preaching--in the worship practices of the church. The authors' goal is to help students, pastors, and worship leaders come to a renewed appreciation and understanding of the beauty and power of words in worship and to inspire them to use words more intentionally--to the greater glory of God and the greater blessing of God's people.
"Deeply personal, wise, and practical, this book by Debra and Ron Rienstra provides trustworthy guidance to all who seek to employ faithful and energized language in worship. Their insights on the words of prayers, hymns, and sermons move us from the chatty excesses of much worship today to language that is lively, crisp, inviting, profound, and full of wonder."--Thomas G. Long, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
"This book is an extraordinarily rich treasure chest of new insights, the best of research, and time-tested wisdom. Because of the unusual combination of their brilliant literary, musical, and theological gifts, the Rienstras offer phenomenal contributions to all of us who care about the church's worship. I most heartily recommend this book to everyone who seeks to glorify God fittingly."--Marva Dawn, author of Reaching Out without Dumbing Down, A Royal "Waste" of Time, and Talking the Walk
"I keep only classic worship books on my shelves. Worship Words will be there, assuming I ever get it back from my worship musician friends. Who knew! Music isn't everything!"--Sally Morgenthaler, author of Worship Evangelism
"What a stretching book full of rich ideas and thoughtful challenges to all of us who design worship experiences! I will put Worship Words in a spot on my bookshelf where it can be reached easily and used often as a resource for my own thinking and planning and to remind me of the profound significance of the language we use to call people to worship, to sing praise and lament, and to offer prayers to a holy and sovereign God. I am deeply grateful for the wisdom, experience, and research shared with us by the Rienstras."--Nancy Beach, Willow Creek Community Church
About the Author
Debra Rienstra (PhD, Rutgers University) is assistant professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has taught on worship in both workshops and seminary settings and is the author of Great with Child: On Becoming a Mother and So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality. Ron Rienstra is assistant professor of preaching and worship at Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and an ordained pastor in the Reformed Church in America. He is currently completing the PhD program in worship and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous articles in Reformed Worship and scholarly journals.
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More About the Author
Debra Rienstra is associate professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has taught there since 1996. Her books include Great with Child: On Becoming a Mother (first published in 2002 by Tarcher Putnam and now reissued by WordFarm), So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality (published in 2005 by Jossey-Bass) and Worship Words (published in 2009 by Baker).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The authors each bring unique contribution from their area of expertise. Debra Rienstra teaches English at Calvin College, and she therefore offers the penetrating linguistic insights. Ron Rienstra teaches preaching and worship at Western Theological Seminary. What is meant by the phrase "worship words" is clear from the stated purpose: "to help pastors and worship leaders attend carefully to the words used in prayers, songs, sermons, and other spoken elements in worship--and to use words more intentionally" (p. 19). This book, then, is an analysis of and reflection on the all the words we use in various ways worship...both as worship leaders and congregants.
It is obvious that this book comes from the minds of two very committed educators, because each chapter ends with bullet-pointed "Summary Calls to Action" and "Exercises" for groups and individuals. This is truly above and beyond. They would benefit the reader(s) immensely, but they are not essential to receiving and implementing the essence of their admonitions. Each chapter is also filled with sidebar stories and interesting illustrative tidbits, demarcated by grayed-out boxes. These, too, are the products of educators' minds...always attempting a broad pedagogical impact.
OVERALL COMMENTS
I now have another book to highly recommend to other worship leaders and thinkers (see my recommended reading list)! Never before has a work been dedicated to the broad use of words in worship, and with this fresh perspective, many original and important insights have been offered for ongoing discussions between tensions in worship (e.g. traditional vs. contemporary, formality vs. informality, relevant vs. historical, high-church vs. low church). The angle of "worship words," furthermore transcends discussions about merely music or merely liturgical structure or merely practical how-to's. It really does cover it all. Overall, I also appreciate the affirming spirit of this work. It attempts to rise above stylistic, liturgical, and denominational "tribalism" that often plagues large-scale thoughtful analyses of Christian worship. Worship Words is able at once to affirm Christian worship traditions across the board and yet lovingly offer constructive criticism. The generous spirit of the authors was all the more apparent to me, having read T. David Gordon's Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns alongside it (Gordon's work, in my opinion, has the opposite spirit--polemical and un-affirming). This book will be one that I will re-visit again and again, because its insights are fresh and dynamic, and it stirs my own creative thinking. It also provides some very helpful ideas which, when implemented, will benefit my own ministry of worship and bless the people I serve.
For chapter summaries and more, see:
[...]
It is obvious that this book comes from the minds of two very committed educators, because each chapter ends with bullet-pointed "Summary Calls to Action" and "Exercises" for groups and individuals. This is truly above and beyond. They would benefit the reader(s) immensely, but they are not essential to receiving and implementing the essence of their admonitions. Each chapter is also filled with sidebar stories and interesting illustrative tidbits, demarcated by grayed-out boxes. These, too, are the products of educators' minds...always attempting a broad pedagogical impact.
OVERALL COMMENTS
I now have another book to highly recommend to other worship leaders and thinkers (see my recommended reading list)! Never before has a work been dedicated to the broad use of words in worship, and with this fresh perspective, many original and important insights have been offered for ongoing discussions between tensions in worship (e.g. traditional vs. contemporary, formality vs. informality, relevant vs. historical, high-church vs. low church). The angle of "worship words," furthermore transcends discussions about merely music or merely liturgical structure or merely practical how-to's. It really does cover it all. Overall, I also appreciate the affirming spirit of this work. It attempts to rise above stylistic, liturgical, and denominational "tribalism" that often plagues large-scale thoughtful analyses of Christian worship. Worship Words is able at once to affirm Christian worship traditions across the board and yet lovingly offer constructive criticism. The generous spirit of the authors was all the more apparent to me, having read T. David Gordon's Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns alongside it (Gordon's work, in my opinion, has the opposite spirit--polemical and un-affirming). This book will be one that I will re-visit again and again, because its insights are fresh and dynamic, and it stirs my own creative thinking. It also provides some very helpful ideas which, when implemented, will benefit my own ministry of worship and bless the people I serve.
For chapter summaries and more, see:
[...]
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book will enable worship planners and leaders to lead worship in a way that truly encourages deeper spiritual growth as well as excellent worship. It's amazing how a book with so much depth could yet be so accessible, practical and even entertaining.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is not a book that was written on a free weekend at a spa. Nor was it written in "an ivory tower." This book is the result of many experiences and study. I found that I was either underlining or starring two to three sentences or paragraphs per page. Often I found myself re-reading a page because of its importance or its applicability. This book contains many valuable thoughts regarding words and why they matter in our private and public times of worship.
Dr. Philip Blycker
Dept. of Sacred Music
Seminario Biblico Rio Grande
Edinburg, TX 78539
Dr. Philip Blycker
Dept. of Sacred Music
Seminario Biblico Rio Grande
Edinburg, TX 78539
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