Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations (Paperback)

~ (Author), David Crowder (Author), Sally Morgenthaler (Author) "Worship is certainly a popular word these days..." (more)
Key Phrases: alternative worship gatherings, other weekend services, emerging worship, Willow Creek, Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz Bible Church (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A complete guide to developing an alternative worship service for the younger emerging generation.

From the Back Cover

Churches are aging. Even among megachurches with their modern technology and huge number of members, whole generations are now missing. In order to reach the 18-35 year olds, churches need to incorporate alternative worship services into their ministries that meet the unique needs of the emerging generations.

In a conversational, narrative style, author Dan Kimball guides church leaders on how to create alternative services from start to finish. Using anecdotes from his own experience at Graceland, Kimball presents six creative models, providing real-life examples of each type. Emerging Worship covers key topics including • Developing a prayer team • Evaluating the local mission field and context • Determining leaders and a vision-based team • Understanding why youth pastors are usually the ideal staff to start a new service • Recognizing the difference in values between emerging worship and the rest of the church • Asking critical questions beforehand

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310256445
• ISBN-13: 978-0310256441
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #141,793 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rather mind tweaking and very practical book on worship, May 25, 2004

By A Customer

This book helps us understand why emerging generations are disappearing and disconnecting from our churches and some practical ideas of what to do about it. It gives very practical and detailed examples of worship services from different churches around the country, so it isn't just one model or one specific approach.

However, this book also totally challenges us to rethink what we even are supposed to do when we gather together as a church. It asks the questions about why do we preach the way we preach? Why do we use so much music lately and feel like a rock concert? Why do our church buildings feel like theaters instead of sacred spaces? The refreshing thing about this book is that it challenges us NOT to go more shallow or become seeker-sensitive to engage the hearts of emerging generations in their expressions of worship. But instead, says we should go all the more deeper in our teaching, use more Scripture, and be more unapologetically intense about our worship. It shares how to move beyond just preaching and singing to also be making our worship gatherings more interactive and participatory through ancient practices, painting art based on Scripture, creating prayer stations etc. So, if you are looking for a book about worship that is a lot different than any other book I have read about worship - and have your mind tweaked to rethink things about the church, then this is a book you will want to read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing book of hope for the future church, May 15, 2004

By A Customer

Probably most people are buying this book because they are recognizing that emerging generations are disappearing from our churches and not connecting with most of our worship gatherings.

But, you better be warned... it it doesn't just tell us to play hip pop worship songs as the answer, but forces us to rethink what we are doing in worship gatherings entirely. Maybe the problem and reason we are losing so many younger people from our churches, isn't just about music style - but it is about reapproaching worship gatherings and questioning all we have done and why we do it. It is a book that doesn't just give theory either, and like "The Emerging Church" book also did, gives very practical and different examples of what worship gatherings are like that are attracting emerging generations. Not a model, but a bunch of different ways churches are doing things.

Another warning --- some senior pastors may feel uncomfortable reading this book! It challenges some of our thinking of what leadership in worship gatherings is like and also challenges the concept of video churches too for emerging generations.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is exactly what I needed, February 18, 2004

By A Customer

I read a lot of books on the emerging church and postmodernism and all the Sweet,McLaren things which are great - but i think this is a rare type of book which actually walks through some ideas of what to do about it in my church. There is a lot of talking and guessing about culture today, but if you want to actually learn some ideas of what to do in your church to engage emerging generations, than this is a wonderful book to do so.

We have tried a lot of things, but i wish i had this book before we began trying them. I also love that it gives examples from all around the country, so we can see what is happening in a variety of churches and not just in an isolated church or one person's experience.

The detailed chapters of how to get started are exactly what we need, so i highly highly recommend this for anyone thinking of starting something new or changing what you are doing. If you are actually in ministry and serious about doing something and not just talking about it, then this book is great for you.