The cultural shift since 2001 is very different than that of the 60's and 70's. It is a culture tired of noise, turned off by phoniness, sick of glitz, and wary of the superficial. It is a culture that is searching for an authentic encounter with God, longing for depth and substance, craving quiet and spiritual contemplation, and moved by visual, tactile forms of communication." "The New Worship Awakening" examines the wide array of worship styles, from traditional to contemporary, currently in practice in today's churches. Webber makes a compelling case for renewing the vigor of the spiritual life of the church through two means: grounding worship in the biblical narrative while at the same time integrating an understanding of worship traditions throughout history. Through astute observations and personal experiences, the author emphasizes that Christ can be encountered through the arts, the services of the Christian year, the Sacraments, the singing of hymns and folk songs, the passing of the peace, the Liturgy, and many other means that incorporate Christian worship styles through the ages. He makes the all-important point that worship today celebrates the same Christ who walked the earth two thousand years ago, and that in true and lively worship there is divine action. "There is an action from above: the Holy Spirit delivers Christ and the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection to the worshippers."

In THE CHURCH AWAKENING, Charles Swindoll discusses the challenges, struggles, and priorities of the church in the twenty-first century. He reveals the problems inherent in the entertainment-based postmodern church and shows how a return to biblical teaching will restore its strength and impact. Now being replaced by a feel-good message instead of what Christians need to know to stand strong in a world that's lost its way--Swindoll exposes the problems of--and solutions for--the postmodern evangelical church. Just as he opened readers' eyes with his bold statements in The Grace Awakening, now he offers a straightforward volume revealing how to reestablish a life-altering church with Christ as Lord and Master. Illuminating and empowering, THE CHURCH AWAKENING will ignite a revolution in the way Christians "do church" for years to come.

Find Your Way to Greater Closeness with God Jeff Deyo invites you into a conversation about worship in a book that was written for anyone seeking to experience the Lord in a deeper way. Does Gods presence seem distant? Do you have a friend who has grown numb to the things of God? Have you given up on hearing Gods voice in the way so many authors and preachers talk about? Are you ready to awaken your life to a vibrant, one-on-one relationship with the Father once and for all? This is your moment. Your hope is about to be restored as you consider these questions and more: Are we truly present in Gods presence? Do we encounter songs, artists, and atmospheres without encountering God Himself? What do we do when we lose the emotion that often surrounds worshiping God? Why are so many of us tempted to put ministry for God above intimacy with God? Are we unintentionally worshiping the image of a false god when we cherry-pick easy-to-swallow scriptures about Gods character? Can the good work of serving the poor and moving in the supernatural cause us to miss the one thing? Do we allow potential embarrassment to keep us from loving and worshiping God extravagantly? Shift your perspective on relationship with God from obligation to invitation and rediscover authentic worship that reaches from the secret place to the marketplace.

Stop hitting the spiritual snooze button. Would you describe your walk with God as fresh and exciting? Would you describe your spiritual life as vibrant and passionate? If not, would you like these attributes to be the norm in your everyday relationship with God? Are you ready to experience an awakening? Awakening helps you stir up your slumbering soul. You’ll discover how to break out of your season of dryness or get off to a great start either in the New Year or the next season in life. Take your faith-walk from a “going through the motions” or “have to” mindset to the stimulating, fresh “want to” experience of enjoying God’s presence—24/7. Weems encourages you to surrender fully, to discover the right kind of fuel for the journey, and to learn a new way to pray and fast. This lifestyle is not based on rules or religion, but on a deep, satisfying, motivating relationship with God. Included in Awakening is a 21-Day Plan that will guide you through the principles that ensure a lasting, fresh relationship with God—even in a world where everything quickly becomes stale. “It’s time to wake up and put an end to spiritual sluggishness! I promise this year will be the best of your life if it is your best year spiritually.” – Stovall Weems

A historical and philosophical study of how evangelical worship styles have changed with each great spiritual awakening from the Early Church era to the modern Praise and Worship movement.

What if the presence of God became so real in people's hearts that it revived the church and ushered in the next Jesus Movement? From the Upper Room in Jerusalem to the Moravian community in Germany, God's personal presence always changes everything. Awaken the Dawn chronicles the story of a movement of day-and-night worship, prayer, creativity, and mission that is impacting America and the nations by bringing the presence of God into our cities and campuses. This story is part of the same movement David pioneered when he served as the greatest king in Israel's history and that the Book of Acts chronicles as God's presence filled communities. It's time for a generation to find their voice in the symphony of creative worship, prayer, and gospel proclamation that God is orchestrating. Jesus' way of changing the world is surprising and exhilarating and is certainly the opposite of the systems of the world. This book will help you find your part in Jesus' plan by discussing: What God's presence is and how it changes our hearts Incredible stories of God's activity in the nation and what He is saying through them God's values and how He brings transformation and mercy Why Jesus is central to all that the Holy Spirit is doing This book will equip you to be a part of Jesus' astounding storyline for a great spiritual awakening. It will give you hope and keys on how God is unfolding his mission of mercy and transformation and how you can be a part of it.

Learn to Live and Lead a Life of Authentic Worship The Way of Worship is a practical, hands-on guide for readers seeking to better equip themselves as worshipers and worship leaders. Written by veteran worship leader Michael Neale and worship-theologian Dr. Vernon M. Whaley, this book combines skillful storytelling and biblical wisdom to help guide readers through the scriptural foundations and essential practices of worship. This book is ideal for anyone wanting a deeper more biblical understanding of what worship truly is, including: Worship leaders Pastors Youth pastors Worship team members College or seminary students training for ministry Each chapter takes you on a journey of discovery through different important facets of worship. Each chapter features: River Story: Episodes in each chapter take you on a white-water rafting adventure and draw connections to the role of a worship leader Biblical Application: Provides concrete application of biblical principles to worship based on the most recent episode of the River Story Essential Wisdom: Addresses important issues facing worship leaders on a week-to-week basis Scripture Focused: Every chapter features an abundance of relevant Scripture passages to help you understand what the Bible really says about worship Engaging, wise, and thoroughly steeped in Scripture, The Way of Worship is the go-to guide for Christians who desire to live and lead authentic worship.

A book of hope that leads readers beyond the frustration and guilt of trying to please others to the charming, liberating grace of God. For the growing number of people who feel that life should be more than grim-faced religion, this book offers a glorious alternative--the truth that sets us free. Swindoll is the bestselling author of Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life.

Modern worship leaders are restless. They have inherited a model of leadership that equates leading worship with being a rock star. But leading worship is more than a performance, it's about shaping souls and making disciples. Every worship leader is really a pastor. The Worship Pastor is a practical and biblical introduction to this essential pastoral role. Filled with engaging, illustrative stories it is organized to address questions of theory and practice, striving to balance conversational accessibility with informed instruction. Part One presents a series of evocative "vignettes"--intriguing and descriptive titles and metaphors of who a Worship Pastor is and what he or she does. It shows the Worship Pastor as Church-Lover, Disciple Maker, Corporate Mystic, and Doxological Philosopher. Part Two covers specific roles related to ministry within the worship service itself--the Worship Pastor as Theological Dietician, Caregiver, Mortician, Emotional Shepherd, War General, Prophetic Guardian, Missional Historian, and Liturgical Architect. Part Three looks at ministry beyond the worship service--the Worship Pastor as Visionary Teacher, Evangelist, Artist Chaplain, and Team Leader. While some worship leaders are eager to embrace their pastoral role, many are lost and confused or lack the resources of time or money to figure out what this role looks like. Pastor Zac Hicks gives us a clear guide to leading worship, one that takes the pastoral call seriously.

Does it really matter? Does it matter if we have free will? Does it matter if Calvinism is true? And does what you think about it matter? No and yes. No, it doesn't matter because God is who he is and does what he does regardless of what we think of him, just as the solar system keeps spinning around the sun even if we're convinced it spins around the earth. Our opinions about God will not change God, but they can change us. And so yes, it does matter because the conversations about free will and Calvinism confront us with perhaps the only question that really matters: who is God? This is a book about that question--a book about the Bible, black holes, love, sovereignty, hell, Romans 9, Jonathan Edwards, John Piper, C. S. Lewis, Karl Barth, and a little girl in a red coat. You've heard arguments, but here's a story--Austin Fischer's story, and his journey in and out of Calvinism on a trip to the center of the universe.