We all would agree that worship of God is an essential part of a healthy, growing Christian life. We would also agree that the Sunday morning service provides an opportunity for us to come together for corporate worship. I am pleased to see some excellent resources available to equip us for corporate worship - we will take a look at several of them here. However, I do want to caution us to be aware how we present corporate worship. It is not and can not be the only time during a week where people worship God. If the people in our churches think that attending the service, singing songs and listening to a sermon means they have worshipped for the week, then we are sadly presenting a limited, narrow and inaccurate picture of what real worship is. Real worship does include opportunities for corporate worship - singing, praying, listening to a sermon - but real worship must also involve personal Bible study and prayer during the week as well as individuals serving God in some capacity. When we are spending time getting to know and serve God during the week, then we are able to come together for real corporate worship. I encourage you to look over the resources reviewed below, but to also consider how worship is presented to the people in your church and then be sure you are presenting real worship to the people in your church and community.
Dramas With a Message
Author - Doug Fagerstrom
Publisher - Kregel PublicationsDrama is an excellent way to capture the attention of the people in your church service and get them thinking about what you are going to present in the sermon. These resources are written to provide thought provoking opportunities to do exactly that! Tremendously well done Doug and Kregel Publications!
- Favorite Features -
- five volumes available, each with 21 complete dramas
- reproducible resources
- each drama includes -
- parts for two to four characters
- topic listing
- description of drama
- theme for drama
- description of characters and costuming suggestions
- setting/props needed
- full script for each drama
- flexible - able to be utilized in a variety of settings
Steve Green's
MIDI Hymnal
Produced by - logos Research SystemsThis resource is a tool for individuals to utilize for their own growth, personal times for worshipping God and/or for use in corporate worship and singing. Traditional music styles will find this to be an extremely useful resource. Unique, extremely well designed, excellent choice of components, this is truly an effective tool for both individuals and churches. Extremely well done logos Research Systems!
- Favorite Features -
- lyrics for over 3000 hymns with full text for all verses
- index for Scripture hymns
- able to search by word, phrase, Bible reference, first line of a song
- index for author, composer, title, tune
- includes Amazing Grace - 366 Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions to challenge and encourage
- Complete text for, 101 Hymn Stories, 101 More Hymn Stories, The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers, Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts
Worship Team Handbook
Authors - Alison Siewert, Andy Crouch,
Matt Frazer & Sundee
Publisher - InterVarsity PressThis resource provides much to think and work through as you work to provide effective times for corporate worship. Very nicely done Alison, Andy, Matt, Sundee and InterVarsity Press.
- Favorite Features -
- looks at worship, the history, culture and power - emphasizes that "all forms of worship were new, and usually controversial at one time."
- looks at effective leading of singing during corporate worship
- how to build a music team for corporate worship
- the mechanics of music for corporate worship
- what types of music to utilize
- drama in corporate worship
- six sample skits
- preaching as a component of corporate worship
- how to deal with criticism
- six Bible studies for music teams
Worship Resources Table of Contents
'Round About the Church
'Round About the Church - Worship! Copyright © Lynda Freeman Last Updated March 20, 2004 Web Page by Lynda Freeman Send an e-mail to Lynda at LyndaFreeman@roundaboutthechurch.com
