In Writing Worship: How to Craft Heartfelt Songs for the Church, the Christian songwriter will explore the depths of the heart, immersing in relationship with God before learning practical worship songwriting skills. Award-winning songwriter Krissy Nordhoff helps lyricists and musicians sharpen their skills in starting songs, adding dimension, removing distractions, maintaining momentum, and co-writing. Songwriters and worship leaders are challenged to trust the Lord with their gifts as they put their new skills into practice. They also have access to: Links to video with examples A songwriter personality assessment Podcast episodes for every songwriter personality Access to special downloads, including a leader’s guide for group learning and an audiobook with extra content from Krissy

(Integrity). This instructional book by songwriters Paul Baloche and Jimmy & Carol Owens covers basic songwriting principles like how to develop a song after inspiration comes, 30 characteristics that make a song memorable, 16 shared qualities of great worship songs and 12 keys to unlock writer's block. You will also learn how to gain the listener's attention quickly, find fresh ways of expressing worship and choose just the right words. God Songs also contains advice on how to make your song its best before releasing it, how to get your songs heard and used by others, and ways to minister most effectively with your music. Song stories and advice from writers and publishers such as Darlene Zschech, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Bart Millard, Craig Dunnagan and Rita Baloche are also included. Softcover, 304 pages.

(Reference). Born from eight years of teaching songwriting for the Academy of Gospel Music Arts, Robert Sterling's The Craft of Christian Songwriting deftly tackles the much-overlooked subject of craft in the Christian songwriter's creative process. The book challenges its readers to aspire to the highest level of excellence, providing chapter after chapter of practical insights into the Christian songwriting experience. All the way from "Getting Started" to "Building a Demo," The Craft of Christian Songwriting shows beginning writers how to make their next song their "best song ever," all from the unique perspective of the Christian songwriter. Practical and realistic, The Craft of Christian Songwriting is a smart read for anyone with aspirations of becoming a Christian songwriter. Highlights: * Hundreds of examples from hit songs * Concise and practical instruction on all the essential elements of the songwriting process * Writing exercises to help you improve your craft * Learn the ins and outs of collaboration * Examine 10 full lyric reprints, complete with the author's analysis * Discover how to produce a proper demo recording

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.

This unique volume brings together wide-ranging research that could only be written by someone singularly expert in the full range of Christian worship and music from ancient to modern. These essays by Wendy Porter span eras and areas of study from the New Testament to the present and encompass an expansive view of worship, music, and liturgy. Some focus on what is known (or not) about early Christian worship, including the early creeds and hymns in the New Testament and whether music originated in Jewish or Greco-Roman contexts. Some introduce firsthand work on ancient liturgical manuscripts, such as a sixth-century manuscript by hymnwriter and preacher Romanos Melodus or a tenth-century ekphonetic liturgical manuscript. Extending her research on sixteenth-century English composers as musical interpreters, Porter includes several papers on how musicians have functioned as theological interpreters in worship and music. One chapter engages theological comparisons between well-known compositions by Bach, Beethoven, and Stravinsky, another creatively explores what contemporary worship leaders can learn from sixteenth-century songwriter and worship leader William Byrd, while others invite thoughtful reflection on what we can all learn if we stop to consider how Christians have functioned and fared in their worship through the centuries.

A well-known and respected authority on hymnody for more than forty years, Sing with Understanding is now available in its updated third edition. This edition builds on its predecessors' scholarship, and enhances it with recent developments. New to this edition is a focus on the theology of hymn texts and their music as they form Christians in prayer. More than one-hundred fifty congregational songs from the treasures of Western hymnody, recent Contemporary Christian repertoire, and the global church are analyzed in depth. Also new is a companion website featuring bibliographic resources for additional research, articles referenced in the print version, as well as a glossary of musical/theological terms and indexes.

A COMPLETE, PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING YOUR MUSIC MINISTRYDeveloping a career in Christian music can be a daunting task. What are the most important aspects? Where do you focus your energy and efforts? You attend industry showcases and seminars and learn that you should develop your ministry and key relationships within the industry, you should develop your press kit and stage presentation, and you should learn as much as possible about the Christian music industry, but how?The Artist?s Guide To Christian Music answers your most basic question; ?How do I develop and grow my music ministry?? This book answers that question in specific detail and provides a step-by-step guideline for you to follow. It is a road map for the development, growth and refinement of your music ministry.The Artist?s Guide To Christian Music is loaded with nothing but essential information to grow your ministry and enhance your career. It will ensure your best opportunity to succeed in this highly competitive industry. This informative guide will show you in clear, logical steps how to:? Develop and fund your music ministry? Troubleshoot your career and make your music better? Develop a marketing plan & effective press kit? Effectively promote yourself and your music? Develop a stage presence and connect with your audience? Use MP3 & the Internet to develop your personal distribution channel? Submit your music and whereThis book is the resource for every independent Christian music artist. The Artist?s Guide To Christian Music gives you the tools and information necessary to pursue the ministry God has called you into. ?Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see? (Hebrews 11:1).