The Art of Worship
Opening Our Eyes to the Beauty of the Gospel
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
186 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.37 in
- Paperback
- 9781597527156
- Published: June 2006
$27.00 / £24.00 / AU$36.00
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Paxson Jeancake's The Art of Worship invites readers to explore the intersection of gospel, art, and worship. In the midst of corporate worship--through the artistic media of story, imagery, and expression--people's eyes can be opened to the beautiful, paradoxical truth of the gospel. Gospel-centered worship, however, does not happen in a vacuum. It is crafted and facilitated by human leadership, informed by biblical inquiry and theological conclusions, and fleshed out in the context of a local culture and community. This book explores all of these various facets of worship to help worship leaders, worship planners, pastors, and laypeople experience and plan gospel-centered worship that is contextual and creative, for the glory of God and the edification of his people.
Paxson Jeancake is the Director of Worship at Covenant Church in Palm Bay, Florida. He is the author of Lectionary Journey: Worship Aids for the Christian Year, a contributor to Speaking the Truth in Love: The Theology of John M. Frame and has published articles with The Gospel Coalition and Church Tech Today. He and his wife Allison have recorded six worship projects--a tapestry of psalms, hymns, and original worship songs. They live in Melbourne, Florida, with their two daughters, Laura and Mallory.
As a pastor, I spend more time and effort in navigating the peaks and valleys of our church's worship than any other aspect of its ministry. I am always grappling for the categories through which to think about the worship of our church, its worship leaders, and my appropriate relationship to each of them. 'The Art of Worship' has given me those categories. Paxson's attention to the worship leader's task of thinking like a theologian, laboring like an artist, and shepherding like a pastor is worth far more than the price of this book. This is a book that every pastor, musician, and conscientious layperson should read.
-- Bart Garrett
Lead Pastor,
Christ Church of Berkeley, California
Finally . . . a book on worship which approaches every aspect of our most glorious doxological calling from the perspective of the gospel of God's grace. 'The Art of Worship' invites us to ponder the various ways the Scriptures call forth a congruent response of worship to God's consuming love for us in Jesus. As my friend and colleague, Paxson gives us rich content without predictable cliche, practical instruction devoid of pragmatic gimmicks, and a passion to glorify God as true worshippers, and not merely satisfy ourselves as selfish consumers.
-- Scotty Smith
Founding Pastor,
Christ Community Church, Franklin, Tennessee
In 'The Art of Worship', Paxson Jeancake presents a compelling case for 'why' "story, imagery and experience, lyrical and poetic expression" should fill our worship. But more: he offers a handbook of practical wisdom as to 'how'. Jeancake masterfully applies John Frame's tri-perspectival theology to worship craftsmanship: how Christian theology and the gospel story should govern what we do in worship (normative), how in their cultural context worship leaders can work through the bewildering range of choices about liturgy, sacrament, and musical style (situational), and how worship leaders themselves can be better shaped by the good news of Jesus's lordship and love (existential). At one and the same time, this is an amazingly simple, extraordinarily profound, and utterly useful book. It deserves a privileged place in every worship leader's tool kit.
-- Reggie M. Kidd
Professor of New Testament,
Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando,
and author of 'With One Voice: Discovering Christ's Song in Our Worship' (2005)
"In The Art of Worship, Paxson Jeancake presents us with a greatly needed understanding of gospel-centered worship. He not only draws on the riches of biblical exegesis, theology, and the arts, but also goes on to show us practical ways to integrate these ideals into the context of our own local culture and worshiping community. As a theological practitioner, Jeancake is forging his theology and practice of gospel-centered worship in the trenches of real-life ministry. No wonder he is impacting so many Christian leaders today. I am very grateful for this book, and I highly recommend it."
--Steve Childers, Seminary Professor at RTS Orlando & President of Global Church Advancement