Worship Matters
From Neoredemptive
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Bob Kauflin
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Synopsis
There is a glut of literature out there discussing the theology and practice of worship both as lifestyle and as the singing of the gathered church. Kauflin is a Sovereign Grace worship leader whose writing reflects a gentle Calvinism and a considerate Charismaticism, and the result is a book that's head and shoulders above the pack.
Doc's Take
A really good read. The book I wanted to write, written by someone with more credibility than I'll ever have.
Rightly keeps the focus on Jesus and not on the "worship leader".
Artfully negotiates the usual rhetorical tarpit of whether we should call them "worship leaders", "music directors", "lead musicians", or something else.
Stays far clear of the twin pitfalls of worship definitions: the "completely diffuse" definition (everything we do all the time is worship and there's nothing special about singing) and the "music style" definition (worship is when we sing slow emotive songs).
More notes to come...
Personal Aside
I went to an event at Mars Hill Church in Seattle today (Nov 15, 2008) where I had the pleasure of meeting and spending a few minutes talking with Bob Kauflin. As best I can tell he is the real deal - he came across as genuinely humble, eager to learn and to share, very personable, and rightly obsessed with seeing Jesus magnified in all places at all times. His talk was about spontaneity in corporate worship, which is encouraging - the leaders at Mars Hill realize that they need help getting "congregational engagement" off of the theological bullet list and on to the list of core competencies, and they're building strategic relationships with people who are well positioned to coach them in the right direction.
