Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations

by Dan Kimball, David Crowder, Sally Morgenthaler

Churches are aging. Even among megachurches with their modern technology and huge number of members, whole generations are now missing. In order to reach the 18-35 year olds, churches need to incorporate alternative worship services into their ministries that meet the unique needs of the emerging generations. In a conversational, narrative style, author Dan Kimball guides church leaders on how to create alternative services from start to finish. Using anecdotes from his own experience at Graceland, Kimball presents six creative models, providing real-life examples of each type. Emerging Worship covers key topics including • Developing a prayer team • Evaluating the local mission field and context • Determining leaders and a vision-based team • Understanding why youth pastors are usually the ideal staff to start a new service • Recognizing the difference in values between emerging worship and the rest of the church • Asking critical questions beforehand

Genres: Nonfiction, Church, Christian, Christianity, Theology

238 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

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Dan is the author of several books on leadership, church, and culture. He was one of the founders of Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California where he still serves on staff. He is also a faculty member at Western Seminary and leads the ReGeneration Project, which exists to equip and encourage new generations to think theologically and participate in the mission of the church. He is married to Becky and has two daughters, Katie and Claire. His passion is to see Christians follow and represent Jesus in the world with love, intelligence, and creativity.

He has a master’s degree from Western Seminary and a doctorate degree from George Fox University.

He enjoys comic art, punk and rockabilly music, big band jazz, pre-1960 gospel roots music, Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals, Ford Mustangs, bowling, Sun Records and 1930’s though 50’s Universal Monster Movies.

Reviews

[Jesse Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Nothing crazy- the book markets itself as "EMERGENT," but it's fairly Orthodox. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the emphasis on growing a church or worshipping according to people's preferences that appeared. One suggestion I would have walking forward from this book is that worship services are missional rather than preferential.

[Mike Holohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a useful framework for developing worship experiences that are multi-sensory, participatory, and self-directed.

This book is an artifact of the worship wars and it shows. A significant number of pages are dedicated to defending the concept, I.e. building a biblical argument, or advice on how to win over your senior pastor. Those parts don’t feel very relevant now. The inclusion of Willow Creek as an example surprised me. I always felt the emerging church movement as a resistance to mega churches but I guess the divide wasn’t as wide as I thought.

[Martin Crowhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be read by all, especially those who can't see why people want to experiment with new, (and old) forms of worship. I think it provides a good understanding of why a counter reformation inj worship forms could bless us all

[Julio R. Vargas-Vidal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

Good reading and good explanations on what emerging worship is. This approach is not for everyone or for all churches, but nevertheless it should be read and learned.

[Wes Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is tailored for people involved in designing worship gatherings for emerging generations. It is very helpful in that regard. It may not be as interesting for a lay person that isn't involved in worship planning, because it deals with a lot more logistics and less underlying thought that The Emerging Church, but its definitely an interesting read.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book was fine in its own way; I suppose the real problem is that the topic of organizing a worship service does not really appeal to me right now. I'd much rather discuss the underlying philosophical and theological assumptions and beliefs that go into they "why" of methodology rather than look at the "how."

[David Hardin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stuff

There was a lot to like about this book. It is an excellent glimpse into what emerging worship is trying to accomplish. As a 30 something I resonate with a lot of it. It also contains some of the "our way is better" attitude that marks so much of the emerging church movement, as well as some of the questionable theology that has marked so much of it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this for all of 50p in a used book shop. It's a quick read, as others have said probably aimed more at actual worship leaders but I found it interesting in explaining what different churches are doing. I think it was written in 2004 though and while still relevant there is a lot that feels a bit outdated already.

[Matt Hartzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerging Worship is a really practical guide for how to change your gathering space to engage a post-modern generation. It is chock full of practical tips and tricks for re-energizing your weekly gatherings.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, practical discussion of how some churches have changed their worship gatherings to meet the spiritual needs of, and communicate more profoundly to younger generations. Anyone involved or interested in planning and designing worship would be wise to check this out.

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap, Crap, Crap. He only talk about putting a face lift on worship not the real substance behind making worship more attainable for a new generation.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much new here, but there are some good remindars about the appeal of multisensory worship for the 18-25 group.

[Jt]

some good thoughts