Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God Paperback – March 26, 2008

This is great material here. It is a book that hits the important aspects of our Worship to God as individuals and as a community of brothers and sisters in Christ! He begins his first few chapters making sure that the reader understands what is important is our hearts (what do we love), our understanding (what do we believe), our commitment (what do we practice), and our way of living (what do we model our lives after). These are the drivers which Mr. Kauflin addresses (and I believe even stresses) that cannot be left behind as the reader presses deeper into the book.Each chapter is a short read...I think the longest is probably 15, maybe 20 pages long? I've read some books that attempt to drive home its points multiple times within a chapter and (for me) it starts to feel like beating a dead horse. Other books have the longest stories ever such that you forget what the point was to begin with until the chapter ends and you're like "...oh, yeah, that's what this chapter was about...". Not so with this book by Mr. Kauflin. He has done an amazing job being short and to the point for all serving in our Worship to God.If you want something that is much more in-depth (I would call these dense books) about Worship, you may find yourself hungry for more than what this book will share. But if you're looking for something short, concise, and clear regarding our Worship, you may very well find this book to be a great resource. If you're a praise leader or a praise team member, you should definitely pick this book up. If you're a Pastor or Director looking for a contemporary read on Worship, this is also good material...although I suspect that, if you are one, you likely have better material or want more in-depth material than what this may cover.

I am not a worship leader. I'm a pastor. No, wait - that makes me a worship leader, just not in the realm of music. That's an important distinction to make, and one which Bob Kauflin makes in this valuable book: "Anyone who encourages others to praise God can be referred to as a 'worship leader.' Worship can involve music, but it can happen without it as well." Careful thinking like that make this book a treasure-trove of biblical wisdom and practical insight on worship.Kauflin unpacks what a worship leader does (see other reviews for the definition - I don't want to be needless repetitive), discusses healthy tensions in our theology and practice of worship, speaks specifically to the relational dynamics in which every worship leader is involved (with the church, the team, the pastor), and more.The book is rooted in the Gospel, robust in theology, and well-written. I was encouraged and instructed. And I'm committed to making sure every present and future member of our church's worship team gets a copy. This is a great book for pastors, worship leaders, and worship teams. In fact, it's a great book for any one who wants to worship God in spirit and truth. It is practical enough to be of real use to musicians and leaders, but it is general enough to encourage and help any believer.Spread the word. This is a great book on worship! Thanks Bob Kauflin for serving the church with this book.

Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin is a great read on the subject of worship. In the book, Kauflin covers not just why we worship, and not just on the biblical perspectives of worship, but also on the nuts and bolts of how worship leaders can lead more effectively, how we can keep ourselves grounded and avoid some of the pitfalls common to those who lead in the church, and finally, how we can be better staff members and support for our pastors. The book is loaded with not only helpful tips, but truly deep insights that could only come from someone who has pursued worship as a lifestyle.I love that Kauflin never tries to parade superiority or overconfidence over the reader, but instead teaches through the examples of his own mistakes through his many years as a worship leader and pastor. This book will benefit not only the new worship leader, but anyone who is serious about being part of a biblical, God-centered ministry. With Worship Matters, Kauflin has given the church a book that is worthy of not just reading, but of reading over and over again. Exceptional.

Kauflin's sheer honesty in providing personal examples from circumstances like conflict resolution, song selection, and an attitude of holiness make this book a practical must for anyone leading music that glorifies Christ. Each chapter is conveniently devoted to one simple topic and is a quick study for very real encounters that any worship leader has, is or will experience at one point if he/she is seeking excellence in their role. It's highly thorough, but not monotonous and tedious. Kauflin expresses a great deal of personal opinion, but it only makes this book more endearing because it displays a true passion to see music leaders in the church and outside function at their best. I recommend this as a regular reading for all worship leaders, I myself will be making it an annual reading!

Kauflin spends time in both practical and theological realms in the book. There's a lot of citations so you're not just hearing from him. His view on musical worship is spot on in terms of encouraging missional living and building up truth in the congregation. In fact, in my church I'm training up worship leaders using this book as the curriculum. There's some really good stuff in here and I definitely recommend it for people wanting to learn more about leading worship.

Bob Kauflin is thoroughly Biblical and practical in this book. I highly recommend it to anyone involved in music worship in a local church.