Thánh Kinh Thần Học Viện

Alliance Evangeilcal Divinity School

MUSIC IN WORSHIP MINISTRY

MUSC 150
“The worship to which we are called in our renewed state is far too important to be left
to personal preferecnes, to whims or to marketing strategies. It is the pleasing of God
that is at the heart of worship. Therefore, our worship must be informed at every point
by the Word of God as we seek God’s own instructions for worship that is pleasing to
Him.” – R.C. Sproul

Welcome to the Course

Even though this course is an elective, the matter of worship was never intended to be a side
note but a central part of the believer both coorporately and privately. In the Old Testament,
“church music” was the responsibility of the Levites not the “professional.” If we translate that
to today, worship planning and exceution should be from a pastor with biblical and theological
training and not just with a young person who plays a little guitar and can entertain a crowd.
The hope is that this course will allow for us to go further than just music in church but for us to
see the deep implications of worship that seems to be forgotten by many.

Course Information
Course Description An introductory level course in Church music. The basic elements of
song leading, including music fundamentals, organizing a song service,
worship leading, and reading the musical score. Other areas of study
include music in the Bible and Church history, the Church music
program, and problems germane to music in the Church.

Credits 3 Credits

Instructor Peter Doan

PastorPeterDoan@[Link]
714-290-8871 (Cell phone/Text)

Course Learning Outcomes

This course is a peek into the complex world of Christian Worship starting with a theological
foundation to logistics of dealing with musicians. Navigating what church music was originally
versus what it has been today is a challenge for church leaders. This class offers resources but
more importantly a Biblical framework.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

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1. Understand the BIBLICAL and THEOLOGICAL framework and implications of a worship

service
2. Understand how worship involves all five aspects of life: spiritual, mental, emotional,
social, and physical
3. Understand how the five senses (see, hear, touch, smell and taste) play a major role in
worship
4. Understand Music: How to lead worship, read music, read chords
5. Lead a worship team effectively: practical and spiritual
6. Navigate the complexities of working with people relating to worship

Course Format
This course is entirely online through Zoom conferencing app. The course will also be recorded.
Students are expected to listen to lectures, participate in discussions and be present with
webcams ON during the class except during breaks. Students could keep their microphones on
mute unless commenting or raising a question.

A Typical Week in This Course

• Classes will be on Mondays from 7-10PM.

• Book Reports: It is up to the student to do his/her reading and submit book reports in
before the last day of class. Ideally, the book, “Then Sings My Soul,” would be a broken
down to be read throughout the whole class. The other two book reports could be due
at the end of the course. Go at your own pace.
• Church Visits: The student is to visit three different types of churches. Spread the
visitations throughout the course.
• Midterm Paper and Final project will be due on the due date. These are projects that are
worked on throughout the course. Pace yourselves.
• No final.

Course Materials and Tools

Hicks, Zac M. The Worship Pastor: A Call to Ministry for Worship Leaders and Teams. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2016. ISBN 978-0310525196

Brooks, Steven D. Worship Quest: An Exploration of Worship Leadership. Eugene: WIPF and
Stock Publishers, 2015. ISBN 978-1-62564-920-1

Morgan, Robert. Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, 2003. ISBN 978-0785249399

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Alliance Evangeilcal Divinity School

Assignments, Projects, and Grading

This section describes the types of scored activities that will be included in the course grade. It
should provide information about assessment activities, such as projects, group work, exams, or
research papers. Basic grading policies should be included. Additionally, this section covers how
the course grade will be calculated (e.g. weighted categories, grading scale). Note that
assessments should tie to desired learning outcomes.

Summary of Grade Criteria

Assignment Points Weight Due Date
Book Reports 20% At the end of the course
Field Trips 30% 3 total. Student’s scheduling
Midterm Paper 20%
Final Project 30% Last day of the course
Attendance & 5% final grade deduction after the
Participation 2nd absence
100%

Grading Scale
A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 59%-below

Grading Procedure and Feedback

Policy on Late Assignments:

Late Assignments will not be accepted for credit, and will be given a zero. This is based on the
principle that neither the ministry environment, nor the music industry waits for those in
leadership to get ready. Performances come, meetings are scheduled, and those we lead expect
us to fulfill our duties as worship leaders, directors, conductors, producers, on time and
prepared.

Technology failures are never an acceptable excuse for late or missing work. Computers are
unpredictable, and crashes may result in the loss of work. Networks go down, hard drives fail,
and printers get jammed or run out of ink. These are the same realities that professionals in the
field deal with. Please plan accordingly, make multiple back-ups of critical assignments, and
complete your work in time to allow for unexpected technical problems.

Attendance and Participation

Show up for class on time. If there are any absences, students are responsible to watch the
recorded lesson. There will be 2 accepted absences, however, every subsequent absence will

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result in 5% deduction in grade every time. If there is a family emergency, please message me
privately.

Date Class Notes

August 26th Introductions & Sharing: Personal & Ministry. Students to share desired
Expectations goals. Go over the general expectations of the class
September 2nd NO CLASS Labor Day
September 9th Music in the Bible:
History & Tradition
September 16th Spiritual Formation &
Discipleship
September 23rd Different Roles of a
Worship Leader
September 30th Standards for an Midterm paper due
IDEAL Worship Team
October 7th Planning a Worship
Service
October 14th Aesthetics of
Worship
October 21th Music Theory:
Reading Music
October 28th NO CLASS
November 4th Music Theory 2:
Conducting and
Chords
Novemeber 11th Vocal Training
November 18th Presentation of Each student will present their findings from three
Church Visits different church visits. Turn in church visitation
reflections.
November 25th NO CLASS Final Project Presentation.
December 2nd Presentation of Final Book reflections due. Final Project due.
Projects

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Course Assignments:

BOOK REFLECTIONS
1) Submit an online reflection based on, “The Worship Pastor.” Your entry must be a
minimum of 500 words and include what you have learned from this book, describing
what it was and how it impacted you. What does this book tell me about my worship?
Are there things in this book that tell me what I might need to incorporate into my
understanding of worship? What is the author’s primary premise for writing this book?
Do I agree with the premise that the author constructs about worship? In what ways do
I disagree with this author? What one particular idea or chapter in the book stands out
to me? What made me glad (or mad) about this book? … and any other response
question that you might ask.
Due: December 2nd, 11:59PM
2) Submit an online reflection based on, “Worship Quest.” Your entry must be a minimum
of 500 words and include what you have learned from this book, describing what it was
and how it impacted you.
Due: December 2nd, 11:59PM
Book reflections could be sent as an attachment as a *.pdf, *.doc or google doc.

CHURCH VISITATION REFLECTIONS – 3 Churches

- Students are to visit 3 different types of churches:
o Traditional church (Episcopal, Lutheran, Catholic, Greek Orthodox)
o Charismatic/ethnic church (Pentecostal, Hispanic, African American, etc.)
o Church Plant/Mega-Church
- Reflection papers should be no less than one page answering the following questions:
o What are my thoughts before I entered the church?
o When I walked in the doors in the first 5 minutes,
§ Was I welcomed? Did I feel lost? Was the environment inviting?
§ Did I feel as though I walked into a “different world?”
§ What kind of printed materials were available to me?
§ How many people approached me?
o What was the music and worship like?
§ Music? Volume? Make up of worship team?
§ Projection
§ Was there anything distracting?
§ What aspects did I like? What aspects I did not like?
§ Were the worship team members engaged or were they just present?
§ What was new for you? What made you uncomfortable?
o After attending the service, how did it change your perception of this particular
church?
o What things would you incorporate in to your church? After attending this
church, what aspects do you wish was part of your church?

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MIDTERM PAPER – Minimum 5 pages

The midterm paper is an opportunity for you to share what the state of “worship” is at your
particular church. It could include the following questions:
- What is the order of worship in my church?
- Who directs each aspect of the worship?
- How are worship practices done?
- How intentional is each aspect of worship? How much preparation, planning, and
expected outcome research is done?
- How are songs selected?
- What does the preparation for Sunday worship look like? Including but not limited to
just the Sunday of, but also preparation in advanced from one year, one month, one
week.
- What aspects of the worship service has been most impactful for you and for others?
- What aspects of your church service is distracting or is a “turn off” to you, to members
of the congregation, to guests?
- What is the current setup of your sound system? Media system (PowerPoint,
MediaShout, ProPresenter, EasyWorship, etc.)?
- What things does the church do in terms of visuals? Decorations? Seasonal and regular
All in all, this is a picture snapshot of your current situation at your church.

FINAL PROJECT: PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY PAPER

At the end of the course, students will write an extended paper articulating their own thoughts
on music and worship in the church or their perceived context of ministry. Students will explain
in detail their understanding of all aspects of music ministry in the church based on the lectures
and reading. In contrast to their midterm paper, based on their church observations and
readings of the required text, with a thesis statement, what does the student see needs
changing in the church in order to match their individual philosophy of worship thesis
statement in all aspects of worship at their church or ministry context. And most importantly,
how do they plan on leading changing in order of importance and in a reasonable timeline over
a period of five to ten years?
Length: 6 pages minimum.
Due: December 2nd, 11:59PM

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COURSE BIBLIOGRAPHY & RESOURCES

Worship—General
- Jones, Cheslyn, Geoffrey Wainwright, Edward Yarnold, and Paul Bradshaw. The Study of
Liturgy. Rev. ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
- Senn, Frank C. Christian Liturgy: Catholic and Evangelical. Minneapolis: Fortress Press,
1997.
- White, James F. Introduction to Christian Worship. 3rd rev. ed. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 2000.

Worship—Theology/Philosophy
- Anderson, Herbert and Edward Foley. Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals: Weaving
Together the Human and the Divine. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998.
- Best, Harold M. Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts.
Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2003.
- Bradshaw, Paul F. Two Ways of Praying. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
- Ellis, Christopher J. Gathering: A Theology and Spirituality of Worship in Free Church
Tradition. London: SCM Press, 2004.
- Hotz, Kendra G. and Matthew T. Matthews. Shaping the Christian Life: Worship and the
Religious Affections. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
- Mitchell, Nathan D. Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship, Sacraments. Maryknoll: Orbis
Books, 2006.
- Schmit, Clayton J. Sent and Gathered: A Worship Manual for the Missional Church.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.
- Smith, Susan Marie. Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual.
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2012.
- Webber, Robert E. Ancient-Future Worship: Proclaiming and Enacting God’s Narrative.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.
- ------. Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 1999.
- ------. Worship Old & New. Rev ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
- ------. The Younger Evangelicals: Facing the Challenges of the New World. Grand Rapids:
Baker Books, 2002.

Worship—Resources
- Brooks, Steven D. The Week That Changed the World: Daily Reflections on Holy Week.
Bloomington: Westbow Press, 2021.
- Hogan, Lucy Lind. Lenten Services. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2009.
- Tirabassi, Maren and Maria I. Tirabassi, eds. Before the Amen: Creative Resources for
Worship. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2007.
- Wallace, Robin Knowles. Palm Sunday and Holy Week Services. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 2006.
- ------. Communion Services. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006.

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Worship—Practice
- Basden, Paul A., ed. Exploring the Worship Spectrum: 6 Views. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2004.
- Brooks, Steven D. Worship Quest: An Exploration of Worship Leadership. Eugene: Wipf
and Stock, 2015.
- Hawn, C. Michael. One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship.
Herndon: The Alban Institute, 2003.
- Long, Kimberly Bracken. The Worshiping Body: The Art of Leading Worship. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
- Pinson, J. Matthew, ed. Perspectives on Christian Worship. Nashville: B&H Academic,
2009.
- Rienstra, Debra and Ron Rienstra. Worship Words: Discipling Language for Faithful
Ministry. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.
- Vanderwell, Howard, ed. The Church of All Ages: Generations Worshiping Together.
Herndon: The Alban Institute, 2008.

Worship—Design
- Cherry, Constance M. The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally
Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010.
- Malefyt, Norma deWaal and Howard Vanderwell. Designing Worship Together: Models
and Strategies for Worship Planning. Herndon: The Alban Institute, 2005.
- Miller, Barbara Day. Encounters with the Holy: A Conversational Model for Worship
Planning. Herndon: The Alban Institute, 2010.
Worship—History
- Harper, John. The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth
Century: A Historical Introduction and Guide for Students and Musicians. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1991.
- Wainwright, Geoffrey and Karen B. Westerfield Tucker, eds. The Oxford History of
Christian Worship. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.
- White, James F. Protestant Worship: Traditions in Transition. Louisville: John Knox Press,
1989.

Church Music—Theology/Philosophy
- Begbie, Jeremy S. Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
- Best, Harold M. Music through the Eyes of Faith. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.
- Bradley, C. Randall. From Memory to Imagination: Reforming the Church’s Music. Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdman’s Pub. Co., 2012.
- Dawn, Marva J. A Royal “Waste” of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being
Church for the World. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1999.
- Marsh, Clive and Vaughan S. Roberts. Personal Jesus: How Popular Music Shapes Our
Souls. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012.

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- Redman, Robb. The Great Worship Awakening: Singing a New Song in the Postmodern
Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, [Link] Music—History
- Hustad, Donald P. Jubilate II: Church Music in Worship and Renewal. Carol Stream: Hope
Publishing Co., 1993.
- Music, David W. and Milburn Price. A Survey of Christian Hymnody. 4th rev ed. Carol
Stream: Hope Publishing Co., 1999.
- Eskew, Harry and Hugh T. McElrath. Sing with Understanding. 2nd rev. ed. Nashville:
Church Street Press, 1995.
- Hobbs, June Hadden. “I Sing for I Cannot Be Silent”: The Feminization of American
Hymnody, 1870-1920. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1997.
- Westermeyer, Paul. With Tongues of Fire: Profiles in 20th-Century Hymn Writing. St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1994.
- ------. Let the People Sing: Hymn Tunes in Perspective. Chicago: GIA Pub., 2005.
- ------. Te Deum: The Church and Music. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998.
- Wilson-Dickson, Andrew. The Story of Christian Music: From Gregorian Chant to Black
Gospel. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.

Church Music—Leadership, Administration, & Practice

- Bradley, C. Randall. From Postlude to Prelude: Music Ministry’s Other Six Days. St. Louis:
Morning Star Music Publishers, 2004.
- Hawn, C. Michael. Gather Into One: Praying and Singing Globally. Grand Rapids: William
B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2003.
- Measels, Donald Clark. Music Ministry: A Guidebook. Macon: Smyth and Helwys, 2004.

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