Review: The Way of Worship

In The Way of Worship, respected worship leaders and teachers Michael Neale and Vernon Whaley present an introduction to thinking about worship leadership. This book is divided into two parts, Precepts and Practices. Each chapter includes an analogy of leading worship alongside a river journey, biblical application, and practical wisdom. These chapters are readable, offering brief vignettes into worship ministry.

To be sure, this is not a book on the specifics of leading worship. You will not learn how to plan a service or how to lead rehearsals, but this book lays the theological and spiritual foundations for worship leadership. This book is more like a devotional that seeks to grow the soul of the worship leader. The subtitle of “living and leading authentic worship” should be understood as living a Christ-like life of worship rather than “planning and executing authentic worship services.” The student workbook includes helpful reflection questions. While this should not be considered a comprehensive book for worship leaders—consider pairing it with a more scholarly work on worship—this book recognizes the importance that worship leadership, like all ministry, flows out of one’s soul.

(A complimentary review copy was given in exchange for an honest review.)

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