What do you think?
Rate this book
Engage: A Guide to Creating Life-Transforming Worship Services
No matter how great Sunday's worship service was, there's always another Sunday lurking at the end of the next week that must be planned. Church leaders often fall into ruts, working on automatic pilot just trying to get things together, which does not allow for much creativity or focus on designing services that lead to transformation for those involved in them.
Engage is a step-by-step, stress-free guide to planning worship services that allow for and foster true life change. Comprehensive in scope, Engage provides teaching pastors, worship leaders, and volunteers with the tools they need to work together to develop and implement a worship planning system that improves communication, enhances creativity, and honors Jesus every week.
Engage is a step-by-step, stress-free guide to planning worship services that allow for and foster true life change. Comprehensive in scope, Engage provides teaching pastors, worship leaders, and volunteers with the tools they need to work together to develop and implement a worship planning system that improves communication, enhances creativity, and honors Jesus every week.
- GenresLeadershipChurch
218 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 23, 2024
Easy read. Very pragmatic, which seems to be Searcy's style and focus. If you are looking for biblical or theological reflections of Christian worship, wrong book. But if you are looking for practical advice for organizing your worship services better, this book is for you. Some principles are too narrow, as they are processed through Searcy's "seeker" grid. If you can eat the meat and spit out the bones, you will find quite a bit of helpful material hear for being a better steward of the opportunities to touch people's lives in your worship services.
January 25, 2012
This was an entirely pragmatic book exploring preparation methods for churches. While the principles within were helpful, it wasn't written as a principle kind of book but as a specific system. The specificity of it was what kept me from appreciating it more because it didn't fit well with many kinds of pastor or church.
August 18, 2017
This book is extremely applicable to any Sunday worship service. With the foundation of good planning, Searcy equips any pastor and worship pastor with how-to nuggets for improving the worship experience. With a reading level easy for the majority, any church staff can take in this book and implement the ideas given.
The only critique is the consistent disregard for identifying Christianity as an alternative culture. Assimilation was key for Searcy in allowing the audience of regulars and newcomers to feel comfortable.
The only critique is the consistent disregard for identifying Christianity as an alternative culture. Assimilation was key for Searcy in allowing the audience of regulars and newcomers to feel comfortable.
July 8, 2012
A work encouraging greater planning and work toward transformation through Sunday assemblies.
There are many good attributes to the things they suggest. There is value in preparation and planning; there is value in demonstrating competence and seeking after excellence in glorifying God through the acts of the assembly. The idea of a preaching calendar featuring monthly series with different emphases at different times of the year based upon group composition has much to commend it. Seeking life transformation through the Gospel of Christ through the acts of the assembly is certainly a worthy goal.
Nevertheless, I remain a bit uncomfortable with much of what is presented. The authors are bluntly honest about a lot of aspects of planning and preparation, and that honesty has value, but it does seem like they are putting God in a box at times. They value the Holy Spirit, and suggest the Spirit works more effectively through conscientiously planned assemblies. Again, there is great value in planning, but is this perhaps going a bit far?
Perhaps my biggest concern is in regards to the whole concept of the assembly. The book assumes and therefore seems to be speaking towards a congregation with a performance-based mentality in terms of much of what goes on during the assembly. The members of the congregation/visitors to the congregation are relegated to a more passive role, absorbing and relishing the experience so as to make changes in life and being transformed in life. Life change and transformation is well and good, but the book never seems to address, or seems to have much room for, community within the assembly. I have no doubt that the authors value Christian community, but it's not being expressed in terms of the assembly, and that is very distressing. It seems as if the authors expect people as their own individual units to go and be transformed on the basis of what they hear, see, and experience on Sunday. Christianity is absolutely all about transformation, but the transformation takes place within the Christian community and the encouragement and edification of the group.
It does not take long to see how the system the authors suggest will almost entirely consume the time of the minister/evangelist/"pastor"/"teaching pastor," and, in many instances, the time of the "worship pastor" as well. Sunday assemblies are quite important for encouraging Christians and promoting discipleship, and provide an effective time for presenting the Gospel to unbelievers if they happen to be present. But where do we ever get the impression in the New Testament that evangelists/preachers/pastors were entirely consumed by Sunday assembly preparations? Where is the time for evangelism outside of the assembly, or for encouraging Christians at other opportunities, or such like?
Therefore, I remain quite suspicious of the system: it turns an opportunity for mutual encouragement featuring the Lord's Supper and a prepared talk by a preacher into a high-quality performance with excellent entertainment, distinctive from worldly forms of entertainment only on account of the substance and the expectation for future action. It's one thing to engage with people in culture; this involves an abandonment of the Biblical purpose and concept of the Sunday morning assembly of the saints.
Those things which can be prepared can and perhaps should be more effectively prepared. The book does describe many forms of preparation which can make the assemblies of Christians more effective and encouraging. But the system, as a whole, elevates the Sunday assembly to the point of being the pinnacle of Christianity and the endeavor toward which most of the energy of the "professionals" should be directed. The assemblies are important; energy must be expended toward glorifying God through them; but where does the New Testament seem to suggest that assembly work is the only thing on which a minister should focus?
Consider the book with caution.
There are many good attributes to the things they suggest. There is value in preparation and planning; there is value in demonstrating competence and seeking after excellence in glorifying God through the acts of the assembly. The idea of a preaching calendar featuring monthly series with different emphases at different times of the year based upon group composition has much to commend it. Seeking life transformation through the Gospel of Christ through the acts of the assembly is certainly a worthy goal.
Nevertheless, I remain a bit uncomfortable with much of what is presented. The authors are bluntly honest about a lot of aspects of planning and preparation, and that honesty has value, but it does seem like they are putting God in a box at times. They value the Holy Spirit, and suggest the Spirit works more effectively through conscientiously planned assemblies. Again, there is great value in planning, but is this perhaps going a bit far?
Perhaps my biggest concern is in regards to the whole concept of the assembly. The book assumes and therefore seems to be speaking towards a congregation with a performance-based mentality in terms of much of what goes on during the assembly. The members of the congregation/visitors to the congregation are relegated to a more passive role, absorbing and relishing the experience so as to make changes in life and being transformed in life. Life change and transformation is well and good, but the book never seems to address, or seems to have much room for, community within the assembly. I have no doubt that the authors value Christian community, but it's not being expressed in terms of the assembly, and that is very distressing. It seems as if the authors expect people as their own individual units to go and be transformed on the basis of what they hear, see, and experience on Sunday. Christianity is absolutely all about transformation, but the transformation takes place within the Christian community and the encouragement and edification of the group.
It does not take long to see how the system the authors suggest will almost entirely consume the time of the minister/evangelist/"pastor"/"teaching pastor," and, in many instances, the time of the "worship pastor" as well. Sunday assemblies are quite important for encouraging Christians and promoting discipleship, and provide an effective time for presenting the Gospel to unbelievers if they happen to be present. But where do we ever get the impression in the New Testament that evangelists/preachers/pastors were entirely consumed by Sunday assembly preparations? Where is the time for evangelism outside of the assembly, or for encouraging Christians at other opportunities, or such like?
Therefore, I remain quite suspicious of the system: it turns an opportunity for mutual encouragement featuring the Lord's Supper and a prepared talk by a preacher into a high-quality performance with excellent entertainment, distinctive from worldly forms of entertainment only on account of the substance and the expectation for future action. It's one thing to engage with people in culture; this involves an abandonment of the Biblical purpose and concept of the Sunday morning assembly of the saints.
Those things which can be prepared can and perhaps should be more effectively prepared. The book does describe many forms of preparation which can make the assemblies of Christians more effective and encouraging. But the system, as a whole, elevates the Sunday assembly to the point of being the pinnacle of Christianity and the endeavor toward which most of the energy of the "professionals" should be directed. The assemblies are important; energy must be expended toward glorifying God through them; but where does the New Testament seem to suggest that assembly work is the only thing on which a minister should focus?
Consider the book with caution.
September 6, 2014
I would recommend this book mostly for teaching pastors, although there is wisdom for worship pastors throughout, especially with regard to communicating and planning services together with the head pastor. There is also a very important chapter about the head pastor/worship pastor relationship. This book was eye-opening for me, as it helped me to realize the pitfalls of week-to-week planning. Such a system makes it very difficult to incorporate into our services creative elements that have the potential to be life transforming. If worship services are planned Sunday to Sunday, there isn’t much (if any) time to plan and execute creative elements that could have a huge impact on peoples’ lives. Nelson Searcy recommends a preaching calendar planned 12 months in advance, and his reasoning is so that those involved in planning worship services can be very intentional about developing services that lead to “RTLs” (radically transformed lives); services that not only challenge the mind but touch the heart deeply. This task may seem overwhelming to those involved with planning, which is why it is not to be taken lightly or put together at the last minute. Searcy dispels the idea that planning so far in advance “quenches” the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, prayer, fasting, and wholeheartedly seeking the will of God for our services is an absolute MUST. When this happens, we can be confident that the Lord will lay out for us what He intends for His church. Searcy also isn’t advocating for 52 different sermons a year, but sermon series throughout the year. He stresses the importance of taking the temperature of the church and knowing the needs of the people. It’s also very important to note different times of year and when there is the greatest potential to reach the un-churched (ie, times of year when there are usually influxes of visitors). Ultimately, prayer and fasting, taking the temperature of the church, knowing the ebb and flow of attendance, and advance planning are some elements that help put services together that are life transforming.
May 30, 2012
Nelson Searcy and Jason Hatley are the Lead Pastor and Worship Pastor at The Journey Church. They wrote the book engage to encourage pastors and worship pastors to work together in order to create worship services that add RTL's (Radically Transformed Lives).
Our staff decided to read this book together and implement a lot of their systems.
This book is extremely practical and Biblical. It's laid out into four sections: Philosophy of Worship, Preaching Calendar, Planning and Conducting Worship Services, & Evaluating and Improving Worship Services.
This book is specifically written for church staff, or those that volunteer and serve in a church worship service setting.
Some of the main points that I pulled out of the book were:
A preaching calendar is essential
Communication must be highly valued between the Preaching Pastor and the Worship Pastor
The Thursday midnight rule
Allowing and facilitating constructive criticism to your worship services
Having a sermon trial run
Giving volunteers and others ownership of the worship service
These are just a few of many applications and principles that I was able to pull from this great book. It's an easy to read, filled with many stories, testimonies, applications, and challenges.
My one issue with the book was that on almost every other page (that might be an over-exaggeration) Searcy and Hatley constantly added "for more information on such and such, visit www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/Engage." They didn't need to do that. They could have just referenced the book website and its extensive list of resources at the end of the book or each chapter.
But outside of that one, tiny issue, this is an excellent, practical, tool that all pastors and worship pastors should grab, refer to and read. I highly recommend this book.
4 out of 5.
Our staff decided to read this book together and implement a lot of their systems.
This book is extremely practical and Biblical. It's laid out into four sections: Philosophy of Worship, Preaching Calendar, Planning and Conducting Worship Services, & Evaluating and Improving Worship Services.
This book is specifically written for church staff, or those that volunteer and serve in a church worship service setting.
Some of the main points that I pulled out of the book were:
A preaching calendar is essential
Communication must be highly valued between the Preaching Pastor and the Worship Pastor
The Thursday midnight rule
Allowing and facilitating constructive criticism to your worship services
Having a sermon trial run
Giving volunteers and others ownership of the worship service
These are just a few of many applications and principles that I was able to pull from this great book. It's an easy to read, filled with many stories, testimonies, applications, and challenges.
My one issue with the book was that on almost every other page (that might be an over-exaggeration) Searcy and Hatley constantly added "for more information on such and such, visit www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/Engage." They didn't need to do that. They could have just referenced the book website and its extensive list of resources at the end of the book or each chapter.
But outside of that one, tiny issue, this is an excellent, practical, tool that all pastors and worship pastors should grab, refer to and read. I highly recommend this book.
4 out of 5.
June 5, 2014
Another very practical, nuts and bolts book by Searcy, simply laying out amazing common-sense advice that is adopted all-too uncommonly. Lots of great steps to put into practice here. Lots of old ideas packaged in an inspirational, motivational way.
My only caution is that for all the talk of God's glory and the power of the Holy Spirit, the authors occasionally seem to be giving mere lip service to the sufficiency and necessity of Gospel preaching. It is also difficult to see how substantial, expositional series through biblical books fit this model, and the model seems to intensify the much-bemoaned "institutional" and programmatic flavor of the modern evangelical church.
Nevertheless, I've been encouraged to change many of my habits and practices, and when read with a discerning eye, I think this book will profit most, if not all, who read it.
My only caution is that for all the talk of God's glory and the power of the Holy Spirit, the authors occasionally seem to be giving mere lip service to the sufficiency and necessity of Gospel preaching. It is also difficult to see how substantial, expositional series through biblical books fit this model, and the model seems to intensify the much-bemoaned "institutional" and programmatic flavor of the modern evangelical church.
Nevertheless, I've been encouraged to change many of my habits and practices, and when read with a discerning eye, I think this book will profit most, if not all, who read it.
June 19, 2012
As with most books by Searcy you take the meat and throw out the bones - meaning there is a lot that will likely work in your context and things that won't. Keep what can be used and don't stress over trying to shoe horn things into your methodology that won't fit. I think this is something that Nelson would agree with.
"Engage" has a lot of practical wisdom for planning a church gathering/service. With a fair amount of practical stories and examples the book is easy to follow and visualize in action.
"Engage" has a lot of practical wisdom for planning a church gathering/service. With a fair amount of practical stories and examples the book is easy to follow and visualize in action.
July 16, 2012
Easy to read and understand, outlines a useful system for planning and improving your worship services. The constant "you can download from our website at...." every single point got a bit annoying after a while and seemed even more self-serving after reading the acknowledgments and realizing there's a whole training program business behind this.
That being said, I truly liked the idea about figuring out what you would do if your church were twice as big as it is - a great way to get a handle on what you should be doing to get there, no matter what size you are now.
August 28, 2012
Very good, practical book about how to plan for effective services. I would recommend this book to anyone starting out in ministry and for those who are just trying to make it from one service to the next. This is a book that I will probably keep on my shelf and reference every so often for the next few years.
July 15, 2012
This is a very straightforward book that was a little elementary for me, but it does hold some great reminders and some new ideas on how to develop a system of worship planning that is truly open to God's Spirit.
March 9, 2012
A great foundation for planning worship services. If don't have a system for planning services or don't think you need one, this is definitely something you should read.
November 14, 2012
Not the best book that I have read by Nelson Searcy, but mainly because I disagree with a year-long preaching calendar.
August 21, 2013
Good tool
August 10, 2014
Good easy to read book for pastors, musicians and laymen alike. It's the nuts and bolts of how to be efficient and plan Sunday services.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews