A Comprehensive Collection of Short Explanations of Various Elements of Liturgy

Zac HicksWorship and Pastoral Ministry, Worship Resources, Worship Theology & Thought6 Comments

For over five years, while Pastor of Worship & Liturgy at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO, I wrote weekly “column notes” for our four-page order of worship.  These brief notes would appear in a long, narrow strip on the right side of our bulletin, and their main function was to educate our worshipers about what we were doing in worship and to inspire a more whole-hearted understanding of and participation in worship. Over those five years, I watched … Read More

And the Winner of the Doxology & Theology Giveaway Is…

Zac HicksWorship ResourcesLeave a Comment

Two weeks ago, Broadman & Holman released Doxology & Theology, edited by Matt Boswell, in which I had the privilege of authoring a chapter on “The Worship Leader and the Trinity.”  We had a little giveaway that involved spreading the love of this wonderful book. Derek Foo, who serves as the Head of Worship Ministry at Elim Church Assembly of God in Singapore, won the giveaway. Elim Church gathers about 600 people for worship, and Derek works alongside a worship … Read More

The Worship Leader and the Trinity, Part 2

Zac HicksWorship Resources, Worship Theology & Thought2 Comments

Andrei Rublev, Angels at Mamre**FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY of Doxology & Theology, released last week, still going on.  Enter by going here.** The previous post in this two-part series outlined the first half of my chapter, “The Worship Leader and the Trinity,” in Doxology & Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, where we saw how the Trinity effects the possibility and proximity of worship and protects the priority and purity of worship.  We now move from high-level to ground-level in processing a … Read More

The Worship Leader and the Trinity, Part 1

Zac HicksWorship Resources, Worship Theology & Thought2 Comments

**You’ve got ONE MORE WEEK to sign up for the FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY of Doxology & Theology, released last week.  Enter by going here.**

In honor of the release of Doxology & Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, I want to cliff-note-outline my chapter in two parts in hopes that (a) it will make the topic of the Trinity in worship even more digestible, and (b) it will entice some of you to get this great book and read it in its entirety.  I want to start by saying that the Trinity, or God’s three-in-oneness, is one of the most relevant, applicable doctrines for living out the Christian faith on the ground level.  Think of any issue in life, from the highly philosophical to the mundanely pragmatic, and it can–and should–be informed, indeed formed, by the Trinity.  If you have a hard time seeing this, I’d suggest Michael Reeves’ Delighting in the Trinity (135 pages) as an accessible starting place, then graduating up to Fred Sanders’ The Deep Things of God (256 pages) as a good next step.

Doxology & Theology – FREE Book Giveaway!

Zac HicksArt and Worship, Worship & Mission, Worship and Pastoral Ministry, Worship Resources, Worship Theology & Thought3 Comments

Doxology & Theology Released May 1, 2013 I’m pleased to announce the release of Doxology & Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, edited by Matt Boswell and authored by some of my favorite worship leaders in the US.  I had the privilege of contributing a chapter on how the Worship Leader is shaped by the Trinity, synthesizing important theological reflections on what it means to be truly Trinitarian in our worship.  This book is by worship leaders, for worship … Read More

Three Books That Changed My Life as a Young Worship Leader

Zac HicksPersonal Stories & Testimonies, Worship Resources6 Comments

I began leading worship as a young teenager who wanted his youth group to sing.  I had fiddled around on the ukulele (Hawaii’s instrument of choice) for a few years, and I was ready to step up my game.  My mom had an old nylon string guitar buried in a closet along with a wrinkled sheet of chord shapes.  I found some Hope Chapel Hawaii praise songbooks and started plowing my way through them one Saturday morning.  Eight hours later, … Read More

Rhythms of Grace – A Book Every Worship Leader Should Read

Zac HicksSound and Audio, Worship and Pastoral Ministry, Worship Resources, Worship Style, Worship Technology, Worship Theology & Thought1 Comment

A few weeks ago, I picked up Mike Cosper’s Rhythms of Grace (Crossway, March 2013) and quickly devoured it.  Mike is Pastor of Worship & Arts at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY.  That I knew I would love and highly recommend the book is a no-brainer, because Mike and I have tracked along the thought-patterns of many of the same theologians, philosophers, thinkers, writers, and practitioners in the field of Christian worship today.  I want to point out a few … Read More

National Worship Leader Conference 2013 + FREE Registration Giveaway

Zac HicksWorship ResourcesLeave a Comment

Why I Love the NWLC This blog was birthed largely to foster interaction between solid theological reflection and the “modern worship industry.”  I’ve been astounded at the blog’s success, faithfully growing readership, and thoughtful challenges and interactions.  There is a growing hunger for this kind of integrative and non-dismissive approach, coupled with incisive and careful thought. When I attended the 2012 National Worship Leader Conference, I honestly came in with low-bar expectations of the content.  I thought it was going … Read More

Hallel Psalms – A Joyful New Worship Compilation

Zac HicksConvergence of Old and New in Worship, Hymns Movement News & Reviews, Worship ResourcesLeave a Comment

Cardiphonia offers up yet another album full of great music, chiseled from the stone of liturgical history.  And this time, the liturgy is not just ancient.  It’s from some of the earliest songs of doxological antiquity.  Psalms 113-118 are often called the “Egyptian Hallel”:  “Egyptian,” because these psalms as a body were used by ancient Jewish singers during Passover, which took place in Egypt; “Hallel,” because that is the Hebrew word for for “praise,” and these psalms in particular are … Read More

Great Worship Conference Headed Your Way!

Zac HicksWorship ResourcesLeave a Comment

Bifrost Arts Conference“The Cry of the Poor”Philadelphia, PAApril 22-24  Today is the last day for discount registration for the second Bifrost Arts Conference.  The first conference happened two years ago, and you can read (and watch a video) of my experience here. From day one, I have appreciated the (sadly) unique vision for worship that is cast by Bifrost Arts and their leader, Isaac Wardell.  This year’s theme is “The Cry of the Poor,” and here’s their description: This year’s … Read More