by Gregory B. Brewton. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2018. 170 pp. $18.40.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matt 28:19–20 NASB)
In his book, A Guide to Worship Ministry, Gregory Brewton, chair of the Department of Worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, extrapolates a philosophy and practice of music ministry for the local church from the commission given by Christ to go and make disciples. Brewton enters a crowded field of published works by many other authors,6 but finds his niche through the focus of worship ministry as discipleship by stating that “worship ministers make disciples through intentional worship planning and leading” (ix). From this thesis the author writes to both seasoned ministry veterans seeking rejuvenation in their place of service and also those who are in the formative stages of preparation for ministry.
6 There are a plethora of books relating to the practice of music ministry, including but not limited to Music and Worship in the Church by Austin Lovelace and William Rice; Jubilate II by Donald Hustad; Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin; From Postlude to Prelude by Randall Bradley; The Worship Pastor by Zac Hicks; Understanding, Preparing For, and Practicing Christian Worship by Franklin Segler; and many others. Brewton wrote this book to fill a perceived void in the literature for the students in his worship ministry classes.
Brewton expounds his concept of the worship minister as disciple maker by examining four distinct areas of the ministry of music. He begins by exploring the call to ministry and sets forth foundational materials relating to those starting out in the ministry. He discusses what it means to be called, gives an overarching philosophy for the ministry of music in the local church, and outlines the process for entering the ministry from ordination through the interview process. In this section Brewton reveals his practical min- istry experience through his forthright discussions. He strengthens his thesis by arguing in favor of the necessity for worship ministers to prepare themselves through both educational and experiential opportunities. It is through these times of learning and making mis- takes that a minister both prepares to be a disciple maker and gains the skills and knowledge needed for a lifetime of service in the church (9). While examining the interview process, Brewton exhorts a prospective minister to not only examine the church and what they are seeking through job descriptions and other information, but also to closely examine the senior pastor. He correctly asserts that a pastor’s involvement in the process of finding a worship min- ister is indicative of their future working and worshiping relationship (21–22), and he expounds on the role of this relationship in the next section.
Brewton continues the discussion by focusing on the relationship of the minister to the church. Here the author draws attention to the most significant relationship in the life of the church— that of the pastor and the worship minister. He lists simple, practical steps that will encourage this fellowship to grow. While these steps may seem simplistic to the casual reader, each is crucial to the overall worship health of the church and the effectiveness of the worship minister over a long-term ministry. Brewton also focuses on the personal attributes that are necessary to be an effective minister—love for people, personal spiritual growth, and growing a strong family. He concludes this section with specific ministry- related functions for worship ministers—time management, calendaring, budgeting, hospital visitation, and conflict management. While none of these topics are exhaustively considered, the author gives concrete suggestions and activities that should result in deeper thought and exploration.
Having discussed general principles of ministry, Brewton then moves to specific concepts for the ministry of music in the local church, namely the preparation and execution of corporate worship events. The concept of disciple making is consistent as he contemplates each of the elements of the worship service, from preaching and Scripture, to ordinances and song selection and how they impact the spiritual growth of the congregation. Of song selection Brewton is careful to point out that because of its role in discipling the worshiper, it is the theological content of the song and not its popularity or musical setting that is most important (79). Brewton also briefly examines six different forms that can be implemented in shaping corporate worship. For each of these forms, he gives examples that can be applied by the worship minister in the local church.
The author concludes the book with a specific look at how the worship minister can accomplish each of these ministry goals while focusing on being a disciple maker. Brewton considers many of the groups with whom a minister of music might interface, and relates specific, concrete ways to create disciples in each of these ministry areas of the church as well as with all generations. He states that “worship ministry is suffering from a narrow vision when it is only concerned with one generation of church members” (123). Worship ministers are charged by God to teach and equip all the saints for worship and ministry, and Brewton gives very practical examples and steps to disciple each group: children, students, adults, senior adults, worship teams, choirs, and others.
While no book of this length could be a comprehensive guide to the music ministry on the whole, Brewton encourages the worship minister to seek spiritual depth in both his personal spiritual walk, and in the ministry to which he has been called. He also provokes the need for deeper study and consideration of how best to make disciples through the ministry of music. This practical book fulfills its purpose as set out by the author—to be a discipleship- focused resource for the worship minister.
