How Worship Became Music

From history to practice: making sense of Contemporary Praise and Worship.

How Worship Became Music traces the development of worship music and the evolving role of worship leaders within Contemporary Praise and Worship (CPW). Focusing particularly on the past century in the United States, this volume gathers a carefully curated collection of quotations and historical materials that highlight many of the most influential voices shaping the adoption and growth of CPW across Protestant traditions.

Designed as both a textbook and a resource for practice, the sourcebook is well-suited for undergraduate and graduate students in worship studies programs, as well as pastors, church musicians, and worship leaders. By situating key documents within their theological and ecclesial contexts, it provides readers with a clear understanding of how CPW has emerged, developed, and reshaped the church’s worship life.

Organized around the central themes that define CPW, the book illustrates the theological convictions, practical patterns, and leadership models that have guided this movement. Each section not only presents historical sources but also offers interpretive commentary, helping readers see how these voices connect within broader networks and movements. In doing so, the volume reveals both the diversity and the common emphases that have given CPW its distinctive character.

This resource invites students, leaders, and practitioners to engage critically with the history of Contemporary Praise and Worship in order to better understand its impact on today’s church and to discern its role in the future of Christian worship.