Rick Muchow - The Worship Answer Book: Foreword by Rick Warren

In everything I do,
may my life always bring
Pleasure to you.

Rick Muchow is a man who passionately loves God and passionately loves people. I count it a privilege to be Ricks friend, and I can recommend his book to you because I know it is written with integrity, humility, passion, and a huge dose of well-earned experience. Rick truly lives what he sings and writes!... This is an important book for every worshiper.

LIBBY HUIRUA, PARACHUTE BAND

Only someone like Rick Muchow could have written The Worship Answer Book. ... Ricks passion to see the whole church embrace the whole vista of this critical subject is apparent, and should his ideas find a place in the larger Body of Christ, I expect to see a tsunami of worship sweep across our nation and globe.

BISHOP JOSEPH L. GARLINGTON, SR.

A formidable resource from one of the most caring and inspirational music pastors in America.... If one person has the answers you need to know about worship music from A to Z, its my friend Rick Muchow.

DAVID PACK, GRAMMY-WINNING RECORDING ARTIST

You will never think of worship in the same way again if you grasp the incredible understanding about what true worship really is.... Rick is addressing the heart of worshop in this bookthat more than singing and music, worship is also a lifestyle. I can think of no topic more important.

DAN KIMBALL, AUTHOR OF The Emerging Church AND Emerging Worship

A terrific resource for everyone in worship. Everything you ever wanted to know about worship.

TOM BROOKS, PRODUCER, WORSHIPALLIANCE.COM

To Laura

Rick Muchow is a longtime friend of Mosaic [church], not to mention one of my favorite people. He is real, optimistic, insightful, and deeply committed to God and to people. It makes sense for him to write a book about worship. Worship is his heart and his gift to the church.

ERWIN RAPHAEL MCMANUS, AUTHOR AND LEAD PASTOR OF MOSAIC

For many years Rick has helped create an environment where Ive been ushered into Gods presence through song. Im thrilled that his insights are now available to help others do the same.

DOUG FIELDS, PASTOR TO STUDENTS AT SADDLEBACK

A much-needed and timely book! Rick has spent a lot of time and thorough research with this important teaching tool. I pray it will reach and teach worshipers in many nations for generations to come.

MORRIS CHAPMAN, RECORDING ARTIST, WORSHIP LEADER

I know the sincerity, convition, and discernment of the man behind the answers of this book. It is because of this he is a hero of mine, and more importantly, my friend... Rick Muchow.

DOYLE DYKES, GUITARIST

RICK MUCHOW

MORE THAN A MUSIC EXPERIENCE

Copyright 2006 by Rick Muchow

Published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee 37214.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures in this book are from The New International Version of the Bible (NIV) 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers; The New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1992, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publisher. Used by permission; New Century Version (NCV). Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved; The New American Standard Bible (NASB) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; The Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Ill. All rights reserved; The Living Bible (TLB) 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL. Used by permission; The Message (MSG) 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group; The Jerusalem Bible (TJB) 1968 by Darton, Ongman, & Todd, Ltd., and Doubleday & Co., Inc.; The Good News Bible: The Bible in Todays English Version (TEV) 1976 by the American Bible Society; The Contemporary English Version (CEV), 1991 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission; The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers;
The King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

All songs copyright Rick Muchow unless noted otherwise.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

J. Countryman is a trademark of Thomas Nelson.

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Project editor: Kathy Baker

ISBN 1404103554

Printed and bound in the United States of America

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

PSALM 113:3

WORSHIP IS THE FIRST PURPOSE of your life. When Jesus was asked, What is the greatest commandment? he replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

Rick Muchow and I have served God together at Saddleback for many years, and in our ministry weve operated from a simple definition of worship, based on the Great Commandment: Worship is any expression of our love to Godfor who he is, what he has said, and what hes doing.

When you understand worship in this wayin its full biblical contextthen you can quickly see that there are many appropriate ways to express our love to God. Obeying, trusting, testifying, listening, praying, creating, thanking, waiting, singing, confessing, committing, giving, and practically every other action can be an act of worship when our motivation is to demonstrate our love to God.

Although Rick is a gifted singer, songwriter, and musician, he is a joyful, living reminder that worship is more than music. In fact, worship is more than one part of your life; worship is your life. Rick is a worshiper of God, and he leads us to worship God. When he worships he models for our congregation and we follow his lead. Worship leadership is all about modeling worship for others. When people see Rick worship, it helps them think, I want that, too!

Of course, worship is not limited to songs we sing or even a worship service. The Bible teaches us to worship God continually and to praise him from sunrise to sunset (PSALM 113:3). Were to worship God at work, at home, in battle, in jail, and even in bed! Worship should be our first activity when we open our eyes in the morning and our last activity when we close our eyes at night. The Bible says, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 CORINTHIANS 10:31).

How is it possible to do everything to the glory of God? By doing everything as if you were doing it for God. In worship, we turn our attention away from ourselves and toward God. When this happens, what were doing becomes an act of worship that brings pleasure to God. My prayer is that God will use this book to help you live a life in constant worship of your Creator.