AVAILABLE
NOW
STRANGE FIRE (2018)
Though delivered in 1994/1995 these lectures contained in this revised edition of Strange Fire: Worship in the African American Church, are relevant today as the black church continues to wrestle with what it means to worship God "in spirit and in truth." A new chapter in the book entitled, "A Day in Thy Courts," takes a deeper look at the sanctuary as God's space in which God meets us for an authentic encounter.
GOD OF MY FATHER (2010)
God of My Father is a compilation of sermons of a father and son, representing how and what each one preached to his respective generation and congregation. Initially it was Dr. Mapson’s desire to honor his father’s ministry which spanned over 70 years, by preserving in written form, a few of his father’s sermons, particularly for the congregation his father served for over 50 years. Says Dr. Mapson, “Most of the sermonic material of black preachers has faded into history because our tradition has been primarily oral, rather than written.” The final result of this effort is a combination of the sermons of father and son.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC IN THE
BLACK CHURCH (1984)
In this study Dr. Mapson questions whether theology is shaping music in the traditional sense or whether music now is shaping theology. There is an increasing trend in the church to separate music from theological and historical foundations.
Mapson’s objective is to help today’s pastor take leadership in improving the worship experience through the use of music that meets the biblical norm and serves theology as a legitimate response to God. In addition to evaluating the quality and relevancy of music to the worship service, the guidelines suggest ways for improving the relationship between pastor, music director, choir, and congregation. Specific helps are also provided for:
- Organizing a music committee
- Setting qualifications for choir director and musicians
- Developing a music education program for the choir and for young untrained musicians