Calls to Worship: A Pocket Resource
Overview
In the common practice of Christian churches, across many traditions, a call to worship is typically a few lines of Scripture (or a combination of Scripture texts) expressed at the beginning of a church service. The call to worship exhorts God's people to turn from worldly distractions and to focus hearts, minds and actions on revering him.
If you are involved with leading worship in the church or in the home your next question will be ‘Where do I go to find them?' Fortunately, Robert Vasholz has done the legwork for you in this book.
The first section is designed to address specific events common to the Church such as Christmas or Easter. The second section pertains to calls to worship that ask for an audible response from God's people. The third part offers a number of calls to worship from the minister alone. It is my honest desire that this will serve as a proper and dignified way to enhance public corporate worship and to invite God's people to be attentive to the service that follows.
- Guides to effective, Spirit-led sermon preparation
- Techniques for preaching that promotes church growth and vitality
Top Highlights
“We do not approach God on our terms, but his. When he speaks, it is our obligation and privilege to respond appropriately in praise, prayer, repentance, testimony, encouragement of others, and service to what he declares about himself.” (Pages 11–12)
“In the call to worship the leader exhorts God’s people to respond to the revelation of the divine nature and blessings.” (Page 12)
“God calls us to respond to his redemption. Because God invites our praise, we know our worship pleases him” (Page 13)
“In the call to worship, the worship leader specifically calls God’s people to respond to God’s revelation.” (Page 12)
“such an imperative), then the worship leader should provide a word or phrase that instructs God’s people how to respond” (Page 12)
. . . .very simply a collection of ‘calls to worship' designed to encourage the congregation to turn to God and focus on him. There are different ideas for different events, from Easter to Baptism services, some uttered just by the pastor and those which require a response from the congregation.
—Christian Marketplace
In the call to worship God calls us to give him praise, but the command is not onerous. It is an invitation to respond to God's revelation of himself and his grace. In offering this invitation God is both host and honoree, and God's people are both invited and compelled by his mercy to give him glory. God gives us the privilege of welcome into his presence that we might reciprocate with the gift of worship. Right perception of this gift exchange encourages the worship leader to speak the call to worship with the warmth of heart and openness of gesture that such an occasion of mutual blessing deserves.
—Bryan Chapell, distinguished professor of preaching, Knox Theological Seminary
- Title: Calls to Worship: A Pocket Resource
- Author: Robert I. Vasholz
- Publisher: Christian Focus
- Publication Date: 2004
- Pages: 144