The Wonder of Worship
Overview
A logical, yet passionate approach that brings much needed harmony to the many facets of worship in the church today.
Although often controversial, worship is an essential and enduring element of the Christian faith. This three-part study examines the issues surrounding the corporate worship of God, including biblical models and the current revolution in evangelical worship. At a time of radical change in the church, Allen's logical-yet-passionate approach is timely and brings much-needed harmony to the many facets of worship.
If you want to wake up the worship in your church, this may be the book for you. Ronald B. Allen calls us to rediscover the wonder of worship and he challenges us to consider some questions:
- Who is the God we worship?
- Why would God desire our worship?
- What does worship do to us?
- What does worship do to God?
- How do we know when we truly worship?
Top Highlights
“The hymns are compressions of biblical knowledge; the praise songs are vehicles of worship.” (Page 157)
“When true worship takes place, weather becomes an incidental and the worship of God is the great reality” (Page 7)
“When we come to a worship service, we should not come as spectators, to watch an event. We should come to take part. Rather than seeing the pastor and musicians as ‘performers’ and considering ourselves as part of the audience, we need to see ourselves as those who are coming as worshipers, with the Lord as the ‘audience.’ He is the Receiver—of our love, our praise, our adoration, our tithes, in short, our worship.” (Page 28)
“God’s great work in Christ Jesus in bringing glorious salvation to fallen beings is designed to bring praise to God’s great glory. This merits repeating: Salvation is not an end in itself. The praise of God is the highest good. God’s work in the lives of His people, according to Paul, is centered in the context of the praise of His glory. In other words God’s worship is the divine goal of His redemptive work.” (Page 21)
“‘A hymn does not have to display the personal experience of all of its singers to be a fine song for congregational singing. Indeed, hymns help to create a type of story with which many can identify.’ That is correct. And the same ideas can be said for many of the new praise songs.” (Page 134)
Twenty years ago I studied Hebrew under the teaching of Dr. Ron Allen. His authentic love for the Lord, the language and for the people in his life helped me hear the music of the Psalms and the rest of the Word of God. His teaching and life helped me in my own love and understanding of our Lord and His word. That same authenticity and insight is brought to bear in this book. As a pastor I found the balanced treatment of worship in the church extremely helpful. I found the accuracy of the details and research to be significant in dealing with one's preferences and the preferences of others. It was very affirming in where we are as a church in regard to worship, yet challenging as well. The emphasis is is back to the bible as the source of information. As a person who worships God I found the sensitivity and insights moving in such a way that I can hear the music of the Word of God. I highly recommend this book to all.
—Online Reviewer
- Title: The Wonder of Worship
- Author: Ronald B. Allen
- Publisher: Word
- Print Publication Date: 2001
- Logos Release Date: 2004
- Pages: 307
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Public worship
- ISBNs: 9781418504540, 1418504548
- Resource ID: LLS:40.170.147
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T20:17:01Z
