In the ‘emerging’ generation ‘worship’ is something to do with style, rather than substance. A matter of live–and–let–live choice.
But pure worship is declaring with our words and lives that God is more important to us than anything else – that he is our deepest desire and that he is worth more than anything else we hold dear. God alone is worthy of worship because he alone is righteous.
Louie Giglio points out that worship is simply about value. Our worship is a response to what we value most. If we consider that a person, a thing, or an experience is what matters most then we are willing to sacrifice in order to get it. Worship is coming before the ‘throne’ of what is of ultimate value to us.
In the Old Testament the priests would build an altar on which to offer the sacrifices to the One whom they worshipped. In order to find your altar of worship just follow the trail of how you use your time, energy, money and affections. The more time you spend before that throne, the more your life will reflect what or whom you worship.
It is time to re–engineer what we value most so that worship is something that truly honors God. Some values we hold dear will have to be cast aside, some new ideas adopted, still others will need to be strengthened.
Endorsements
"A very thorough study, well backed up by Scripture, it looks at what worship is."
Christian Marketplace Resourcing retailers and suppliers
I don't read that much, other than what I read for my industry: magazines, ezines, press releases and publications... However, I did read this book! It is like taking an intense sunday school class centered on worship and worldview. I recommend it for one who is trying to gain understanding and grounding in his/her faith journey. My sunday morning worship is a whole lot more beneficial thanks to this gift I was given by a friend. Dr. Claassen is a great teacher.
Anonymous reader
Dr. Claassen teaches us how to worship from our soul! With solid scriptural reference he breaks apart the barriers to worship and challenges a higher standard for our relationship with our Creator. Highly recommended!!!
Thomas Sudyk, CEO of EC Group International USA
The great value of this work on worship is its rooting in Scripture, its powerful and sustained focus on the glorious person and work of Christ, and the demonstration of the relevance of worship to all of life... May the Lord be pleased to use this book in His worldwide church to recapture the heart and dynamic of a God-centered worship where God's redeemed creatures glory in His worthship and every sphere of life pulsates with worship.
Vernon Light Principal, The Bible Institute of the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Book of the Month- March 2009 - Gilcomston South Presbyterian Church, Aberdeen, Scotland. Lifesong: Oliver Claassen This month's "Book of the Month" has been written by a man known to Gilcomston South Church. Oliver Claassen and his wife, Helen attended Gilcomston in 1975 before moving on to a number of other mission opportunities in other countries. They have kept in regular contact with the church over the years and their most recent visit was in June 2008. He is now the senior pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Cape Coral, Florida. Although this is a small book, only 91 pages, it is packed with thought provoking insight from cover to cover and shouldn't be read in a hurry! It has five chapters comprehensively covering all areas and aspects of worship.
1) What is this thing called Worship? 2) Who should we Worship? 3) How should we Worship? 4) Giving yourself to God in Worship 5) What to do when we Worship together?
These chapters are freestanding and in my opinion can be read in any order. The book also has a very helpful set of appendices which may be useful to people with responsibility for corporate worship in church. When I was asked to review this book, my first thoughts were that maybe there was someone else more qualified to do a review on a book about worship? But as the title of the book suggests, worship should be the ‘Life' song of each and every believer, whether or not they can hold a tune! And it is in this context that Dr Claassen explores in a very biblical fashion; real, practical and honest approaches to help and challenge us to fulfil our role as a people who are called to "worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4: 23). In my opinion, Lifesong is an excellent and very useful book, well worth reading, but please give yourself the time and space to fully grasp what Dr Oliver Claassen is saying! You may find yourself singing your very own ‘Lifesong' in a whole new way! I can give this book my full recommendation.
Gillian Brown, Aberdeen
Outstanding! Oliver brings clarity to one of the most misunderstood subjects of my 20 years in student ministry. He looks at what the Bible actually says about God's desire for and from His worshippers. This is written for those of us who want more than a superficial discussion of what worship is and is not; but without the lingo only theologians can understand. All over the country I am asked about worship, now I will point them to this book. Thanks Oliver.
David McNeely, Speaker, Senior High Campus, Director at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, Georgia
"To contextualize God's Word lovingly without compromising its truth requires great skill and a gospel heart. Dr. Oliver Claassen has both. Dr. Claassen helps a much larger audience understand the difference between worshipping worship and worshipping God. Both the style and content of this book reflect the heart of a man passionate about God's glory, and pastorally committed to leading God's people into a more faithful and engaging experience of God's worship in line with the truth of the gospel."
Scotty Ward Smith Founding Pastor, Christ Community Church, Franklin, Tennessee
"This is not just a ‘how to' book on worship for today's generation. Dr. Claassen draws on his considerable knowledge of the issues surrounding biblical worship today and combines this with an obvious love and concern for God's glory to inspire the reader to worship in a way that is Gospel-powered, Christ-centered, God-honoring and life-transforming. The author reveals his pastoral heart and cross-cultural missions' background by writing in a style that is accessible to ‘the emerging generation' and applicable to the reader's situation, wherever that may be. The reader will be convicted of the importance of worship, educated in the biblical principles of worship and challenged by the all-embracing nature of biblical worship."
Dr. Peter W. Smuts, Vice-Principal of Academic Affairs and Director of Graduate Studies at the Bible Institute of South Africa in Cape Town
Prior to his passing on to glory following a six year battle with cancer, Dr. Oliver Claassen was the Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Cape Coral, Florida.
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