The Gospel Coalition

1. Worship: Adoration and Action – D.A. Carson
  (Wipf and Stock Publishers) 1992
 This collection of essays reminds us of the biblical underpinnings for worship, as well as giving us some practical advice for worship services. A terrific companion to Carson’s Worship by the Book.

2. Worship in Spirit and in Truth – John Frame
  (P&R Publishing) 1996
 Frame’s biblical insights into the nature of worship help us avoid the worship wars that plague North American churches. He grounds his book in the abstract principles of the Word, but also offers terrific practical advice to worship leaders and worshippers in general.

3. The Divine Hours – Phyllis Tickle
  (Doubleday) 2000
 Phyllis Tickle draws on the Book of Common Prayer and the early church fathers as she compiles this terrific source of psalms, prayers and readings for those interested in fixed hourly prayers. The written prayers here are a terrific supplement to one’s prayer life.

4. Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts – Harold Best
  (Downers Grove: Intervarsity) 1993
 Best reminds us that worship encompasses all our life and not just what we do on Sunday morning. Christians are always worshipping, even if our worship is not always directed towards God.

5. For All God’s Worth: True Worship and the Calling of the Church – N.T. Wright
  (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans) 1997
 A terrific book that is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the God worthy of praise and the second part shows how can we reflect God’s image in the world. Wright is unique among worship writers, because he not only calls for a renewal of worship but also a renewal of the Christian witness of today’s church.

6. Reaching Out without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for this Urgent Time – Marva Dawn
  (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans) 1995
 Dawn makes the case for traditional worship by showing the underlying problems of the contemporary worship movement. Dawn’s advice is radical in that it calls us back to verticality in worship and demands we not dumb down our theology for an increasingly impatient generation.

7. Worship is a Verb: Eight Principles for Transforming Worship – Robert Webber
  (Hendrickson Publishers) 1992
 Webber reminds us that worship is something we do, not a service we attend. The book reminds us that we must celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as we worship.

8. The New Worship: Straight Talk on Music and the Church – Barry Wayne Liesch
  (Grand Rapids: Baker Books) 1996
 A balanced approach to the worship battles between traditionalists and contemporaries. Liesch brings reasons why both sides should understand and appreciate each other. He also brings helpful advice to worship leaders who plan worship services week-to-week.

9. Table Talk: Luther’s Comments on Life, Church and the Bible – Martin Luther
  (Christian Focus Publications) 2003
 Luther writes candidly about worship practice in his section on the church. His passion for the Lord is clearly in view as he denounces sinful tendencies and promotes biblical practice.

10. Knowing Christ – Alister McGrath
  (Galilee Trade) 2002
 McGrath relates his own spiritual journey, using biblical descriptions of the encounters with Christ that demonstrate the various ways that Jesus can be known. McGrath’s insights into personal worship make this book a must-read.

11. A Royal “Waste” of Time: The Splendor of Worshipping God and Being the Church for the World – Marva Dawn
  (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans) 1999
 Dawn shows how postmodernism affects our theology of worship. She emphasizes the need for Christians to “be” the church all the time and not just “do” church on Sundays.

12. Introduction to Christian Worship – James F. White
  (Abingdon Press) 2001
 This is a comprehensive look at the history of traditional worship. The book explains many of the traditions that churches maintain and why these traditions arose in the first place.

13. The Complete Library of Christian Worship – edited by Robert Webber
  (Hendrickson Publishers) 1995
 A terrific resource for worship leaders and pastors. These books contain a wealth of important information, together with sample service outlines, liturgies, and historical research.

14. The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer – David Adam
  (Morehouse Publishing) 1997
 A little book of daily prayer focusing on a different aspect of Christianity each day. The prayers are taken from Christian tradition and many Christian saints of old.

15. A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer – John Piper
  (Crossway Books) 1997
 Piper lays out the biblical guidelines for a correct practice of fasting in the Christian life. He sees fasting as an act of worship by which we show that our supreme hunger is for God Himself.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2007 Kingdom People blog