How Shall We Worship

Dr. R.C. Sproul is one of today’s preeminent theologians. For more than fifty years his solid, practical messages have impacted and inspired generations of believers. The “Classic Theology Series” continues Dr. Sproul’s legacy. How Then Shall We Worship? is a landmark look at God’s design for authentic worship. Today’s church cannot seem to agree on what corporate worship should look like. Some choose contemporary forms, others prefer traditional expressions. Yet pop culture or the status quo do not hold the answers. God’s Word does. Dr. Sproul digs deep into rich Scripture passages to provide a guide for worship today. Readers will discover that God intends worship to be an unforgettable encounter between Himself and His people—a joyous experience engaging the worshiper’s entire being.

Worship isn't just something we do--it's the purpose of our existence. Every week, Christians come together to share a taste of heaven itself, where all of God's redeemed people will exalt His holy name forever. But what's really going on when we worship? And what's worship supposed to look like in the life of the church? In Let Us Worship God, Dr. Derek Thomas addresses the "how" and "why" of Christian worship. May we worship God however we want? Do we need the church, or can we worship alone? What are the necessary elements of a worship service? These and other questions find their answers in these pages, leading us to a greater understanding of worship as life's highest privilege and richest joy.

How shall we worship? One source of debate today is the wide variety of worship styles. In How Shall We Worship? Marva Dawn turns to Psalm 96 to investigate key elements of worship, from music to liturgy. She reminds us of the importance of recognizing that worship is for God and not for us.

The heart of the biblical understanding of idolatry, argues Gregory Beale, is that we take on the characteristics of what we worship. Employing Isaiah 6 as his interpretive lens, Beale demonstrates that this understanding of idolatry permeates the whole canon, from Genesis to Revelation. Beale concludes with an application of the biblical notion of idolatry to the challenges of contemporary life.

Modern Christians have shown their inability to agree on where to look for God's principles of worship. Neither pop-culture nor the status quo can provide us with satisfactory answers. We need a biblical reason for doing what we do when we worship God. In A Taste of Heaven, Dr. R.C. Sproul searches the Scriptures, finding timeless principles from the worship practices of the Old Testament to guide worship today. God intends worship to be an unforgettable encounter between Himself and His people a joyous experience engaging the worshiper's entire being.

"The question I am asking in this book—Do we worship the same God?—is already being addressed.…No simple, single answer has emerged. Yet the interplay of responses has been thoughtful and generous, indicating that, at least for right now, the discussion itself is more important than the answer." —from the Introduction Are you a Catholic curious to learn more about Islam? What exactly do Muslims believe? How do those beliefs differ from your own? What do Muslims believe about Jesus? Mary? Satan? Creation? The Holy Spirit? Do we worship the same God? In Do We Worship the Same God? Comparing the Bible and the Qur'an, George Dardess, a Christian expert on Islam, provides a wealth of information about the teachings of both Christianity and Islam to help readers themselves discern if Christians and Muslims worship the same God. He gives a brief introduction to the history of Islam, draws parallels between Jesus and the prophet Muhammad, and compares what the Bible and the Qur'an (the holy book of Islam) teach about creation, Satan, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, prayer, the Jihad, judgment, heaven and hell, and more. In clear and easy-to-understand language, Dardess guides readers who want to engage in dialogue with Muslims on how to answer the question "Do we worship the same God?"—a question of increasing importance since September 11. Chapters end with guided discussion questions.

Francis Schaeffer's Classic Analysis of the Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture Civilizations throughout history have built societies around their own limited value systems including rulers, finite gods, or relativism—only to fail. The absence of a Christian foundation eventually leads to breakdown, and those signs are visible in present-day culture as well. Can modern society avoid the same fate? In this latest edition of How Should We Then Live?, theologian Francis A. Schaeffer traces the decline of Western culture from the fall of Rome, through the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment, and up to the twentieth century. Studying humanism's impact on philosophy, science, and religion, he shows how this worldview historically results in apathy, chaos, and decline. Schaeffer's important work calls on readers to live instead by Christian ethics, placing their trust in the infinite personal God of the Bible. Originally written in 1976, How Should We Then Live? remains remarkably applicable today. A Theology Classic: Written by renowned Christian philosopher Francis A. Schaeffer For Those Interested in Philosophy and History: Engages with the ideas of Plato, John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and Voltaire, and examines the art, architecture, and ideas that shaped modern society Explores the Importance of a Christian Worldview: A practical assessment of the evolution of culture and the steadfast alternative offered by the biblical perspective

Abandon dead, dry, religious rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved. Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation with a passionate, provocative poem titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." The 4-minute video became an overnight sensation, with 7 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours (and 23+ million in a year). Bethke's message clearly struck a chord with believers and nonbelievers alike, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged. In his New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem--highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and peace, despair, and hope. With refreshing candor, he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile existence that sapped his strength and led him down a path of destructive behavior. Along the way, Bethke gives you the tools you need to: Humbly and prayerfully open your mind Understand Jesus for all that he is View the church from a brand-new perspective Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he's not a pastor or theologian, but simply an ordinary, twenty-something who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. On this journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him with love beyond the props of false religion. Praise for Jesus > Religion: "Jeff's book will make you stop and listen to a voice in your heart that may have been drowned out by the noise of religion. Listen to that voice, then follow it--right to the feet of Jesus." --Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody, Always "The book you hold in your hands is Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz meets C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity meets Augustine's Confessions. This book is going to awaken an entire generation to Jesus and His grace." --Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of Limitless Life: Breaking Free from the Labels That Hold You Back