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Title: Worship Evangelism by Sally Morgenthaler ISBN: 0-310-22649-X Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 January, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 (12 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: God Connection
Comment: Sally Morgenthaler began the "Preface" of Worship Evangelism with these words: "This is a book about worship paradigms . . . The central paradigm of this book is that our worship either affirms or contradicts our message about God." (9). Throughout the text Morgenthaler's provocative questions ask the reader to affirm the worship experience as one that is authentic not synthetic, life-changing not a quick fix, effective not just practical, of lasting value not merely a rapturous happening. Real worship is connecting with God.
The process of connecting with God is an individual experience. It also may happen in congregational settings. In the first one hundred pages, Morgenthaler offered several definitive statements. Five of them are: (1)"The true goal of evangelism is to produce more and better worshippers" (39). (2)"Spirit and truth must be fundamental building blocks of any valid worship experience" (47). (3)"Worship, in the final analysis, means change" (52). (4)"God sees every person as a potential worshiper" (83). (5)"Worship evangelism happens when we allow worship to be what it was meant to be - 'a resource for incomplete and broken mankind to find completion and wholeness in His Presence" (93).
No doubt, when anyone intentionally sets time aside to worship the next time, it is as though for the first time. However adept at communicating with God someone is, the next time is the first time for this time.
The experience of qualitative congregational worship is partially the result of familiarity with the mechanics of knowing what to expect to do. It is partially the result of joining with other worshippers with the intention to engage in public acts of prayer, singing, and active listening. It is partially the result of moving from spectator to communicant.
Morgenthaler identified four crucial elements for effective qualitative worship. They are: "nearness, knowledge, vulnerability, and interaction" (96). These keys ask the worshipper: (1) to sense and be sensitive to God's presence; (2) to center specifically on Christ ["Jesus Christ is how we know God" (103)]; (3) to be open to God; and (4) to witness to, for, and with others in the common struggle to deal with issues related to "self-esteem, fear of failure, acceptance and relationships, substance abuse, etc." (121). The type of worship envisioned: "impacts people at profound levels, provides contact with a holy and loving God, [is] nurturing, uplifting with those who are called in God's name" (123).
Practically speaking, Morgenthaler suggested a five-part guide for worship events. They are: esteem, expound, encounter, examine, enjoy (159-160). Love and honor God; tell the old, old story in dramatic ways; internalize the experience; look into one's own soul; and, savor God's benefits. The various diagrams illustrating alternative worship paradigms in Chapter 7, "When the Boomerang Doesn't Come Back: Designing Boomer Worship for Depth" (145-171) are helpful. In Chapters 8, 9 and 10, the experience of the four churches that met the challenge to change their worship styles from traditional to adventuresome is also helpful (See pages 178-209). The workbook technique permits the reader to interact with the author in critically and objectively analyzing what specific strategies to employ in developing tailor-made worship services.
In the final analysis, Morgenthaler returned to a rather traditional statement about worship evangelism. She wrote: "Worship evangelism is simply letting God do with us and through us what God intends. It happens when we allow ourselves to be the passionate, adoring people of God we were created to be, when we allow seekers to experience the wonder of true worship and, most importantly, when we allow God to be God" (280).
Worship Evangelism is a carefully constructed text that confronts the issue of the non-churched person in a direct way. Worship leaders are implored to break out of the box of their "darling" worship service, and are invited to employ the resources of sociologists and psychologists as well as theologians in creating dynamic worship services which communicate God's forgiveness, mercy and healing touch.
Rating: 5
Summary: Making worship the priority of the worship service.
Comment: In Worship Evangelism, Sally Morgenthaler writes a book that is doctrinaly sound, and informative. She arugues against watering down the worship experience to accomodate seekers, instead, she shows how seekers will come to Christ in the midst of a genuine worship experience. Morgenthaler gives several examples of churches that are reaching people through genuine worship. Those who are serious about reaching postmoderns must read this book. I'm glad I did.
Rating: 2
Summary: Excellent Destination, Poor Route Getting There
Comment: This book is easily summarized in the following statement: True Christian worship is a powerful tool of evangelism, contrary to the common perception that seekers services are the only way to mass-evangelize in the 21st century.
Morgenthaler again and again emphasizes this point throughout her work. I agree wholeheartedly with her conclusion, but wish she had chosen a better means to support it. This volume draws heavily upon the sociological definitions of "boomer" and "buster." It interviews various worship leaders to get their perspectives on what is currently effective for them in ministry. It rambles in an almost endless explanation of what is required to reach "Seeker Bob" and "Shopper Bruce."
The bottom line here is that Morgenthaler's destination is commendable. Genuine worship CAN reach the unchurched for Christ. Her method of getting the reader to that destination however, is mediocre at best and could stand much improvement.
I would recommend that if anyone is interesting in learning more about this book, borrow, don't buy. Skim, don't read. The time and energy spent in covering every page would be better invested elsewhere.
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Title: The New Worship: Straight Talk on Music and the Church by Barry Wayne Liesch, Donald P. Hustad, Barry Liesch ISBN: 0801063566 Publisher: Baker Books Pub. Date: 21 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.99 |
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Title: Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations by Dan Kimball, David Crowder, Sally Morgenthaler ISBN: 0310256445 Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: Emerging Church, The by Dan Kimball, Rick Warren, Brian D. McLaren ISBN: 0310245648 Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: The Wonder Of Worship by Ronald B. Allen, Charles R.Y Swindoll, Roy B. Zuck ISBN: 0849914442 Publisher: W Publishing Group Pub. Date: 04 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.98 |
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Title: Mission-Driven Worship: Helping Your Changing Church Celebrate God by Handt Hanson ISBN: 0764423479 Publisher: Group Publishing Pub. Date: 01 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $55.01 |
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