Worship

by J.C. Ryle

"The day is coming when there shall be a congregation that shall never break up, and a Sabbath that shall never end, a song of praise that shall never cease, and an assembly that shall never be dispersed.

Here we often worship God with a deep sense of weakness, corruption, and infirmity. There, at last, we shall be able, with a renewed body, to serve Him without weariness, and to attend on Him without distraction. Here, at our very best, we see through a glass darkly, and know the Lord Jesus Christ most imperfectly. It is our grief that we do not know Him better and love Him more. There, freed from all the dross and defilement of indwelling sin, we shall see Jesus as we have been seen, and know as we have been known.

Here we have often found it hard to worship God joyfully, by reason of the sorrows and cares of this world. Tears over the graves of those we loved have often made it hard to sing praise. Crushed hopes and family sorrows have sometimes made us hang our harps on the willows. There every tear shall be dried, every saint who has fallen asleep in Christ shall meet us once more, and every hard thing in our life-journey shall be made clear and plain as the sun at noon-day."

Genres: Theology, Christian Living

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2005

About the author

(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.

Reviews

[Bryan Hieser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all (public) worship is true worship, hence the value of this booklet in demonstrating the qualities of proper worship. Good food for thought here!

[Jeremiah Whiteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is more of an extended pamphlet (it is only 31 pages long), it is of great value to the Christian who professes to worship the Lord. We must approach God as He has told us to or shown us through the Holy Scriptures for He is holy and He has commanded us to “worship him... in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Brothers, sisters, let us come to the throne of grace and glorify our God who has redeemed us, and let us do so with “all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength” (Mark 12:30).

[Myra-Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is worship? Are we worshipping in accordance to that which God has prescribed in the bible? Or are we offering “strange fire” to God in the name of worshipping him?

Ryle takes us on a journey to take a serious, hard look at what Christian worship means, and to examine ourselves if we are truly worshipping God in the process.

[Eduardo Novaes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um ótimo guia prático sobre a adoração prática. Ryle nos traz sumariamente vários insights sobre a adoração de forma sistematizada. É incrível como situações de mais de 200 anos atrás podem ser tão atuais para o século XXI. Simples de entender é necessário nos dias de hoje!

[Rieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livreto de apenas 45 páginas, mas que é rico em verdades e ensinamento.

Uma leitura que me deixou extremamente satisfeito e reflexivo. Vale a pena relê-lo sempre para nos esforçarmos em melhorar e dar a nossa melhor adoração ao nosso Deus.

[Brian Algie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that will cause you to think about public worship, especially its importance in our day of “do-it-by-myself” Christianity.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 4 out of 5]

These pamphlets are chapters taken from Ryle’s books. This would be a great pamphlet for a young divinity student.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worship can be done wrongly, Ryle asserts, and can be misunderstood. The antidote to this plague is the Scripture and a closer adherence to how it defines and details worship. Ryle is succinct in this brief booklet, yet his observations contain gravitas that many contemporary churches would do well to heed. If public, corporate worship is something we should do (and Ryle argues that it is) then it is something we should seek to do rightly.

[Nancy C. Mills Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Exhortation For Us To Strive Harder For Spiritual Greatness

This book implores us to take our private Christian life more seriously. It is only when we do this that our public worship, service and lives will become greater.

[KC McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, J.C. Ryle brings it! He analyzes the priority, principles, and practice of worship. Great read!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though some of the examples are a bit dated, the precepts, principles, and general position, being biblically based, are just as relevant and helpful today. (And I only read one, not the 10-pack!)

[Allen Tsai · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last chapter is classic Ryle. While brief, this little book will force to reexamine the principles and practices of church service as well as warm your heart to what's most important.