Encountering God Together: Leading Worship Services That Honor God, Minister to His People, and Build His Church

by David G. Peterson

Does Sunday morning leave you with a sense of awe? It should!

Church services are an opportunity to gather together and encounter God. More than that, God builds the church through us as we use his gifts to minister to one another.

Yet . . . have you experienced services that downplayed their focus on God's presence to emphasize fellowship and ministry? Or ones whose "worship" had little sense of believers' coming together to minister to one another? How do we regain the right balance in our services?

Here David Peterson will teach

• The biblical foundations of worship
• The meaning and purpose of gathering together
• What acceptable worship is
• How to plan corporate worship biblically and creatively
• A true measure of church growth
• How we edify the church
• Patterns and varieties of service models
• How to structure each service to take worshipers on a meaningful journey together

Genres: Theology, Church, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2013

About the author

David Peterson was senior research fellow and lecturer in New Testament at Moore Theological College, Sydney, where he still teaches part time. He served as principal of Oak Hill College, London, from 1996 to 2007. His books include Engaging with God, Possessed by God (both IVP) and Hebrews and Perfection (Cambridge University Press).

Reviews

[Peter Yock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, biblical, gospel-centred approach to how we should think about gathering together and making the most of our time as a church community. I'd see this book as being mostly useful for someone training for church ministry; or for a church team to read and discuss together as they think through how current practice can be reformed and improved. A great sequel to the more theologically heavy and most excellent book Engaging with God. This one is shorter and much more pointedly practical.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very edifying read. I've been helped immensely by David Peterson's stuff on worship, and this did not disappoint. This goes near the top of the list of books I'd recommend to any worship leader really, but especially to a leader who is newer to the "whole enchilada" of planning the worship gathering.

[James Bunyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wide ranging, balanced and clear; for that reason, it might be good to dip into for particular chapters on different elements of the service. A helpful intro to worship services in churches with good insights but a little bit dull.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read on the theology and practice of gathered corporate worship. Far, far better than I anticipated. Incredibly readable, yet substantial. David Peterson makes some very challenging points and observations from the Bible about our corporate worship eg "Praise is meant to be vigorous and heart-felt because the gospel is such great news. Consequently, the value of musical accompaniment is stressed and bodily movement in association with praise is encouraged." (p125)

[Liam Chilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! A straight forward but reasonably comprehensive look at why we do what we do when we gather as Christians.

I read this with the music coordinator at church and it promoted lots of helpful discussion about how we might do things more effectively and faithfully.

Every church worker should read it!