Why We Worship: Experiencing Heaven on Earth at Church

by Adriel Sanchez

Recover the Wonder and Weight of the Sunday Service "Do I have to go to church?" Whether we've fielded this question from others or have at times wondered ourselves, pastor Adriel Sanchez invites us to consider afresh why Sunday corporate worship matters. Why We Worship reenchants our spiritual imagination, helping us rediscover the beauty of worship in Scripture and draw upon the richness of Christian liturgy through the ages. Sanchez delves into the biblical underpinnings and historical development of the core parts of a worship service, casting a vision for corporate worship's vital role in healthy Christian spirituality and discipleship. In Why We Worship, Sanchez draws on Scripture and history to uncover not only the what but also the why of elements of the Sunday service including music, the sermon, Communion, baptism, confession, prayer, and the benediction.
Church isn't meant to be a dull routine or an entertainment-driven spectacle. It's a weekly heavenly ascent that transforms us to live the Christian life here on earth. Enter anew into the wonder of Sunday worship as a transcendent, joy-filled journey into God's presence.

216 pages, Paperback

Published September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Michael Philliber · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Delightful read. Ideal for individual Christians. I think especially pastors would gain much, and be reminded of some important aspects of what we're about. But I really think church elder boards and deacons should read this book together, work through it, and pray around it.

[JD Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Adriel extends the invitation that God has given to each of His children to met with Him at His house. To make the heavenly ascent to Zion each week. Adriel encourages us with the fact that our worship matters, how we worship matters, and that there is a point to our worship! Whether it is the call to worship, God extends rest in Christ. Or our confession, God cleanses us that we may stand before Him in our assembly. At the communion table, God sets the table before us with the Heavenly food that nourishes us. And so on, throughout the service, until He sends us out down the mountain to be His mouthpieces to the world around us. Each part of the liturgy has purpose, both to glorify God and to edify the church.

Pastor Adriel makes these assertions that are found in Scripture and grounded in church history. How encouraging it is to know that we are joining in with the Heavenly Host and those who came before us! Church history did not start during the 1960’s, and we may have picked up some bad habits along the way. But Pastor Adriel admonishes the church to return to a liturgy that is not man-centered, but God-centered. In that we do not beckon God to meet with us so that we may feel an emotional connection to Him. But rather, God is beckoning us to meet with Himself. To worship Him, not just in the songs that we sing, but with our entire life. God cares about the way we worship.