Review: The Air I Breathe

Multnomah, 2017. 162 pp.

Worship goes beyond Sunday morning services and far beyond the three or four songs played by a band. When we understand the greater purpose of worship, transformation and revival will occur. Thus, there is a need for a renewed "liturgical literacy" among laypersons and ministers alike. The heart of true worship has been hidden among decades of worship wars, and we have been seeing an increased shift toward a deeper understanding of liturgy. Such is the purpose of Louie Giglio's updated The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life (Multnomah, 2017).

In this book, Giglio seeks to recapture a more profound theology of worship, one that is a response to who God is. To Giglio, the passion of the Christ demands our fullest devotion to following God. Giglio makes the claim that we are all worshippers and, regardless of our awareness, we become what we worship.

Giglio sets some important foundations about worship as a way of life; however, he trades further exploration with seeker-sensitive illustrations. Clearly tailored to his Passion, young evangelical audience, Giglio introduces the subject of worship but fails to explain its most significant potentials. Furthermore, Giglio claims that worship moves from personal to corporate, whereas the biblical vision of worship is a corporate response that leads to individual transformation. It seems as if Giglio's seeker-sensitive philosophy of ministry shades his philosophy of worship. This book is a watered-down primer on worship, tailored to the emerging, postmodern crowd most comfortable with God's immanence, and neglects some crucial features of liturgical study.

I would recommend this book hesitantly to those who are interested in understanding the basics of worship as a way of life. However, there are more scholarly and detailed works—while remaining accessible to laity—which detail the mechanisms of worship within the Sunday morning context, and how that shapes how we live (see "Further Reading").

(This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.)

Further Reading:

Smith, James K.A. You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2016.
Warren, Tish Harrison. Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2016.
Webber, Robert. Worship is a Verb. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998.

Comments

Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L. Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz. Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D. Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak.

Review: The Way of Worship

In The Way of Worship , respected worship leaders and teachers Michael Neale and Vernon Whaley present an introduction to thinking about worship leadership. This book is divided into two parts, Precepts and Practices. Each chapter includes an analogy of leading worship alongside a river journey, biblical application, and practical wisdom. These chapters are readable, offering brief vignettes into worship ministry. To be sure, this is not a book on the specifics of leading worship. You will not learn how to plan a service or how to lead rehearsals, but this book lays the theological and spiritual foundations for worship leadership. This book is more like a devotional that seeks to grow the soul of the worship leader. The subtitle of “living and leading authentic worship” should be understood as living a Christ-like life of worship rather than “planning and executing authentic worship services.” The student workbook includes helpful reflection questions. While this should not be consider

Review: The Four Pages of the Sermon, Revised and Updated

Paul Scott Wilson's celebrated preaching text, The Four Pages of the Sermon (Abingdon, 2018) is now available in a revised and updated edition, with additions that reflect advancements in homiletical scholarship and cultural dynamics. First published in 1999, Wilson challenged the New Homiletic movement to emphasize God's gracious activity within the text and to let it saturate the entirety of the sermon—not to use the Gospel as a tantalizing treat at the end of a well-crafted plot. Today, this text stands as one of the most respected and accessible works for preachers at all stages in their ministry. Wilson argues that there are four main moves, or "pages," in a sermon: the problem in the text, the problem in the world, the grace in the text, and the grace in the world. Like Eugene Lowry's "homiletical plot," Wilson's sermon upsets the listener by exposing a human need and then moves toward resolution through the power of the Gospel. These page

Leitourgia

Search This Blog