The authors, a theologian and a worship leader, are concerned that modern worship is growing self-indulgent: more about performance, less about an encounter with the divine.

The authors, a theologian and a worship leader, are concerned that modern worship is growing self-indulgent: more about performance, less about an encounter with the divine. They consider what the Bible teaches about worship, addressing four key concerns: Worship as entertainment; worship which lacks wonder and awe; worship as irrelevant to mission; worship which gratifies the worshipper rather than honouring the Almighty.The authors each contribute six chapters, looking at biblical aspects of worship. They tackle worship and holiness; worship with passion; worship and the danger of idolatry. How, they ask, can we rediscover the mystery of an encounter with God, in corporate worship? How can leaders open themselves and their congregations to the heart of God, releasing his presence and power? How should we craft the unique dynamic of a people gathered to sing to God?

The authors, a theologian and a worship leader, are concerned that modern worship is growing self-indulgent: more about performance, less about an encounter with the divine. They consider what the Bible teaches about worship, addressing four key concerns: Worship as entertainment; worship which lacks wonder and awe; worship as irrelevant to mission; worship which gratifies the worshipper rather than honouring the Almighty. The authors each contribute six chapters, looking at biblical aspects of worship. They tackle worship and holiness; worship with passion; worship and the danger of idolatry. How, they ask, can we rediscover the mystery of an encounter with God, in corporate worship? How can leaders open themselves and their congregations to the heart of God, releasing his presence and power? How should we craft the unique dynamic of a people gathered to sing to God?

The case for a more biblical approach to worship which honours the divine and allows space for wonder.

"Now To Him" explores biblical worship, addressing concerns of entertainment and self-indulgence. The authors discuss holiness, passion, and the essence of divine encounters in wor

\["For worship leaders seeking to deepen congregational worship", "Addresses the trend of self-indulgent modern worship", "You will reconnect with the true essence of worship"\]

Now To Him restores Christ's centrality in worship practices.

Neil Bennetts

Cover

Praise

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

1. Worship The biblical character and culture of worship

The culture of worship

The character of biblical worship

The right response of creature to Creator (Psalm 95)

The splendid obsession of heaven

The response to revelation

The goal of our salvation

The conflict over worship

The climax of worship

The power of God to heal released in worship

2. The Kingdom of Grace God courting the affection of His world

Courting the affection of His world: The biblical narrative of grace

A fresh announcement of grace: Jesus' message of grace to a world living with un-grace

Grace changes everything: The life-transforming power of grace

The invitation of grace: God's invitation to worship

A seat called mercy: The crowning glory of God's character

The ultimate expression of grace: The cross of Jesus

Cross-centred worship: Keeping grace at the heart of worship

3. The Scent of a Woman Personal devotion in worship

Her worship was valuable

Her worship was total

Her worship was a battle

Her worship was beautiful

Her worship was a symbol

Her worship was a memorial to her

In conclusion

4. Sing Holding on to the gift of corporate worship

Stronger, louder, and more courageous: The special dynamic of corporate worship

This marks us out: Being identified as God-worshippers

Flung into the Father's arms: Lament in worship

Left breathless: Hope in worship

The King has come: Hope breaking into our lives through worship

Holding on to the gift of gathered, sung worship: Keeping it central

5. Love and Loved A loving response to being loved by God

True worship is loving God who first loved us

Flush or wash

Do you love Me?

Do you know Jesus loves you?

6. Everything in its Right Place Honouring the holy in worship

A magnificent carnival of irreverent praise: When all is not well

A reality check: Taking stock of where we are

The unsexy path of biblical orthodoxy: Keeping worship true to Scripture

The refining power of a holy God: God will protect His reputation

The powerless torso of a broken idol: The danger of making worship an idol

The subtle whisper of intoxicating fame: Reflecting praise back on to God

Holding lightly to the non-sacred sacred: Letting go of the sacred cow

So who gets the glory? Who is honoured by what we do, when we do it?

Everything in its right place

7. Coram Deo – Living Life to the Face of God The presence and power of God in worship

Because of our "Yes": Worship that builds a platform for God

The language of obedience

The choice of loving God

What do you hear when you cannot hear? Worship that goes beyond the music

Following in the footsteps of the Father: Costly choices in worship

When we come to the end of ourselves: Worship in the testing times

The work of a worshipper: Having eternity in our worship

Coram Deo: Living life to the face of God

8. The One We Worship The glorious Christ

The pre-eminence of Christ (Colossians 1:15–20)

Jesus' divinity

Jesus' creativity

Jesus' supremacy

The person and work of Christ

God's benevolence

Our inheritance

Our deliverance

Convergence

9. Moments of Closeness Recapturing a sense of wonder in our worship

Way over our heads: The desire to explain everything

31 billion attempts at the impossible: Our insatiable hunger for information

The unmistakable fragrance of the wonderful: The wonder of God in creation

The most wonderful thing in the world: The wonder of worship

Moments of closeness: Growing in wonder through encounter with God

A wonder-full church

10. In Awe or an Eeyore? Grumbling in worship

The unmistakable Mr Eeyore

The ungrateful, unfaithful Mr Eeyore

The unfruitful Mr Eeyore

11. A Church that Dances Engaging in passionate, sacrificial worship

Getting up on the high wire: Facing our fears

A glorious obsession with the goodness of God: Celebrating God's goodness

Digging for diamonds: Going deeper with God in His word

A generous and persistent application: Being prepared to work hard

Rejoicing in the success of others: Letting others fly

Going the way of the best: Excellence in worship

When the rubber hits the road: Being prepared to pay for it

An infectious lack of dignity: Passionate worship that attracts the attention of the world

Worship is about what God is worth, not what we feel able to give

A church that dances

12. Now to Him Doxology

Worship is to God

Worship "to God" discloses something of who God is

Bennetts, Neil

A collaboration between an influential worship leader and an inspirational Bible teacher - Read it!A" - Kenny Borthwick, New Wine Scotland Wonderfully accessible.A" - John Mumford, National Director, Vineyard Churches UK Refreshingly passionate - I highly recommend it.A" - David Ruis, worship leader, songwriter and church planter, Los Angeles, and writer of the song I will worship Powerfully written, thoughtfully constructed and theologically robust.A" - Kathryn Scott, worship leader and songwriter, N. Ireland, and writer of the song Hungry A treasury of wisdom - solid food for our souls.A" - Jules Woodbridge, worship leader and songwriter, Trinity Cheltenham, UK Written out of a deep, mature love of God and a passion for the church.A" - Nick Drake, worship pastor, St Paul's Hammersmith, London Deep wisdom, full of grace.A" - Eoghan Heaslip, worship leader and songwriter, UK

Neil Bennetts is worship leader at Holy Trinity, Cheltenham, and has been leading worship at New Wine for many years. He has composed many of today's popular songs. Simon Ponsonby is an international author, speaker and theologian based at St Aldate's Oxford, where he leads a School of Theology. He is author of several books.

"Now to Him" explores a biblical approach to worship, addressing concerns like entertainment and relevance. Authored by a theologian and worship leader, it offers insights for church leaders.

\["Want a clear picture of what worship means? ","This book is a call to focus your eyes on Christ in all worship","You'll find out more ways of making worship accessible as well as upwards-looking "\]

Discover a fresh biblical approach to worship that honours God and invites you into a deeper encounter with the divine.

Eden

'A deeply insightful book on why we are called to worship. Neil and Simon weave together deep theological understanding with pastoral experience that underline the enormity of God's grace and the excitment of the life we are called into.'

Now to Him

Written with passion and drawing on a vast range of sources and references.

This stirring book will give worshippers and worship leaders much food for thought. Neil Bennetts a songwriter and New Wine worship leader, and Simon Ponsonby a gifted author and speaker much in demand and St.Aldates-Oxford-based theologian, collaborate in expressing concern over ?hedonistic, introspective, self-satisfying influences? on church life and worship. They recognise that worship is more than just what we do in church, for Romans 12.1 indicates ?worship is a way of life? (Simon?s words). But, as Neil writes, ?Gathered worship is the first priority of the church. The most important thing for a church to be doing is the thing that will cause it to fall apart the most quickly if it is stopped. Sounds like worship to me.? The two men call for worship that is ?grace-filled and cross-centred?, for which a ?template? is found in Colossians 1.10-15, which Simon explores - worship that is genuinely ?to God? (?Worship is not about us, it?s about God. Not for our benefit, but God?s?, as he puts it) - worship that replaces the emphasis on ?I? with an emphasis on ?You?. That?s absolutely true, of course. But I do miss, as I usually do in contemporary books on leading worship, any reference to Confession or Intercession. It?s not just Praise, is it? And you may struggle with Neil?s assertion that passionate, undignified worship is infectious. There are other ways to lead worship, and a useful book in a different style is At Heaven?s Gate, by Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2010). But there is a lot to learn from Bennetts? and Ponsonby?s passion for worship.

This stirring book will give worshippers and worship leaders much food for thought.   
Neil Bennetts a songwriter and New Wine worship leader, and Simon Ponsonby a gifted author and speaker much in demand and St.Aldates-Oxford-based theologian, collaborate in expressing concern over ‘hedonistic, introspective, self-satisfying influences’ on church life and worship. They recognise that worship is more than just what we do in church, for Romans 12.1 indicates ‘worship is a way of life’ (Simon’s words). But, as Neil writes, ‘Gathered worship is the first priority of the church. The most important thing for a church to be doing is the thing that will cause it to fall apart the most quickly if it is stopped. Sounds like worship to me.’   
The two men call for worship that is ‘grace-filled and cross-centred’, for which a ‘template’ is found in Colossians 1.10-15, which Simon explores - worship that is genuinely ‘to God’ (‘Worship is not about us, it’s about God. Not for our benefit, but God’s’, as he puts it) - worship that replaces the emphasis on ‘I’ with an emphasis on ‘You’.   
That’s absolutely true, of course. But I do miss, as I usually do in contemporary books on leading worship, any reference to Confession or Intercession. It’s not just Praise, is it? And you may struggle with Neil’s assertion that passionate, undignified worship is infectious. There are other ways to lead worship, and a useful book in a different style is At Heaven’s Gate, by Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2010). But there is a lot to learn from Bennetts’ and Ponsonby’s passion for worship.

Now To Him

Putting Christ Back at the Centre of Our Worship

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