How Shall We Worship? (Vital Questions) [Hardcover]

Marva Dawn (Author)

Book Description

Series: Vital Questions | Publication Date: April 24, 2003

The Vital Questions series presents the thinking of knowledgeable, qualified authors on “vital questions” that Christians should be able to discuss intelligently. These concise books provide to-the-point answers and present the author's viewpoint, while allowing room for reader thought and disagreement.

How Shall We Worship? One source of debate today is the wide variety of worship styles. In How Shall We Worship? Marva Dawn turns to Psalm 96 to investigate key elements of worship, from music to liturgy. She reminds us about the importance of recognizing that worship is for God and not for us.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (April 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842356363
• ISBN-13: 978-0842356367
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #471,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marva J. Dawn serves the global Church as a theologian, author, musician, and educator under Christians Equipped for Ministry and as Teaching Fellow in Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. A scholar with four master's degrees and a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics and the Scriptures from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Dawn has taught for clergy and worship conferences and at seminaries throughout the world. She is also well-known and highly appreciated as a preacher and speaker for all ages and sometimes contributes to worship by means of her musical gifts. She is the author of more than fifteen books and is happy married to Myron Sandberg; they reside in Washington State.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be a Requirement for Clergy and Church Musicians, March 23, 2007

By 

Byron O. Cawthon "Ann Cawthon" (Alachua, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Shall We Worship? (Vital Questions) (Hardcover)

Dr. Dawn draws a line between church services that are popular entertainment and real worship services that praise the triune God. She says that our worship should use practices and music appropriate to the dignity and beauty of our God, and not be "dumbed down" into raucuous entertainment by following the popular culture. She explains why traditional church music is proper for worship and the modern "rock 'n roll Jesus" complete with a drum kit are not.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo, Marva Dawn!, November 18, 2007

By 

Clarinet Lover "clarinetlover" - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Shall We Worship? (Vital Questions) (Hardcover)

Marva Dawn, a courageous woman who speaks much truth to evangelical churches in this media-driven age, makes a Biblical case for separating worship from evangelism. She goes beyond debating which type of worship music to use and instead, gives a framework for asking better questions. This is a wonderful boook and Bible study (on Psalm 96) for those brave and open enough to begin a much needed dialogue.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Shall We Worhip by Marva Dawn - Most thoughtful, fair book on worship I have read., July 14, 2009

By 

Gladys Hunt "Gladys Hunt- author of "Hone... (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Shall We Worship? (Vital Questions) (Hardcover)

Clearly this is the most thoughtful, biblically-centered treatise I have read on the subject of worship and what it should be. Dawn challenges the church to take seriously its own history, as well as changing culture. Whatever your bias, Dawn will make you think new thoughts about what it means to proclaim the glories of the Lord. She is not primarily writing about "traditional" or "contemporary" but pushes the reader to think about how to worship in a way that includes the global church. God is the important part of her discussion, not styles. She gives ideas of how to make a worship service creative with the worshppers involved, rather than spectators. Highly recommended. We are buying multiple copies to share with leaders.