A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World [Paperback]

Marva J. Dawn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

Learn how worshiping with appropriate adoration can liberate the hearts of jaded churchgoers who are trapped in todays postmodern, media-saturated culture! Based on solid theological and biblical foundations, Dawn offers experience-based insights to help you navigate beyond destructive worship wars and stimulate renewal in your congregation. Includes nine Scripture-based sermons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080284586X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802845863
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,433 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

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Royal Waste" is a great investment of your time, July 30, 2001

By 

Esther Hetrick (Lansing, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World (Paperback)

This book is very helpful in understanding and interpreting our postmodern culture as it impacts worship. The author describes God as our "Infinite Center", and worship as "immersed participation in all the fullness of God's splendor." She emphasizes the need to "be Church" to our culture. The author also deals candidly with many of the music issues affecting worship today, especially the "traditional" versus "contemporary" struggles, and worship and evangelism issues. While many authors offer practical suggestions for "what works," she gets to deeper levels, reminding us that worship is not a matter of taste, that evangelism itself should not "drive" what happens in worship, that we cannot sacrifice substance for style. Throughout the book, she reminds the reader that she is not seeking to provide answers for "being church" in our culture, but she invites us to ask better questions about the meaning and purposes of worship in postmodern times, and how our worship practices form us to be God's people. Reading this book is definitely not a waste of time!

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Singing, November 10, 2003

By 

Mark Van Steenwyk "Van S" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World (Paperback)

Those who have read anything by Marva Dawn will love "A Royal 'Waste' of Time." Those who aren't familiar with her work are in for a book that is very compelling and challenging. This book isn't merely about worship singing; it is about being a church community centered on the worship of an Infinite God. The book articulates a missional ecclesiology focused on biblical worship that engages the world.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book hits the mark, October 8, 2008

By 

Tim (Rock Hill, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World (Paperback)

In my opinion, this book hits the mark, and Marva Dawn has a prophetic view of contemporary culture. Much of the church, in order to attract members, has succumbed to the idea of competing within the popular consumer marketplace, using worship as a tool for evangelism, and creating worship to appeal to various tastes, even within individual churhes. Dawn makes her points with numerous citations from other sources. This book will be affirming for some, and challenging to many cherished pre-conceptions.