Tozer on Worship and Entertainment [Paperback]

A. W. Tozer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Tozer had strong convictions about the subject of worship as well as its corruption by what he referred to as "the Great God Entertainment." The excerpts in this book were carefully selected to give you a clear picture of his thoughts on both topics.

Worship: Unacceptable worship, spiritual concentration, the presence of God, the power of God, personal communion, adoration, hymns.

Entertainment: Evangelical heresy, propaganda, an outward shift, modern evangelism, religious activity, worldliness

Also included are Tozer's sermon "The Act and Object of Worship: in its entirety as well as his controversial essay, "The Menace of the Religious Movie," written in the mid 1950s.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A.W. Tozer was a self-taught theologian who received two honorary doctorates and pastored several churches, including Southside Alliance in Chicago for thirty-one years. He is the author of the spiritual classic The Pursuit of God.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: WingSpread Publishers; Wingspread Publ edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600661033
• ISBN-13: 978-1600661037
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Tozer - Insightful and Challenging, March 16, 2004

By 

Michael Taylor "Michael Taylor" (Indian Trail NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tozer on Worship and Entertainment: Selected Excerpts (Paperback)

Tozer's books are typically insightful and incisive and this book is no exception!

Among the points Tozer covers include:

1. Forms of unacceptable worship.
2. Make pleasing God the priority! God waits for us until we are ready for His manifestations.
3. God wants our worship before our work. Our trust in Him must be so complete that we can be still and quiet before Him for extended periods of time.
4. God must conquer us before He will bless us.
5. Notes on how enertainment has replaced worship in the church.
6. Beware of the danger of being socially acceptable.
7. Do not compromise with the world - there will be times when we will have to travel alone.
8. Excellent notes on meaningless activity in the church. The church has focused too much on the externals and "new" things.

Read and be challenged to consider whether you have allowed the world come between you and God!

Highly recommended read.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic Tozer - Often Prophetic, October 24, 2008

By 

Trevin Wax - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tozer on Worship and Entertainment (Paperback)

A.W. Tozer was never one to mince words. He was a preacher who fervently desired to see people awestruck and amazed by the transcendent God. He preached to the heart and yet maintained a strong emphasis on the head-knowledge that touches the heart.

Tozer on Worship and Entertainment is a compilation of excerpts from many of Tozer's sermons and talks on worship. It begins with Tozer's well-known teaching on worship. Some of Tozer's best quotes are included here. The editor was wise to begin the book with the positive picture of worship that Tozer paints. Tozer describes, defines, and desires true worship. He stresses adoration of God over and over again. His passion for worship is breathtaking at times.

In the second half of the book, Tozer turns his aim to the current state of worship in the church, and mainly the infiltration of "entertainment" into worship services. Most of these excerpts come from Tozer's work in the 1950's and 1960's, which makes one wonder what Tozer would think about the current situation. The most controversial chapter is the book's last - one that declares all drama and acting to be sinful. Surely Tozer has overstated his case at this point, but that does not mean his critique of the current situation is to be dismissed.

Part of the fun in reading Tozer comes from the colorful way in which he talks. Take this quote for instance:

"The church today is suffering from a rash of amateurism. Any untrained, unprepared, unspiritual, empty rattletrap of a fellow who is a bit ambitious can start himself something religious. Then we all listen to him, pay him for it, promote him and work to try to help this fellow who never heard from God in the first place."

This is classic Tozer. Though he is sometimes off base, he's more right than wrong. The second half of the book is more critical than the first, but I actually found myself more convicted by the earlier chapters. Tozer's passion for worship is infectious and his desire to see the Lord high and lifted up reminds me of the Bible prophets who would settle for nothing less than full worship of the heart.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Towzers on Worship, September 25, 2011

By 

karel - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tozer on Worship and Entertainment (Paperback)

once I got it, it was in excellent condition& am reading it with much prayer & concentration...very good book for anyone wanting to know what worship truly is...thanks And now that I've almost read it all, the author would roll over in his grave if he saw the church in this day & age with all the worldliness in it...but hopefully anyone who wants to read it will have their eyes opened to how Jesus is so little regarded anymore...makes me grieve.