I used to think worship was the singing before the Sunday preaching. The leaders at my former church always called it the time for worship, so I thought worship meant singing. But in 2020, I watched the G3 conference on worship and learned that worshiping God is more than just singing a few songs on Sunday morning.
That conference sparked my interest in biblical worship. And I was glad to discover H.B. Charles Jr.’s new book, On Worship: A Short Guide to Understanding, Participating In and Leading Corporate Worship.
As the title implies, On Worship is a layman’s introduction to worshiping, specifically corporate worship. Charles wrote this book to “help church leaders and members think through biblical principles and practices of worship.”
The book has thirty chapters divided into three parts. Part one explores the basics of worship. Here Charles explains what worship is and why we worship God. Part two details the practice of worship. Here, Charles gives the essential elements of a Christ-centered worship service and how to prepare for it. And part three provides counsel for those who lead worship.
I quite enjoyed reading On Worship. The chapters are short, to the point, easy to read, and thoroughly biblical. There are three main lessons I took away from this book.
First, worship is about God and must be done on His terms. Charles says, “The priority of true worship is to ensure God is pleased.” The goal of worship is pleasing God, not pleasing ourselves, attracting unbelievers, or entertaining the congregants. All that matters is what God desires.
Second, worship must be grounded in God’s Word. Charles always uses God’s Word as the foundation for every element of worship. The preaching, singing, praying, everything must be rooted in God’s Word. He says, “The Word of God is to be the centerpiece of Christian worship. We should sing, pray, and preach the Scriptures.”
And third, worship is not passive. The leaders are not performers, and the congregants an audience. We must all actively participate in worship. Therefore, as much as the leaders prepare for Sunday worship service, the congregants must likewise prepare. Charles says, “Sunday mornings should be the best day of the week for Christians. But what happens on Sunday mornings is determined by what happens on Saturday night. What you get out of going to church is determined by what you put into it. Your spiritual preparation for worship determines your meaningful participation in worship.”
I took away many other lessons from this book, but as the author says from the onset, this is not a comprehensive worship exposition. It is more of a guide to lead Christians in the right direction. Charles helpfully included a list of more comprehensive texts if this book whets your appetite for more.
In conclusion, On Worship is a helpful book I will likely revisit. I recommend it to any Christians who would like a biblical guide to understanding and participating in God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled worship service.
*Moody publishers graciously gave me a copy, and this is my honest review.*
