True Worshipers E-Book

Bob Kauflin

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Everyone worships. But Jesus tells us that God is seeking a particular kind of worshiper. In True Worshipers, a seasoned pastor and musician guides readers toward a more engaging, transformative, and biblically faithful understanding of the worship God is seeking. True worship is an activity rooted in the grace of the gospel that affects every area of our lives. And while worship is more than just singing, God's people gathering in his presence to lift their voices in song is an activity that is biblically based, historically rooted, and potentially life-changing. Thoroughly based in Scripture and filled with practical guidance, this book connects Sunday worship to the rest of our lives—helping us live as true worshipers each and every day.

Leseprobe

TRUEWORSHIPERS

SEEKINGWHAT MATTERSTO GOD

BOB KAUFLIN

FOREWORD BY MATT REDMAN

True Worshipers: Seeking What Matters to God

Copyright © 2015 by Bob Kauflin

Published by Crossway 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Dual Identity, inc.

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-4230-5 ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4233-6 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4231-2 Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4232-9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kauflin, Bob.

True worshipers: seeking what matters to God / Bob Kauflin; foreword by Matt Redman.

    1 online resource

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-4230-5 (tp)

ISBN 978-1-4335-4233-6 (ePub)

ISBN 978-1-4335-4231-2 (PDF)

ISBN 978-1-4335-4232-9 (Mobipocket)

1. God—Worship and love—Biblical teaching.  2. God (Christianity)—Worship and love.  3. Christian life.  I. Title.

BS680.W78

264—dc23                             2015008219

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To my children,

Megan, Jordan, Devon, Chelsea, Brittany, and McKenzie.

It has been one of the greatest joys of my life to watch each of you become a true worshiper.

PROVERBS 23:24

CONTENTS

Foreword by Matt RedmanAcknowledgments1 True Worshipers MatterWORSHIP AND REALITY2 True Worshipers ReceiveWORSHIP AND OUR INABILITY3 True Worshipers ExaltWORSHIP AND HUMILITY4 True Worshipers GatherWORSHIP AND COMMUNITY5 True Worshipers EdifyWORSHIP AND MATURITY6 True Worshipers SingWORSHIP AND MUSIC7 True Worshipers Keep SingingWORSHIP AND PERSEVERANCE8 True Worshipers EncounterWORSHIP AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD9 True Worshipers AnticipateWORSHIP AND ETERNITYNotesGeneral IndexScripture Index

FOREWORD

I first met Bob Kauflin at a UK seaside vacation resort, well over a decade ago. That might sound like a really nice setting to meet a new worship-leader friend, but believe me, it wasn’t the place to be if you were looking for anything remotely resembling beach weather! The sea winds were howling, and I think the English rain was making fun of us. Fortunately, neither of us was there for a vacation. Instead, we were part of a gathering of several thousand worship leaders and their teams, and it was a powerful and profound conference.

I think what struck me most upon meeting Bob was his pursuit of truth. It comes as no surprise to me therefore that this new book has the title True Worshipers. On our first meeting, I remember Bob talking to me about the importance of biblical truth in our worship songs, and how essential it is for them to be full of God-honoring and Word-carrying lyrics. And Bob’s passion for our worship to be biblically astute and our worship expressions to be theologically correct has shown up in so many different ways since.

I remember another conference we happened to be at together, and a question-and-answer session that followed the speaker’s message. Bob’s hand kept going up—and time after time he offered a passionate and purposeful comment or question around the theological theme we were discussing. As I look back on that day, it’s almost like Bob was a crossbreed of theological Doberman and pastoral Labrador (which I mean as a huge compliment!). He went hard after biblical revelation and the defense of truth, but did so with much grace and love.

Bob does exactly the same in the pages of his excellent new book. He makes plain what worship is and what it isn’t. He points us strongly in the right direction. But throughout every chapter, he does so with humility and care. If you’re new to the topic of worship, you’ll find some fantastic foundations to build your learning upon here. If you’ve been around this theme for a while, you’ll find some timely reminders, and insights into age-old glorious truths. And all laid out in a helpful and well-thought-through way.

Worship is one of the ultimate themes of this life, but it is never a question of whether worship will or won’t occur in the heart of a human being. It’s more a case of whether that worship will travel in the proper direction and end up in the right place. It’s guaranteed that everyone on this planet will be an extravagant worshiper of some kind, sacrificially spending themselves in a life of desire and devotion. But it’s by no means guaranteed that their worship will travel along the right paths. People will find a way to worship anything and everything. But all the time, God is calling us back to himself, back to being the God reflectors and image bearers we were meant to be. He is the only One worthy of our worship. As C. S. Lewis reminded us, idols inevitably break the hearts of their worshipers. But not so when we worship Jesus—of course the complete opposite occurs, and we find ourselves in a place of fulfillment and satisfaction.

One of the most reorienting passages in Scripture when it comes to the theme of worship is Revelation chapters 4 and 5. Here we see things set up as they were ever supposed to be. There in the center is the throne of God, and everything else (as Harold Best described it) arranges itself around that throne. We see a rainbow encircling that throne, and encounter a multitude of angels doing exactly the same thing—encircling the throne of Jesus. That is a picture of how our lives should look here on earth, just as is in heaven. We are meant to gather ourselves around the throne of God and make sure Jesus is absolutely central to the way we arrange our lives.

Some will read this book and realize that Christ has recently been placed a little off-center in their lives. They’ll see how, perhaps in subtle ways, some other person or factor has started to take too central a place. There’ll be some rearranging of the furniture to do, with Jesus and his throne being moved back to the very heart of who we are. Others will have a similar epiphany in terms of how they see the worship-music ministry God has entrusted to them. Perhaps outward things have become too dominant and there’s a call to readjust and find a renewed heart of worship. As you read the pages of this book, be open to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. Be ready for him to guide you, remind you, realign you, or surprise you—for your greater good and his greater glory.

This important book will inform, instruct, and inspire. Bob reminds us there’s a reason behind our rejoicing, and there’s substance beneath our singing. And ultimately he encourages us to back up anything we sing or say with a life of exuberant and God-focused worship. Back to my (hopefully not offensive!) dog analogy—Bob patrols the theological borders of this book like that trusty Doberman who won’t allow you to trespass into unhealthy attitudes and approaches in worship. But for all the patrolling, there’s even more pastoring—Bob’s Labrador side accompanying all this teaching with gentleness, humility, patience, and much care.

I’m glad to have met Bob all those years ago and to have benefited from his wisdom, experience, and passion for exalting Christ. I know by the end of this book you will feel exactly the same way.

Matt Redman

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I owe a significant debt of gratitude to many people whose lives, directly or indirectly, influenced and shaped what I wrote in this work.

To Lane Dennis, for the privilege of writing another book for Crossway, still one of my favorite publishers. The books you’ve produced have been a huge means of grace to my life.

To Justin Taylor, for supporting, encouraging, and prodding me during the six years it took me to write this book. You are kind, generous, thoughtful, and superhumanly patient.

To Thomas Womack and Thom Notaro, for lending your excellent editing capabilities to this book. Thomas, it was a joy to benefit from your wise and insightful gifts again, and Thom, it was a pleasure to work with you for the first time.

To Amy Kruis, Angie Cheatham, Dan Bush, Danny Lee, Matt Tully, and all the other folks at Crossway who helped produce True Worshipers, and more importantly, who provide the church with gospel-centered, theologically rich, Christ-exalting books.

To D. A. Carson, David Peterson, John Piper, and Harold Best, for writing books that helped me appreciate the importance of understanding God, engaging with God, desiring God, and knowing how to use music to glorify God.

To the staff of Sovereign Grace Churches, whose unseen, faithful labors are being used by God to advance the gospel, build churches, and encourage true worshipers throughout the world.

To Joseph Stigora, Matthew Williams, Walt Alexander, Erik Schmaltz, Jason Hansen, Tim Payne, Jon Bloom, and Doug Plank, for helping me equip Sovereign Grace Churches in knowing how to use music in the church to exalt Christ.

To my fellow pastors in Sovereign Grace Churches, who every week seek to teach, equip, and deploy the true worshipers under your care to make a difference for the gospel in your community and beyond.

To the Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary interns I have the privilege of hanging with. You’ve helped me work through many of the thoughts in this book. Thanks for your engaging conversations, insightful comments, and enthusiastic support.

To Jon Payne, Matt Mason, Jordan and Devon (my sons), and anyone else who gave me feedback on this book as it was in process. Your thoughts were invaluable and made this a better book than it would have been otherwise.

To the pastors and members of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. It is a gift from God to be able to labor beside you for the glory of the Savior. Your humble and consistent example of being true worshipers inspires and gladdens my soul.

To Brittany, my daughter/assistant, who keeps me on schedule, tries to keep me from over-scheduling, and has been gifted with seemingly endless creativity. Because your life sings with the joy of the gospel, you make me one of the happiest bosses and dads I know.

To Jeff Purswell. I could never have imagined the impact you would have on my life when we first started serving together back in 1997. Thank you for the theological precision, literary clarity, and stylistic improvements you brought to this book. You made me ask hard questions, and I’m grateful for it. More importantly, thank you for helping me, through your teaching and friendship, to treasure, submit to, and apply the Word of God.

To C. J. Mahaney. This book (and my first one) wouldn’t exist apart from your example, teaching, and friendship. You are one of the finest examples of a true worshiper I know. You walk humbly with your God, exult in grace, are continually in awe that Jesus died in your place, and live in the power of the Spirit. Thank you for poring through the pages of this book with me and suggesting so many ways it could be better. It’s eternally significant that you’re a true worshiper, but I thank God that you’re also a true pastor and a true friend.

To my children and their spouses—Megan and James, Jordan and Tali, Devon and Kristine, Chelsea and Jacob, Brittany, and McKenzie. Thank you for your desire to bring glory to Jesus Christ not only through your songs but through your lives. May you experience the unspeakable blessing of having your children, too, grow up to be true worshipers.

To my dearest Julie, the most amazing human being I know. Thank you for being so supportive and encouraging as I wrote, rewrote, and wrote again this book. Thanks for telling me to stay late and work when I knew we’d both rather be together. Thank you for always pointing my eyes and heart to our faithful Father, our merciful Savior, and the ever-present Holy Spirit. Thank you for saying yes back in 1976. It just keeps getting better.

Finally, to the God and Savior whom I grew to know and love more deeply while writing this book. Any words I write are inevitably inadequate to express the praise you’re due. Your majesty is unparalleled, your beauty unsurpassed, your wisdom unmeasured, your goodness unimaginable, your steadfast love unchanging, and your greatness unsearchable. I consider it the greatest end of my existence to find myself numbered among those worshiping the One on the throne and the Lamb. I pray that as a result of reading this book, many more will say the same.

1

TRUE WORSHIPERS MATTER

WORSHIP AND REALITY

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

JOHN 4:23

The year was 1975. I was standing in an open field next to my future wife, Julie, in Front Royal, Virginia. Along with a few thousand other people, we had come to experience Fishnet, one of the first outdoor “Jesus festivals.” More specifically, we had come to experience the music.

Converted rock bands, singer-songwriters, and folk musicians had started singing about Jesus without missing a beat. And their songs were making their way into the church. “Worship,” as we started calling it, became almost indistinguishable from what was being played on the radio. Traditionalists questioned and feared it. Young people devoured it.

Fishnet and festivals like it were the first signs that a worship tidal wave was about to crash upon the shores of the church. Conversations about worship then were relatively few. In just a few years, “worship” would hit the big time.