Worship Walk by Gareth Goossen

What comes to mind when you think of worship? That hour on Sunday morning? Is it the music over which we've had “worship wars”?

True worship goes much beyond that. Goossen argues that our worship should be our entire life. He invites us to a walk of worship. True worshipers make every effort to engage with Jesus at all times and everywhere.

He reminds us of the cost of worship – totally focusing on God, and the sacrifice of worship – always placing Jesus at the center.

He explores all the ways we worship God in the broader context of life: silence, asking, listening to the Holy Spirit, confession, proclaiming, recognizing God's image in creation, prayer, humility, gratitude, extravagance, using spiritual gifts, and suffering. He gives practical suggestions on how to do each aspect of worship too.

He suggests a daily prayer: “Lord, in my worship of you today in whatever I am doing, help me to allow you to shape me in your image so that I might be an extension of your presence and an encouragement to one other person.” (85)

There is so much in this book that strikes at the heart of the Christian. We were made to worship God. Reading this book certainly helped me understand what that means. If you desire to experience worship as a lifestyle, this is the book for you.

I'll leave you with this question Goossen asks, “Is God our goal? Is the essence of our lives and our lifestyles designed to be, like Paul encourages, so that we may 'know' Christ better?” (157) Does worship encompass all of your life?

Gareth Goossen is the executive director of Make Us Holy ministries. He has a Master of Arts in New Testament theology from the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary and has been an associate pastor in two Canadian Mennonite Brethren churches. He has been leading corporate worship since 1986. He organized Make Us Holy in 1993, resigning his associate pastor position in 1994. He travels in North America and Latin America encouraging churches in their worship. He is broadening his ministry, teaching the broader church about a passionate pursuit of Jesus in a daily walk of worship. Gareth and his wive have three adult children, three grandchildren, and live in Breslau, Ontario. You can find out more at http://www.makeusholy.org/

Westbow Press, 276 pages.

I received a complimentary galley of this book from the author through the Book Group Network for the purpose of this review.