logo
The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice, By Mark Labberton alt

The Dangerous Act of Worship

Living God's Call to Justice

by Mark Labberton
Foreword by John Ortberg

The Dangerous Act of Worship
Ebook
  • Length: 200 pages
  • Published: August 20, 2009
  • Imprint: IVP
  • ISBN: 9780830877171
Other Formats:

What's at stake in our worship? Everything.Worship is the dangerous act of waking up to God and God's purposes in the world. But something has gone wrong with our worship. Too often worship has become a place of safety and complacency, a narrowlyprivate experience in which solitary individuals only express their personal adoration. Even when we gather corporately, we often close our eyes to those around us, focusing on God but ignoring our neighbor. But true biblical worship does not merelypoint us upward--it should turn us outward as well.In this prophetic wake-up call for the contemporary church, pastor Mark Labberton reconnects Christian worship with biblical justice. From beginning to end, worship must pursue justice and seek righteousness, translating into transformed lives that care for the poor and the oppressed. Labberton shows how to move beyond the comfort of safe worship to authentic worship that is awake to the needs of the world.

REVIEWS

"The Dangerous Act of Worship is extraordinary because it is so concretely helpful. It offers American church leaders a way out from the disappointments of dead-end worship, and does so with tangible stories and examples that are inspiring, convicting, clear and practical. Every so often, a book comes along that, for the brave of heart, actually has the potential to transform a leader's whole mindset about what they are doing and leading. This is such a book."Gary A. Haugen, President, International Justice Mission, and author of Good News About Injustice
"May the Lord use The Dangerous Act of Worship to help call a Western, often self-indulgent church beyond its commitments to just the 'arts' (contemporary, emergent, etc.) and awaken it to its true calling--being a prophetic voice and compassionate model of life transformed by and lived 'into' the gospel of a resurrected Lord."Dr. Pete Sanchez Jr., director of worship studies, Integrity Worship Institute, and assistant professor of church music and worship renewal, University of Mobile
"Few topics arouse such emotion and passion in the church as the place of justice and worship. Mark dares to bring them together, and does it masterfully. Neither a critic of the church--standing aloof and pointing a finger--nor a comforter--standing alongside and holding in an embrace--rather Mark is a prophetic pastor. He compassionately discloses the will and the way of God and invites us to walk together in the way of God's kingdom. This book is discomforting. And well it should be. Markrestores our vision of God's ancient call to the church to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. The book opens the windows so God's Spirit can blow fresh joy and power into our lives. Rather than worship being a weekly separation from the world, Mark leads us into worship as a daily, transforming engagement with it."Tim Dearborn, Associate Director, Christian Commitments/Faith and Development, World Vision International
More

CONTENTS

Foreword by John Ortberg
Acknowledgments
1. What's at Stake in Worship?
2. The Real Battle Over Worship
3. False Dangers
4. Real Dangers
5. Waking Up to Where We Live
6. Doing Justice Starts with Rest
7. When Worship Talks to Power
8. Dwelling in Exodus or in Exile?
9. An Imagination for Justice
10. Living Awake
Epilogue
Study Guide
Notes

More

You May Also Like

The Epic of Eden
What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness?
We Believe in the Holy Spirit
Moms on the Way
We Believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
Culture Care
The Barnabas Factor
The Way of Befriending
Job
Modern Psychopathologies

ABOUT Mark Labberton

Mark Labberton

Mark Labberton is the former president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He previously served as Lloyd John Ogilvie chair for preaching and director of the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute for Preaching. Prior to that, Labbertonwas senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, California. He has also served as chair of John Stott Ministries. Today he continues to contribute to the mission of the global church as a senior fellow of the International Justice Mission. He is the author of The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor and The Dangerous Act of Worship.

Related Titles