Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace
James B Torrance
InterVarsity Press, 1996

This book based around the view that how we worship God must reflect who God is. Many of us are familiar with the phrase 'Christ-centred worship', but how deep does our understanding of this go? This book highlights the importance of centring on Christ rather than our own self effort, that of continually trying harder to find acceptance which can leave us feeling weary. Once we have a Christ-centred focus as our foundation, we can then begin to consider how we worship in practice and may well draw some different conclusions.

The Heart of Worship Files
Compiled by Matt Redman
Kingsway, 2003

Highlights from the popular Soul Survivor website HeartofWorship.com. Will encourage and inspire you to new heights of worship. Gives practical advice for worship leaders, creative advice for musicians and perceptive insights into the theology of worship.

Contributors include: Mike Pilavachi; Tim Hughes; Graham Kendrick; Darlene Zschech; Noel Richards and Matt Redman.

Looks at Understanding Worship, Songwriting, What bands want from their worship leaders, What worship leaders want from their bands and much more.

The Unquenchable Worshipper
Matt Redman
Kingsway Publications, 2001

There are few books that I have read from cover to cover being unable to put down - this is one of them! It is honest and passionate, and comes straight from the pastoral heart of someone who is seeking to live an everyday life of worship which mirrors that seen on the public stage. In talking about his own experiences, Matt provokes the reader to get rid of things such as unnecessary busyness, fear of man and wrong attitudes which hinder our walk with God, and encourages us to get back to what's important in life. The simplicity of this book makes it any easy read for anyone who desires to be an undignified, unpredictable, unstoppable, undivided, unending worshipper. For £5, how about turning off the TV for an evening and getting back to the
heart of worship.

Extravagant Worship
Darlene Zschech

Darlene Zschech is Worship Pastor at Australia's largest church - Hillsongs. She has written and performed many famous worship songs, the most well known being My Jesus, My Saviour.

I have read many books on worship over the years, but this one is near the top of my list! I found Extravagant Worship a very easy-to-read book, written in a very relaxed style. I found it a very different book as well, in that it contains lots of testimonies, many being Darlene's own personal ones. Consequently the book has real life.

Darlene challenges the reader on such aspects of worship as: lifestyle, commitment, paying the price, teamwork, pursuing excellence, how to behave "on stage" and many others. She brings everything back to the heart of worship - obedience to God in all things. The book is packed with scripture references and Darlene also includes the lyrics to 9 of her songs as well as other songs, hymns and prayers.

I recommend this book whole-heartedly to everyone involved in worship ministry.

(Yvette Britton, Worship Team co-leader, City Church, Worcester)