For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, you know that I’ve been working on a book for over a year now. I’m happy to report that I’m finally done. The book will be called Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God and will be published by Crossway. I mailed in the final manuscript about two weeks ago, and I’m one happy guy. Lord willing, it will be available in April.
The book is written for those who lead congregational worship in song, but I think it will serve anyone in leadership, as well as Christians who want to discover more about what it means to worship God. Not surprisingly, I’m already thinking about what I didn’t say and what I could have said better, but thankfully, it’s out of my hands now and I don’t think Crossway is going to let me change anything.
I originally asked my dear friend C.J. Mahaney to write a foreword, because no one has influenced my life more in the area of leading worship. But C.J. thought I should ask someone who might be better known and not a part of Sovereign Grace. So I asked Matt Redman, a man I respect and appreciate deeply. Matt said he wasn’t able to do it. Then I asked John Piper, another man I respect and appreciate deeply. He couldn’t do it either. I went back and asked C.J. again and he again encouraged me to think of someone who might introduce the book to a wider audience. During that conversation I told him about some recent conversations with Paul Baloche that were encouraging. “What about Paul?” he asked.
I had thought of Paul previously, but decided against asking him because I critique one of his songs, “Above All,” in the book. “I can’t ask someone to write a foreword for my book when I say something critical about one of their songs.” But I’ve known Paul for a few years, and thought I’d ask him anyway, after alerting him to the fact that I used his song as a negative example.
Surprisingly, Paul agreed to write the foreword. Or maybe I should say unsurprisingly, because Paul is a genuinely humble man. For as long as I’ve known him he has never stopped seeking to grow in his love for the Savior or his commitment to serving God’s people. So he wrote a very kind foreword. And I’m very grateful.
I’ve also been receiving endorsements, which has been humbling. When I asked people to endorse my book, I was well aware that all of them carry full loads, and have better things to do than read a pre-published manuscript. But for whatever reason, people have found time and have been sending me gracious comments. I can only believe the best and assume they really read the book…
All that to say, I’m grateful for the opportunity to even write a book, and even more grateful to actually see it published. I’d appreciate your prayers that God use it in some small way to raise up more leaders committed to God-glorifying, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered corporate worship.
And if you’re one of those people who likes doing things months in advance, feel free to pre-order a copy at Amazon.
