Offered
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Life is worship. We never disengage. Worship is not a choice; it is what we are created for, and it is hardwired into who we are. We do have a choice, however, concerning whom or what we worship. The Bible gives consistent testimony that God created humankind to worship and glorify Him. Therefore, worship is the creative purpose for our very existence. To fully understand how God desires us to worship, we must move beyond the familiar expressions of worship that are so ingrained in our thoughts.
Powerful images and sounds flood our minds when we think of worship. We hear robed choirs with harmonies of fifty voices breathing life into age-old songs and hymns. We see neon lights spill between lifted, outspread hands, pulsating to a vibrating bass guitar. We feel the swaying rhythm of a gospel choir’s passionate voices. We recollect a priest administering communion. We recall polite, stately men, passing offering plates to collect monetary expressions of commitment to God. We remember worshipful acts of reading Scripture and people kneeling in prayer. We hear preachers delivering heartfelt and heart-moving sermons. We may even think of professional athletes celebrating and pointing to the sky after a touchdown or a home run.
These are all valid and acceptable forms of worship, but they do not encompass all there is to worship. The challenge is to move beyond such limiting boundaries regarding worship. It is not restricted to that which takes place in a gathering of people specifically for a “time” of worship or as gratitude for an accomplishment. The expressions of worship listed in the previous paragraph involve a small percentage of our existence. God did not breathe life into us to exist only for moments of worship but for a life of worship. True worship envelops and encompasses the entirety of our lives.
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About the Book
Offered is must read for all who are seriously seeking a holistic view of worship. The author, Bill Morrison, is someone I have known for nearly three decades and his life experience as a follower of Christ shines through the content of this book. Bill is a deep thinking minister of the gospel who has spent years studying and pondering the real meaning of worship.
Offered is biblically based. Every page of the book points the reader to the scriptures and not just to personal opinions. This work is theologically sound. There are no side trails which lead the reader away from the main focus of worshiping God, in spirit and in truth.
Offered is a practically oriented book which can be utilized in small group Bible studies, devotionals, and in sermons. The well organized chapters make this a practical guide to better understanding worship.
My favorite chapter is the one which describes The Great Commission as our call to worship. Interpreting the Great Commission in this fashion, helps readers see worship as a way of life, not a single action of the Christian. When we understand this truism, we are freed from trying to make a list of priorities which makes worship a separated part of the Christian life.
I recommend Offered to you as a reliable guide for you in your quest to better comprehend the full meaning of worship. Like me, I think you will come to know that we are here on this earth to be “offered” to The Living God for a life of worship. Dr. Rick Lance – Executive Director, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
About the Author
Bill has served in campus ministry since 1988. He has been senior campus minister at the University of Alabama at Birmingham since 1999. Bill strives to equip students to live a bold life: an offering of worship that resonates with the teachings of Jesus. Bill is a native of Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelor of Music from Oklahoma Baptist University. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Bill preaches frequently in churches in the Birmingham area and has served several churches as interim. He loves baseball, college football, and the outdoors. He serves his community as president of the youth baseball association. Bill and his wife, Sheri Jones Morrison, have been married 24 years. They have four children: Caroline, Annelise, Victoria, and William.