Worship God Live

The Sovereign Grace music team recently released a new album entitled Worship God Live by Bob Kauflin and Pat Sczebel. As the title states, this recording was done live at a concert they performed at their church Covenant Life over a period of two nights. I was given a free copy with the caveat that I present a review of the CD here on my blog.

Before getting to that actual music itself, I have to admit that music reviews are all very subjective since everybody’s music style is so different. Christians are unfortunately notorious for having worship wars in which the congregation may fight over the style of music: hymns vs. chorus songs, songs sung with instruments vs. songs sung acapella, clapping-songs vs. none clapping songs, etc. In John Piper’s book, Brothers We are Not Professionals, he addresses this very subject by suggesting to Christians to focus on the essence and not the form of worship. He suggests that too many focus on the outward form of worship rather than the inner essence found in the heart. He bases this on the usage of the word worship found in the Old and New Testament:

The New Testament reveals a stunning silence about the outward forms of corporate worship and a radical intensification of worship as an inner, Godward experience of the heart. The silence about outward forms is obvious in the fact that the gathered life of the church is never called “worship” in the New Testament. Moreover, the main Old Testmant word for worship (proskuneo in the Greek Old Testament) is virtually absent from the New Testament letters. Its usage clusters in the Gospels (26 times) and in the Book of Revelation (21 times). But in the Epistles of Paul it occurs only once, namely, in 1Corinthians 14:25 where the unbeliever falls down at the power of the prophecy and confesses God in the assembly. It doesn’t occur at all in the letters of Peter, James, and John.

The reason for this unusual spread is probably that the Old Testament idea, captured in the Greek word prosukuneo, implied a physical falling down in reverednce before a visible majesty. This happened as people came to the visible, incarnate Christ in the Gospels. And I happened in Revelation as the saints and angels and elders were actually in the presence of theh visible, risen Christ. But in the age between the ascension and the second coming Christ is not visibly here to worship. Therefore, worship is radically internalized and delocalized. (pg 230)

Piper continues to explain that the closest word to proskuneo in the Old Testament is the word latreuo, citing Exodus 23:24 “You shall not worship their gods, nor worship them.”

He makes the point that worship is never form-oriented nor place-oriented, meaning its not about whether you worship with hands up, in group, or in a building, but its much more than that its in the inner heart. So when does worship happen? In all of life!

I take it as a given that worship – whether an inner act of the heart , or an outward act of the body, or of the congregation collectively – is a magnifying of God. That is, it is an act that shows how magnificent He is. It is an act that reveals or expresses how great and glorious He is. Worship is all about consciously reflecting the worth or value of God. (pg 233)

Piper is very helpful in this regard to offer to us a good definition of worship and how it is a conscious magnifying of the value and worth of God. When we listen to today’s contemporary worship music our minds normally gravitate towards asking questions like what style of music is it? Is it live or recorded, hymns or choruses, upbeat or slow, are there cool guitar solos? Whatever your music preference or style is – it matters little in the realm of true spiritual worship. In regards to music and worship, one should instead ask, “does the music make me worship?” In other words does this music drive me to consciously reflect the value of my God making me want to serve him more?

When I first listened to this CD I honestly thought it was a bit too upbeat, different in terms of my style and preference. Knowing that a review was due for this CD I thought how can I write a review about a CD that contains some songs that didn’t go well with my music preference? However after listening to it again and again and being reminded of the essence of worship rather than form, I had to ask myself does this music make me worship God? The answer is a resounding yes and amen.

The distinguishing mark of this album is really its scripture-saturated God-centeredness. The CD contains 14 new songs:

1. How Majestic
2. Endless Praises
3. Count It All Joy
4. You Are the Way
5. His Forever
6. Always Forgiven
7. Jesus, Thank You
8. O God, Our Help in Ages Past
9. Isn’t He Good
10. Perfect Lamb of God
11. Grace Unmeasured
12. God Moves
13. Surrender All
14. Receive the Glory

The CD has an overall mix of both slow and upbeat songs. While I would like to cover every song on this album, I’d like to point out my top 3 songs.

You are the Way
This song is captivating as it testifies to how each believer come face to face with Christ who is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. It’s a song that really is theology put to music. It begins by declaring the sinfulness of man:

Dead in transgressions and sins
Without God, without hope in this world
Then the glorious light
Of Your gospel broke in
The Father stood up from His throne
Opened His arms as He called out my name
Grace irresistible drew me
Opened my eyes to see

The song brings the hearer to the holy and glorious God who reveals himself to us by His inconceivable yet gracious condescension, “emptied Yourself became poor, humbled and poured out to death, now highly exalted above all – Your name alone can say: You are the Way, You are the Truth.”

His Forever
This song speaks of the believer’s union with Christ and the means by which God draws the believer to Himself by His cords of love. Read these lyrics:

Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever

This great love of God is contrasted with Isaiah 53 which speaks of the Suffering Servant who was bruised and crushed for us.

Jesus, Thank you
This song was probably my favorite – atleast it’s the one I find myself singing most often in the car. Its very cross-centered that speaks of the atonement of Christ satisfying the wrath of God. The chorus says it all:

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

As much as I love this song, I found it a bit repetitive. I had to remind myself this song was recorded at a live concert. But after listening carefully to the lyrics, why wouldn’t I want to repeat singing these words? Once the enemy of God now reconciled through the Son!

Does this music make me worship? Do these songs help me to consciously magnify God? Absolutely! Without a doubt the Sovereign Grace Music guys make it a point that their music drive you upward to our great God!

[update 06/22] – You can sample the songs here.