Worship That Pleases God

About the Book

Worship That Pleases God: The Passion and Reason of True Worship is a comprehensive book ranging far beyond the sanctuary to the private altar, to the heart of the worshiper and even to the workplace. Whole-life worship is the kind that pleases God. "...let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praiseÉAnd do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (Hebrews 13:15, 16 NIV).

A worship leader for more than thirty years, Dr. Phifer, brings a passionate writing style and sound biblical interpretation to this search for the meaning of "spirit and truth" worship (John 4:24).

Dr. Phifer believes that True Worship establishes the Kingdom of God in our hearts, our homes, our places of worship as well as in the workplace and the marketplace. This book is about much more than what happens on Sunday morning. "Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," the three characteristics of the Kingdom of God found in Romans 14:17, form the themes of each section of the book.

Section One, Righteousness, deals with a biblical theology of worship. Dr. Phifer offers biblical definitions for the essential elements of worship and he presents seven biblical models for worship.

Section Two, Peace, presents the priority of worship as the factor of church life that is intended to bind generations and cultures together in a bond of peace.

Section Three, Joy, treats the daily life of the believer dealing with issues of craftsmanship, creativity and the spiritual warfare of private worship.

Paul urged the Roman church to "...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (of worship)" (Rom 12:1 NKJV [NIV]). Worship That Pleases God is a passionate book presenting that reasonable service of worship to God.

About the Author

Dr. Steve Phifer has been a minister with the Assemblies of God for more than 35 years. His life experience is varied: high school teacher, youth pastor, music pastor, worship leader, college professor and denominational representative. He has served fulltime in churches from 250-2500 in attendance in six states. Holding bachelors and masters degrees in music education (University of Arkansas, 1971, Monticello and Wichita State University, 1986) he earned a doctorate in worship studies from the Institute for Worship Studies, headed by Dr. Robert E. Webber, in 2004. He and Freeda have been married since 1974 and have two married daughters. He presently serves Word of Life International Church, D. Wendel Cover, Pastor, in Springfield, VA., as music pastor and worship leader.