Joseph S. Carrol wrote How to Worship Jesus Christ. It is a short book (99 pages), but he certainly reaches his goal. He intends to show you how to worship Jesus Christ. He discusses the importance of worship, examples of worship, the definition of worship, and the 'how-to' of worship. He gives you a pattern to follow in your own private worship.
Many people think that worship is merely 'getting emotional' when they think about God. While emotion is certainly involved, there is much more to worship than that. Worship is attributing worth to Jesus Christ. Before the book is through you will certainly see the worth of Jesus Christ as Carroll gives you a glimpse of Jesus Christ in a study of Revelation 4-5.
Having read the book you will not only know better how to worship Jesus Christ, you will want to do it!
Having said all of that, there is one thing in particular to watch out for. Apparently, Joseph Carroll is of the 'Keswick' school. I am talking about a theology, not about a place of education with teachers and classes. Keswick theology says that a person may become a believer without ever acknowledging that Jesus Christ is his Lord/Master. Then, at some later point in life, that believer will surrender His life to Christ - thereby attaining to the 'deeper life' as it is sometimes called. That believer may, for years, try and try to surrender everything to God, but only to be disappointed because he keeps sinning. You see, he must seek 'with all his heart' to have a completely surrendered heart. For years, he wonders whether or not his whole heart is surrendered. Finally, a time comes (for some believers - not all) when he surrenders his whole heart, and then, he lives a 'Spirit-controlled' life for the rest of his days on earth.
This theology is incorrect. When a person becomes a believer he must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior (Romans 10.9-10). He gives up all for Christ. He denies himself, takes up his cross, and follows Christ (Luke 9.23). Of course, he is not perfect. In fact, he will never see perfection until he sees Christ face to face (1 John 3.2). The Holy Spirit puts him into the body of Christ immediately. Then the believer begins his life as a new man. He is a man that wants to do right but evil is always present with him (Romans 7). He hates sin. He wants to do right. He is filled with the Holy Spirit when he is being obedient. He constantly fights sin until he gets to heaven. On earth he will never reach a 'deeper life,' or perfection.
Also, holiness is sought by reading the Word, praying, and then by taking action to put the truth into practice (James 1.22-25; Ephesians 4). Keswick Theology says that holiness is sought after by 'surrendering completely' - whatever that means. Most who testify to having reached this 'deeper life' got it after hours and hours of intense pray, and then...they were zapped. Pray to be holy, but do more. Read the Word, fellowship with believers, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4.7).
Keswick Theology will not be seen throughout the whole book...only in about 10 pages. Those 10 pages will help you to 'count the cost' for living for God. It will be helpful to you as long as you understand that you will never 'arrive' in this life on earth, and you must take action to obey God.
You will enjoy and profit from the book. Read it and reap!
