UECF.NET study companion — original commentary, not the book's own text.
In 1962, near the end of his life, A. W. Tozer preached a series of messages on worship from the pulpit of Avenue Road Church in Toronto, where he served as pastor from 1959 until his death in 1963. He had long felt that “acceptable worship” was, in his words, a crown missing from evangelical Christianity, and he hoped one day to give the subject a book of its own. He did not live to write it.
After Tozer's death, the recorded audio of these sermons was preserved, and years later editor Gerald B. Smith worked from those tapes to compile, organize and lightly edit the messages into a single volume, first published in 1985 by Christian Publications as Whatever Happened to Worship? The book has stayed in print ever since, now published by Moody Publishers under its WingSpread imprint, subtitled A Call to True Worship.
About this page. What follows is a UECF.NET study companion to that book — original summaries, Scripture connections, reflection questions and prayers written for this web edition. It is not a reproduction of Tozer's or Gerald B. Smith's text. See About this web edition for the full explanation of why, and for where to read the authorized book in full.
Key points
- The book began as a 1962 sermon series preached at Avenue Road Church, Toronto.
- Tozer died in 1963 without writing the book on worship he had long wanted to write.
- Editor Gerald B. Smith compiled and edited the recorded messages into book form, published 1985.
- The book remains in print today from Moody Publishers (WingSpread imprint).
Scripture (read on NKJV)
Reflect
- Tozer felt worship was a “missing crown” in evangelical churches of his day. Does that concern still ring true in churches you know?
- How does it change your reading of this book to know it was compiled from sermons, not written as a finished manuscript?
- What are you hoping to learn or recover as you work through this study companion?
Prayer
Lord, before we study this book, prepare our hearts. Give us not just information about worship, but a fresh hunger to worship You in spirit and in truth. Amen.