Maranatha And Zondervan Create Bible For Personal Worship

As the corporate church continues to move into a stronger emphasis of worship and praise, one of the things that Christians desire is how to bring that worship emphasis into their personal time of devotion.

Maranatha! Music has joined with Zondervan Publishing House to prepare a special Bible created for that very purpose - The NIV Worship Bible.

As part of the partnership, Maranatha! has created a special compact disc called Father of Life. This CD is given free with the purchase of The NIV Worship Bible as well as being available for purchase.

Buddy Owens, a 12-year veteran of the Maranatha outreach, served as general editor for this special creation. Currently Maranatha vice president of book publishing, Owens uses his experience as a conference speaker (Promise Keepers, Fuller Theological Seminary and others) and church leadership conferences as well as his work with such organizations as Harvest Crusades, Luis Palau Evangelistic Association and the U.S. Armed Forces Chaplains' Board to bring the reader to a point of worship in their daily use of the Bible.

"There has never been a Bible like this before," said Owens. "You are actually interacting with God on an emotional level. Jesus' great commandment to his followers was to 'Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength.' Most study Bibles focus on the mind. This Bible focuses on the heart and soul."

Owens describes The NIV Worship Bible as a grassroots Bible with which the reader strengthens their personal relationship with God by responding to Him through prayer, meditation or song. White space is available on each page to allow the reader to record and date encounters with God.

"When you put all these elements together," Owens added, "each page becomes a worship experience. Each page is a starting point of conversation with God."

Utilizing The New International Version as its base, The NIV Worship Bible features:

Introductory pages to each book of the Bible
Worship 101: an article providing a basis for listening and responding to God
Nearly 800 song texts (traditional hymns and modern praise songs) placed near appropriate Bible passages
800 quotes from historical (A.W. Tozer, Martin Luther, St. Augustine, Matthew Henry, etc.) and contemporary (Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, etc.) religious figures and leaders
A song index linking Scripture passages with appropriate worship songs
Prayers on each page for reader to aid in their response to God
An 80-page concordance and a Worship Glossary

Perhaps the most unique feature of The NIV Worship Bible is "My Beloved" - 36 page-length "letters from God to you, which paraphrase the scripture and are designed to aid the reader in seeing the Father's heart towards us as individual children. Here is an example:

Jeremiah 1:5

Before you were ever born, you were special to Me. I knew you before you were conceived in your mother's womb. With My own hands, I fearfully and wonderfully created every detail that makes you so unique. I knit together you body, soul and spirit.

I saw you long before you ever existed. I watched every day of your life. So I know you. I know where you have been, where you are, and where you are going.

If only you knew the thoughts I have toward you. Did you know My thoughts for you outnumber the grains of sand on all the beaches of the world? You are the apple of My eye. When trouble approaches, I hide you in the shadow of My wings. I have even engraved you on the palms of My nail-scarred hands.

It is My love for you that makes you precious and honored in My sight. I created you for My glory, and I would never abandon what I have formed and made. My goodness and love will follow you every day of your life. So do not fret; I will fulfill My purpose for your life. And always rememberMy love endures forever and ever! (Jer. 1:5; Ps 139:13-18; 17:8; Isa 49:16; 42:4; Ps 23:6; Isa 43:7; Ps 138:8)

The Father of Life CD features some of the "My Beloved" letters interwoven with a collection of hymns and contemporary choruses from various Maranatha Music projects.

With more than 1,600 pages, Zondervan has released three versions of The NIV Worship Bible: softcover ($24.99), hardcover ($32.99) and Burgundy Bonded Leather ($52.99).

As a former Worship Leader/Minister of Music, I can highly recommend this Bible as a special gift for pastors, ministers of music, praise team members or anyone who wants to draw closer to the Lord.

by Barry Smades for The Music Channel at Crosswalk.com