'What is at stake is authenticity. . . . Sooner or
later Christians tire of public meetings that are
profoundly inauthentic, regardless of how well (or
poorly) arranged, directed, performed. We long to meet,
corporately, with the living and majestic God and to
offer him the praise that is his due.'---D. A. Carson
Worship is a hot topic, but the ways that Christians
from different traditions view it vary greatly. What is
worship? More important, what does it look like in
action, both in our corporate gatherings and in our
daily lives? These concerns---the blending of principle
and practice---are what Worship by the Book addresses.
Cutting through cultural cliches, D. A. Carson, Mark
Ashton, Kent Hughes, and Timothy Keller explore,
respectively: -Worship Under the Word -Following in
Cranmer's Footsteps -Free Church Worship: The Challenge
of Freedom -Reformed Worship in the Global City 'This is
not a comprehensive theology of worship, ' writes
Carson. 'Still less is it a sociological analysis of
current trends or a minister's manual chockfull of 'how
to' instructions.' Rather, this book offers pastors,
other congregational leaders, and seminary students a
thought-provoking biblical theology of worship, followed
by a look at how three very different traditions of
churchmanship might move from this theological base to a
better understanding of corporate worship. Running the
gamut from biblical theology to historical assessment
all the way to sample service sheets, Worship by the
Book shows how local churches in diverse traditions can
foster corporate worship that is God-honoring,
Word-revering, heartfelt, and historically and
culturally informed |
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