If there’s one thing I’m beginning to appreciate more and more as I continue to partner in the plan and design of our worship services it’s the realization that because of the Gospel and Jesus Christ’s finish work on the cross, churches, not only throughout the world, but throughout time have been united in a common practice for centuries:  the worship service.

While so many of our services of worship look very different among the various denominations, “where a church maintains the truths of the gospel, it inevitably discovers aspects of worship that are in harmony with other faithful churches.”

That sentence from page 19 in Bryan Chapell’s “Christ-Centered Worship” (affiliate) is a great summary to the importance of this fantastic book.  If you lead or plan worship services in your church, this book is a must-read.

While maintaining that the Gospel story must be communicated fully in any worship service design, Bryan takes us on a fascinating trip from the early Church to the Reformation and through today in order to help us be wise in planning our services and appreciate the rich heritage of those who have gone before us.

Liturgy is Not Boring, nor Ancient

Part 1 on Bryan’s book discusses the structure of worship services throughout time.  While reading, you’ll learn to appreciate that every type of church has some sort of liturgy and get a glimpse of where that liturgy has come from and how it is influenced our modern worship services today.  You’ll learn that liturgy (“the public way a church honors God in its times of gathered praise, prayer, instruction, and commitment” 18) is meaningful and purposeful and that “there is a strategy to the liturgy” and that, yes, even modern churches have liturgy.  Bryan gives us a detailed look at services from the Rome, Luther, Calvin, Westminter, and the modern order from Robert G. Rayburn.  He breaks each order down and includes very helpful comparative charts along the way.

Each Part of the Service Explained

In part 2 we’re given a detailed breakdown of the major portions of the worship service including the Call to Worship, Affirmation of Faith, and more.  The author also includes detailed examples for each section, making the book not only a historical resource, but a very practical resource for weekly service planning.

Fascinating, but not for Everyone

This book is definitely historical, and quite academic.  It’s not a sit-down-and-read-quickly type of book and requires time, thought, and a curiosity for history.  The book will mainly be helpful for pastors, worship pastors, worship leaders, and service planning teams, but if a congregational member wants to know more about “why we do what we do” in our churches this would also be a good read for them.

This book is a definite must-read and because of Part 2, a definite must-own as a helpful resource. You can by the book from Amazon here (affiliate).  Read another great review from Bob Kauflin.