worship book review
Sebastian LaBier
Pastor Ross
HIS 142
January 28, 2014
A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of Christ-Centered Worship In Michael Horton’s book he reveals the problems with present day worship and also provides a way to perform proper worship that follows the biblical standards and goals of worship. He talks a lot about how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy and redemptive historical revelation. He talks about how Jesus’s atoning work and personality is the primary cause and motivation for worship. He stresses that we must have an accurate expressed devotion to God using the liturgical priorities that which are revealed in the Bible. Correct worship is the only appropriate response to the undeserved and amazing God reveals as the person and work of Jesus. Horton starts out by talking about the importance of the fact that worship and preaching are major components in the drama of service. In the first chapter entitled “Setting the Stage” he views worship as the covenant renewal between God and his people. He later explains his understanding that the eternal Sabbath and New Covenant in Jesus Christ is interplay between covenant of works and of grace structured into a redemptive drama. In the next part of the book he focuses on the preaching of the word during a service. I believe his major point in these chapters is contained in Chapter Five, “Discovering the Plot”, where he presents the idea that reading scripture should be looked at in another way. He says that it shouldn’t be a “collection of superior moral insights, empowering thoughts for each day, end-times handbook, or a blueprint for a new social order-indeed, not even chiefly as a repository of doctrine” (81). But he wants to look at reading scripture in terms of God’s unfolding mystery of redemption. The next section of the book is focused on baptism and communion. He talks about the seriousness of both aspects in the service. What I found most interesting was the way the
Pastor Ross
HIS 142
January 28, 2014
A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of Christ-Centered Worship In Michael Horton’s book he reveals the problems with present day worship and also provides a way to perform proper worship that follows the biblical standards and goals of worship. He talks a lot about how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy and redemptive historical revelation. He talks about how Jesus’s atoning work and personality is the primary cause and motivation for worship. He stresses that we must have an accurate expressed devotion to God using the liturgical priorities that which are revealed in the Bible. Correct worship is the only appropriate response to the undeserved and amazing God reveals as the person and work of Jesus. Horton starts out by talking about the importance of the fact that worship and preaching are major components in the drama of service. In the first chapter entitled “Setting the Stage” he views worship as the covenant renewal between God and his people. He later explains his understanding that the eternal Sabbath and New Covenant in Jesus Christ is interplay between covenant of works and of grace structured into a redemptive drama. In the next part of the book he focuses on the preaching of the word during a service. I believe his major point in these chapters is contained in Chapter Five, “Discovering the Plot”, where he presents the idea that reading scripture should be looked at in another way. He says that it shouldn’t be a “collection of superior moral insights, empowering thoughts for each day, end-times handbook, or a blueprint for a new social order-indeed, not even chiefly as a repository of doctrine” (81). But he wants to look at reading scripture in terms of God’s unfolding mystery of redemption. The next section of the book is focused on baptism and communion. He talks about the seriousness of both aspects in the service. What I found most interesting was the way the