The Lord’s Service: The Grace of Covenant Renewal Worship by Jeffrey J. Meyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Meyers’ work here is a really helpful primer on how to biblically order our corporate worship services. He exegetes scripture to show how certain Old Testament precedents should be carried on in our New Testament worship, as well as showing how our worship––now in Christ––should be patterned after the sacrifices of the Mosaic law (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). Meyers also provides insight into historic context for why the Church has continually observed certain practices time and time again.
The shallowness of much of our modern worship services is largely due to lackadaisical thoughtlessness. We rarely ask how God’s Word describes and proscribes how our congregational worship should be ordered. Some may bristle at the notion of ordering or establishing a set liturgy, thinking this “boxes out” the Spirit. However, even in the most spontaneous Pentecostal church, there will inevitably emerge a routine and pattern for our regular meetings. We can either be deliberate and purposeful, or mindless and willy-nilly.Â
Meyers argues for “covenant renewal” worship. This orders the way in which worship in accordance with the Word, and centers upon the shared meal of the Lord’s Supper. In this way, we are frequently reminded of the covenant of Grace which the Gospel proclaims to us. Overall, this book was a wonderful defense of such an approach to Lord’s Day worship. There are a few points where I would depart from Meyers’ suggested practices, but on the whole, a really worthwhile read.
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