Leading in Worship

Having become disillusioned with the shallowness, incoherence, and mancenteredness of mainstream contemporary Christian worship, a growing number of ministers and laypeople within the Protestant Church are beginning to recover the biblical roots of traditional Reformed worship. If you count yourself among this number, Leading in Worship was compiled for you.

Here is a rich profusion of liturgical material carefully selected from the various directories and prayer books published during the heyday of the Protestant Reformation and compiled into a robust liturgical directory with adaptable forms of worship appropriate for every occasion.

But this is more than just a directory of worship. Editor Terry Johnson also explains the importance and purpose of the different services, outlining the biblical foundations for the varied worship practices of the Reformers. Created for ministers, this book also edifies and encourages congregants by providing a biblical rationale for liturgical forms. Leading in Worship is a practical handbook of utmost importance to the modern reformation.

327 pages

Table of Contents:

I. The Regular Services

The Lord’s Day Morning Worship

The Lord’s Day Evening Worship

The Lord's Supper

II. The Occasional Services

The Baptism of Covenant Children

The Receiving of New Members

The Ordination and Installation of Church Officers

The Ordination of a Minister of the Gospel

The Installation of a New Minister

The Solemnization of Marriage

The Memorial or Funeral Service

The Graveside Service

III. Seasonal Services

The Christmas Service of Lessons & Carols

The Easter Season Service of Lessons & Psalms

The Ascension Sunday Morning Worship

The Pentecost Sunday Morning Worship

Trinity Sunday Morning Worship

The Thanksgiving Day Worship Service

IV. Historical Orders of Service

John Calvin’s Form of Church Prayers (1542, 1545)

John Knox’s Form of Prayers (1556)

Edward VI’s Book of Common Prayer (1552)

The Westminster Assembly’s Directory for the Publique Worship of God (1644)

Richard Baxter’s The Savoy Liturgy (1661)

Appendix 1: Weekly Collects

Appendix 2: Creeds

Select Bibliography