Best Books on Worship
Reformed worship is governed by the regulative principle, the conviction that corporate worship must include only what God has commanded in Scripture rather than what seems fitting to human wisdom. Historic Reformed and Puritan worship centers on the reading and preaching of the Word, prayer, the singing of psalms and hymns, and the sacraments, offered with reverence and joy. This distinguishes it from traditions that permit whatever is not explicitly forbidden.
Start Here
basic
A Taste of Heaven: Worship in the Light of Eternity
Top pickR.C. Sproul · 2006
Warm introduction to why worship matters and what honors God in it.
Reformed Worship: Worship That Is According to Scripture
Terry L. Johnson · 2014
Short, punchy case for shaping worship by the regulative principle rather than preference.
Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace
James B. Torrance · 1996
Brief, widely loved study of worship as participation in Christ's communion with the Father.
The Worship of God: Reformed Concepts of Biblical Worship
Various (Christian Focus) · 2005
Introductory essays covering the regulative principle, psalm-singing, and Reformed liturgy.
Go Deeper
intermediate
Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice
Top pickBryan Chapell · 2009
Shows how the gospel itself has shaped historic worship forms across traditions.
Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship
David G. Peterson · 2002
Careful Old and New Testament exegesis of what it means to worship the living God.
Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship
Philip Graham Ryken, Derek W.H. Thomas, J. Ligon Duncan III (eds.) · 2003
Multi-author volume making the biblical, historical, and practical case for Reformed worship.
Worshipping with Calvin
Terry L. Johnson · 2014
Historical and theological argument for recovering Calvin's vision of Reformed worship.
For Study
advanced
Gospel Worship
Top pickJeremiah Burroughs · 1653
Puritan classic of sermons on rightly worshipping God in Word, sacrament, and prayer.
Worship in Spirit and Truth
John M. Frame · 1996
Systematic study of the principles that should govern biblical worship.
The Westminster Directory of Public Worship
Sinclair B. Ferguson and Mark Dever (eds.) · 2008
Annotated edition of the Westminster Assembly's guide to conducting Reformed worship.
Worship: Reformed According to Scripture
Hughes Oliphant Old · 2002
Scholarly historical study tracing Reformed worship from Israel through the Reformation.
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A tiered reading guide of the best books on Worship.