A Biblical Theology of Worship

David Peterson

Overview / About the Book

Worship is of immense concern in the church and ironically the source of controversy and dispute. Can we get behind the question of what style of worship we should engage in to understand the bedrock foundation for God's people--honoring him as he desires? Is the dissatisfaction with worship voiced by so many perhaps a result of our having wandered from biblical teaching on the subject?

Through careful exegesis in both Old and New Testaments, David Peterson unveils the total life-orientation of worship that is found in Scripture. Rather than determining for ourselves how we should worship, we, his people, are called to engage with God on the terms he proposes and in the way he alone makes possible.

This book calls for a radical rethinking of the meaning and practice of worship, especially by those responsible for leading congregations. Here is the starting place for recovering the richness of biblical worship.

Features & Benefits

• takes a fresh look at biblical teaching on the subject of worship
• offers careful exegesis of both Old and New Testaments
• calls for a radical rethinking of the meaning and practice of worship
• introduces the idea that worship is a life orientation
• academically sound while also being readable for worship leaders
• foreword by I. Howard Marshall
• Scripture, subject and author indexes

Table of Contents

Foreword by I. Howard Marshall

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. Engaging with God in the Old Testament
--Worship and revelation
--Worship and redemption
--Worship and the cult
--Worship and the sacrificial system
--Worship and the Jerusalem temple
--Worship and the future of God’s people
--Conclusion

2. Honouring, serving and respecting God
--Worship as homage or grateful submission
--Worship as service
--Worship as reverence or respect
--Conclusion

3. Jesus and the new temple
--Matthew’s perspective
--John’s perspective
--Conclusion

4. Jesus and the new covenant
--the worship of Jesus
--Jesus and the Law of Moses
--The gospels and Jesus’ death
--Conclusion

5. Temple and community in the Acts of the Apostles
--The earliest disciples and the temple
--The inclusion of the Gentiles
--Homage and service under the new covenant
--The character and function of early Christian gatherings
--Conclusion

6. Paul and the service of the gospel
--Worship as the consecrated lifestyle of the coverted
--Acceptable worship and the sacrifice of Christ
--Gospel ministry as a specific expression of Christian worship
--Sacrifice, faith and the Spirit
--Conclusion

7. Serving God in the assembly of his people
--Meeting God when the church gathers
--The church as the temple of the Holy Spirit
--Edification and the gathering of the church
--The Lord’s Supper at Corinth
--Conclusion

8. The book of Hebrews and the worship of Jesus
--The definitive worship of Jesus
--Worship as homage to God’s Son
--The participation of believers in the worship of Jesus
--The congregational gathering in Hebrews
--Maintaining the hope we profess
--Conclusion

9. Worship in the Revelation of John
--The seductive power of false religion
--The call to worship the true God
--Worship in the heavenly realm
--The link between heaven and earth
--Conclusion

10. Worship and the gospel--a summary

Epilogue

Index of Scripture references

Index of subjects

Index of modern authors

Details

Length:	317 pages
Size:	6 x 9 inches
Binding:	paper
Publish Date:	July 2002
Published By:	InterVarsity Press
ISBN:	0-8308-2697-1