The church is a worshiping community.
A growing recognition of that among Christians of every denomination has fostered a renewed interest in the aspects of worship and a variety of liturgical experimentation and revision. The dozen chapters of this volume shed biblical light on how the earliest Christians worshiped God; in so doing they provided illumination for those who would carry on their worship today in an authentic and genuine manner, open to innovation yet anchored in scriptural principles.
Basic to what the Bible teaches about worship are three truths: that God is alive, holy, gracious, unique; that he gives gracious gifts to believers; and that he expects heartfelt corporate tribute from them. The first Christians included several elements in their thankful tributes to the living God, reflecting their Jewish heritage while doing full justice to their belief in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. Prayers and praises, singing, creeds and confessions, preaching, offerings, and sacraments - these are the chief features of early Christian worship examined by Professor Martin.
Worship involves all Christians. Clergymen, church boards, worship committees, and persons in the pew will all benefit from this lucid setting forth of why believers do what they do when they gather for worship.

This is a thoroughly academic look at the worship in the early church. Martin walks us through the patterns, habits, and expressions of worship in the early christian church. It is not a long book, but not a quick read. Again, it reads like an academic paper. But it is a helpful look at the early church. ( )