mgpcpastor's blog

With ‘Christ-Centered Worship’ Bryan Chapell has produced a great contribution to the worship of the Christian Church, particularly those churches in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition.
Chapell encourages us to ‘think of worship in gospel terms’ and to do this in distinction of thinking ‘only in evangelistic terms.’ As we meet together as the people of God the Gospel informs our activity and the order in which we perform it.
The book is divided into two parts. A significant portion of the first part compares the service orders (liturgies) of the Church of Rome in the pre-Trent/reformation period; Luther; Calvin; Westminster; along with Robert Rayburn, who is selected as a pivotal modern figure in the expression of worship services.
In doing so, Chapell identifies many common themes and contrasts the varying theological and cultural situations which contributed to differences in expression, content and style. His intention is to demonstrate that behind these liturgical developments is a recognition that the sum of the whole is greater than any single constituent part. The sum of the whole is a representation and affirmation of God’s gracious saving work on behalf of an unworthy and sinful people.
So: ‘we begin with adoration so that all will recognise the greatness and goodness of God. In the light of His glory, we also recognise our sin and confess our need of His grace. Assurance of His pardon produces thanksgiving. With sincere thanksgiving , we also become aware that all we have is from Him and that we depend on His goodness for everything precious in our lives. Thus, we are compelled to seek Him in prayer for our need and His kingdom’s advance. His loving intercession makes us desire to walk with Him and further His purposes, so our hearts are open to His instruction and long to commune with Him and those He loves. This progress of the gospel in our lives in the cause of our worship and the natural course of it. We conclude a service of such worship and the natural course of it. We conclude a service of such worship with a Charge and Benediction because the progress of the gospel is God’s benediction on our lives.’ (pg 116)
The Gospel is recapitulated over and over again because even redeemed people need to hear and respond to God’s saving grace. Not in the original sense of being saved all over again, but in the continuing sense of always recalling that our approach and acceptance is always based on Christ. It is Christ-centered.
As the first half of the book concludes Chapell identifies the components of Christ-centered worship. Calls; prayers; Scripture readings; music; offerings; creeds & affirmations; benedictions; rubrics (explanations and transitions); sermon; sacraments; expressions of fellowship; testimonies and reports; oaths & vows; ordinations & commissionings; church discipline; fasting; and other. Chapell identifies with a regulative principle, but maintains the elements listed in the Westminster standards are representative, not exhaustive.
The second half of the book is a rich and comprehensive collection of resources that expand on the various components. Having argued for a liturgy that is biblically based and historically informed, Chapell draws from a diverse selection of sources, old and new, as he outlines how the components may be expressed with freshness and variety, while still achieving their core purpose. All his choices reflect quality and clarity.
Sample Worship service orders are provided as are some songs, readings, affirmations and benedictions. I’m not going into them in depth, but they are half of the book’s 300 page length.
I’d be very disappointed if Christ-centered Worship is not a standard text on the subject of worship at our theological colleges and found in the studies of our pastors. It is not the last word on the form and conduct of our worship, Chapell is at pains to point out that when the gospel is central the expressions by which it is affirmed in the varying components can and should vary in order that God’s people can worship with engagement and freedom.
Highly recommended.
Christ-centered Worship will be available at Koorong.