Lovin' on Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship
Swee Hong Lim and Lester Ruth have filled an important gap in the study of worship. Lovin’ on Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship is the first scholarly work of its kind on this topic. Lim and Ruth trace the origins and development of what we commonly call contemporary Christian worship, exploring it thoroughly and methodically. Their research includes early recordings and interviews with many who were directly involved in the early stages.
The authors were students of James White, and their book is, in a sense, a much-needed addition to White’s classic Introduction to Christian Worship. The thematic structure of Lovin’ on Jesus mirrors that of White’s Introduction, making this book exceedingly useful for students and practitioners in the study of Christian worship as a whole.
This is an essential resource for all students, scholars, worship leaders, and pastors who are serious about understanding the worship they lead.
“Meticulously researched, accessibly written, generous in its praise, and balanced in its critiques—this is the book for which many of us have long been waiting.” —Melanie C. Ross, Assistant Professor of Liturgical Studies, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT
“Particularly useful for teaching is the way Lim and Ruth organize their account by practices of time, space, music, prayer, technology, and scripture. This will immediately become a required textbook for the courses I teach on Christian worship.” —Ed Phillips, Associate Professor of Worship and Liturgical Theology and Coordinator of the Initiative in Religious Practices and Practical Theology, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, GA
“Readers will find Lim and Ruth’s one-of-a-kind history convincing and rigorous. The authors show how a modern genre of Christian worship claimed its place, what it all means, and where it is heading.” —Gerald Liu, Assistant Professor of Worship and Preaching, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
“Lovin’ on Jesus is an important book for every pastor, worship leader, and worshipper. This wonderfully prepared study will help you keep your worship experience biblically centered, dynamic, and growing.” —Rick Muchow, Founding Worship Pastor, Saddleback Church, worship leader and coach
The surprising, fascinating, and influential story—still unfolding—which helps us understand our own worship.
The first of its kind; A scholarly approach, which is missing in work on the topic thus far.
Covers all key aspects of worship, not just about worship music.
Solid resource for in depth study at the seminary level, and accessible for the lay reader.
For the seminarian or scholar, this book fills significant gaps, providing a fully researched and complete resource on this important topic.
For the pastor, worship leader, or layperson, this book provides historical, biblical, and theological foundations for one of the most significant developments in Christian worship, which affects nearly all churches in some way today.
Top Highlights
“For one thing, sequencing is about deciding what act of worship comes before another in time. Secondly, the desire for good flow involves avoiding periods of unnecessary ‘dead time’ in worship, that is, when nothing purposeful is happening.” (source)
“Pentecostals would emphasize flow was natural since it was an idea connected to how they saw the Holy Spirit operating in an anointed service. And the inherent experiential aspects of flow—it is perceived experientially and it contributes to having positive experiences—fit with classic Pentecostal emphases on experience in worship.” (source)
“To help plan and lead, Blomgren encouraged worship leaders to have a master list of songs with their critical elements identified to be used in planning and as a handy reference for when the Spirit might call for spontaneous changes in a service.” (source)
“Some used special occasions like ‘Youth Sundays’ to acclimate their congregation to something different.” (source)
“Even though we have unfolded the three approaches—appropriation, adaptation, and intentional design” (source)
Product Details
- Title : Lovin' on Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship
- Authors:
- Ruth, Lester
- Lim, Swee Hong
- Publisher: Abingdon Press
- Publication Date: 2017
- ISBN: 9781426795145
Lester Ruth (Author)
Lester Ruth is the Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity School. Ruth holds degress from Notre Dame, Candler School of Theology of Emory University, and Asbury Theological Seminary. He was a student of James F. White - the
Lim Swee Hong (Author)
Swee Hong Lim is the Deer Park Assistant Professor of Sacred Music and Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program at Emmanuel College, Toronto, Canada. He was a student of James F. White - the former University of Notre Dame Professor of Theology (Liturgical Studies).