Worship Reformed According to Scripture (2nd Edition)

Sentence Summary:

Sunday worship is to be founded in baptism as the presupposition and basis of all Christian worship and is to be comprised of communal prayer and singing, a sermon, and the Lord’s Supper, in accordance with Scripture and by the working of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Church, summarily all to the glory of God.

Longer Summary:

Old emphasises that the Reformed tradition follows not any man but a tradition of many great men from many different paths who are united by Scripture. Tradition must be reinterpreted, but not recreated, each generation in accordance with contemporary culture by the rule of Scripture, which is of primary importance. We therefore do not concern ourselves with what tradition has to say about worship but only “what tradition tells us about what Scripture has to say about worship” (171).

Old therefore delves into the historical reception and development of various parts of worship, each part forming a chapter in his work. He briefly analyses how Scripture informs an understanding of the relevant aspect of worship, taking a brief, non-polemical and ecumenical approach, to then discuss the early reception of the aspect within the Church fathers and early church. Discussion of the Middle Ages is ordinarily brief, but particular focus is paid to the various Reformers and the developments within their various traditions, particularly the Reformed tradition.

Old’s final chapter reminds us that we should not fall into either…