Worship Matters

Book Description:

In Worship Matters, Dr. Cornelis Van Dam explores the foundations of worship including the whom, why, where, when and how of worship. He also touches on different perspectives of worship. Special attention is given to the role of the Day of Rest as well. Van Dam then goes on to discuss the centrality of preaching for worship and addresses timely questions like: Who reads scripture in a worship service? and Should we keep the Ten Commandments in our Sunday liturgy? The third section of the book addresses the glory of worship commenting on the nature of a second worship service, the glory of the gospel of Christ crucified, the glory of the resurrection and of the ascension. Van Dam also dedicates a chapter to Worshipping with Angels. Worship includes song and music and Van Dam addresses some of the relevant issues surrounding these topics, too. The topic of worship is also facing some new challenges and this book discusses the importance of rich mature worship, explains why Reformed worship liturgy is rich, why what we are doing in worship should affect how we dress for worship, and how covenantal baptism is central to our communal worship. Van Dam also reminds readers that a truly attractive church is centered on the message of the gospel, and is a living and caring congregation. This book concludes with a look at worship in heaven and on earth.

Endorsements:

If the contemporary church is going to regain what has been lost in man-centered worship over the past few decades, this book is a must-read!
--Ron Gleason, Ph.D, author, church planter of Covenant Presbyterian Church of the Low Country (O.P.C.), Bluffton, South Carolina

A wealth of material, biblical, theological, and historical informs this concise but comprehensive guide to Reformed Protestant worship. From benedictions to Sunday evening services, from angels to the public reading of Scripture, from imprecatory Psalms to the Ascension, from dancing to T-shirts, Cornelis Van Dam (with Arjan de Visser) covers all the bases in a vigorous description and rationale for the historic worship of Reformed and Presbyterian churches. This readable book will benefit officers and church members alike in leading and participating in worship that is Reformed according to the Word.  
--D. G. Hart, Distinguished Associate Professor of History, Hillsdale College.

It is a privilege to be able to recommend this new and outstanding book on Reformed worship. Cornelis van Dam serves up a rich fare full of biblical details, reformed insights and practical implications. May many read this book and learn from it about the beauty of Reformed worship.
--Dr. James Visscher, pastor, editor and teacher

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