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On Any Given Sunday: The Story of Christ in the Divine Service
On any given Sunday the Christian approaches Christ who is present in Word and Meal. The songs, movements, and prayers that surround this Word and Meal are called the Divine Service. It is God's (divine) service to us and our proclamation of Christ's life, death, and resurrection to ourselves and anybody that enters the church on that Sunday. On Any Given The Story of Christ in the Divine Service aims to teach the Divine Service to both the lifelong worshipper who was never taught why the church does the things the church does on Sunday mornings and the curious observer of this ancient tradition. It is divided into two One way to appreciate the traditional divine service is to see the life of Christ on display. The major events in the life of Christ are hinted at or explicitly mentioned in the classic order of It is the hope that this book helps teach this beautiful but under-appreciated jewel of our Christian heritage.
- GenresChristian
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2023
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16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 22, 2024
A simple introductory text that briefly discusses meaning in pieces of the traditional divine service. Written from a confessional Lutheran background.
The first half of the book considers the liturgy from the perspective of a fictional married couple attending a service. They are given backstories and a narrative about struggling with responsibilities in their marriage. I understand there's a place for this kind of thing, but I didn’t connect with it and I wanted more.
The second half of the book offers short descriptions of each major piece of the divine service. But I still wanted more—more historical context, more rich vocabulary, more detail about origins and variations.
Foreword written by Bror Erickson. Audiobook read aloud by Erick Sorensen.
I think I might gain more from Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service.
The first half of the book considers the liturgy from the perspective of a fictional married couple attending a service. They are given backstories and a narrative about struggling with responsibilities in their marriage. I understand there's a place for this kind of thing, but I didn’t connect with it and I wanted more.
The second half of the book offers short descriptions of each major piece of the divine service. But I still wanted more—more historical context, more rich vocabulary, more detail about origins and variations.
Foreword written by Bror Erickson. Audiobook read aloud by Erick Sorensen.
I think I might gain more from Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service.
July 2, 2023
Akin to Mike Cosper's 'Rhythms of Grace' or Carson and Keller's 'Worship by the Book' but for confessional Lutherans. Creative and clear, this will help parishoners in the conservative and sacrametal Lutheran tradition to see the words of law and gospel within their liturgy, and to know their Sanctus from their Agnus Dei. I can imagine a stack of these books on a narthex table in central Iowa, right next to the quarterly editions of 'Portals of Prayer.'
One (intentional?) irony of the book—reading as a Calvinist—is that the book's Christ's-flesh-with-us-now sacramental message is shaped around a narrative about Ascension Day.
The part of the book I appreciated the most was the discussion of the nature of worship and the tension betweeen being shaped by liturgy/worship and being bent for justification. The question that arises is whether a person's worship bends him to look to human works for justification, or, by faith, outside of himself to Christ. Appendix A, which reviews the annual church calendar, is also helpful.
One (intentional?) irony of the book—reading as a Calvinist—is that the book's Christ's-flesh-with-us-now sacramental message is shaped around a narrative about Ascension Day.
The part of the book I appreciated the most was the discussion of the nature of worship and the tension betweeen being shaped by liturgy/worship and being bent for justification. The question that arises is whether a person's worship bends him to look to human works for justification, or, by faith, outside of himself to Christ. Appendix A, which reviews the annual church calendar, is also helpful.
October 11, 2023
A solid and useful book on the Divine Service and the Scriptural riches God has for us there.
June 25, 2023
Just finished this book.
To be honest, I felt like this should have been more pamphlet then book.
The first part of the book was a story about a couple and how they were moved by the divine service. It was fine enough, but didn't feel necessary to the book. Maybe some real-life conversations with church-goers and what means for them, would have felt like a better fit.
The second part, at least the first few pages or so, was the author talking about the things we worship, spiritual or otherwise and why it's important. I guess if the book had a "Law" part, maybe this could be considered that.
Very last section of the second part of the book, the last 30 or so pages, is what I was really looking for. As a person who wants to understand the divine service a little better, with the hope that it feels a bit more profound as a whole when I attend, this is what I was interested in. It's not to say, I am not moved by the expression of Christ in some of it, like confession/absolution, communion, etc..., What I was looking for is to understand christ in all of it. He does this by breaking down each section of the divine service and explaining. Though, I would have appreciated a little more detail and would have liked the scriptural background for the different parts to be in the explanations instead of added as an addendum at the end. I feel like it would have made for a better connection.
I'm a hard sell, so this is probably a better book by many other's standards and they are very good things in it, but for me, it would have been better if he would have used those last thirty pages as a template for the entire book, include the scriptures referenced within the sections explained, and left it at that. Then it could have been a great 50-70 page book, that would have been a terrific resource to refresh those already in the church and to give curious people a great overview of what the divine service is about.
Despite my complaints, the last 30 pages gave me some things to chew on and an opportunity to walk into service on Sunday with a better perspective and hopefully a deeper grasp and understanding.
It's not alway manipulative to be moved by an experience in church. Confession/Absolution and communion always does that for me. I hope what I've learned will help with other parts of the divine service.
To be honest, I felt like this should have been more pamphlet then book.
The first part of the book was a story about a couple and how they were moved by the divine service. It was fine enough, but didn't feel necessary to the book. Maybe some real-life conversations with church-goers and what means for them, would have felt like a better fit.
The second part, at least the first few pages or so, was the author talking about the things we worship, spiritual or otherwise and why it's important. I guess if the book had a "Law" part, maybe this could be considered that.
Very last section of the second part of the book, the last 30 or so pages, is what I was really looking for. As a person who wants to understand the divine service a little better, with the hope that it feels a bit more profound as a whole when I attend, this is what I was interested in. It's not to say, I am not moved by the expression of Christ in some of it, like confession/absolution, communion, etc..., What I was looking for is to understand christ in all of it. He does this by breaking down each section of the divine service and explaining. Though, I would have appreciated a little more detail and would have liked the scriptural background for the different parts to be in the explanations instead of added as an addendum at the end. I feel like it would have made for a better connection.
I'm a hard sell, so this is probably a better book by many other's standards and they are very good things in it, but for me, it would have been better if he would have used those last thirty pages as a template for the entire book, include the scriptures referenced within the sections explained, and left it at that. Then it could have been a great 50-70 page book, that would have been a terrific resource to refresh those already in the church and to give curious people a great overview of what the divine service is about.
Despite my complaints, the last 30 pages gave me some things to chew on and an opportunity to walk into service on Sunday with a better perspective and hopefully a deeper grasp and understanding.
It's not alway manipulative to be moved by an experience in church. Confession/Absolution and communion always does that for me. I hope what I've learned will help with other parts of the divine service.
November 11, 2024
Michael Berg takes the reader on a journey through the Divine Service, which focuses on and echoes the life of Christ. The first half of the book tells the story of John and Jennifer, a married couple who are experiencing some issues in their marriage. They attend church on Ascension, where the reader learns their thoughts on the service and how it ties into their everyday lives. Christ forgives them, and they forgive each other.
The second half of the book focuses on the parts of the service (without John and Jennifer) and how God serves his people in this "service." Every liturgical song, every reading, every hymn, every sermon, all focus on God and his salvation plan shown through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This book will help readers focus on the beautiful thing that is the Divine Service. So many people may complain that the church service is too boring, or too traditional, or too (fill in the blank). By understanding the meaning and the connection behind all the components of the service, the believers can see what a gift God has given us when we worship together focused on what he has done for us.
The second half of the book focuses on the parts of the service (without John and Jennifer) and how God serves his people in this "service." Every liturgical song, every reading, every hymn, every sermon, all focus on God and his salvation plan shown through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This book will help readers focus on the beautiful thing that is the Divine Service. So many people may complain that the church service is too boring, or too traditional, or too (fill in the blank). By understanding the meaning and the connection behind all the components of the service, the believers can see what a gift God has given us when we worship together focused on what he has done for us.
April 8, 2024
Excellent explanation of what Christ centered divine worship entails.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews