The Lord's Service: The Grace of Covenant Renewal Worship

by Jeffrey J. Meyers

Begun as a practical pastoral guide to worship, this book balances theory and praxis to create a compelling case for a biblical, aesthetic, and covenantal worship service as the place where the Triune God and His people renew the bonds of love and loyalty.Jeffrey Meyers begins laying out a case for a covenant renewal service by means of Old Testament sacrificial liturgics, biblical typology, and covenant theology. He then guides us through the stages of a covenant renewal liturgy, explaining from Scripture the meanings of each step of the service. The final section addresses miscellaneous issues in worship, such as the use of creeds, the "regulative principle," and ministerial clothing.Jeffrey Meyers provides not only a compelling biblical, theological, and historical case for covenant renewal worship, but also shows that it is beautiful, profound, edifying, and liberating.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Ecclesiology, Religion, Church

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Jeff grew up in the Crestwood/Sappington area, graduated from Lindbergh High School ('75) and the University of Missouri at Columbia ('79). After serving as an officer in the U.S. Army for 4 years, Jeff attended Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, but took three years off to teach at a Christian school in Texas. Upon graduation from Covenant Seminary ('88), he served three years as an Associate Pastor in Huntsville, Alabama, and then three years as Pastor at Covenant Presbyterian in Houston, Texas. Since coming to Providence in 1994, Jeff has earned his Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M) and did Ph.D studies in Systematic Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary. Pastor Meyers enjoys walking, hunting, photography, science fiction, and cooking. Pastor Meyers is the author of The Lord's Service: The Grace of Covenant Renewal Worship, as well as a commentary on Ecclesiastes A Table in the Mist, and numerous other essays and articles.

Reviews

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books out there on worship. He carefully lays out how to develop a liturgy from Scripture, thus leading to a detailed explanation of covenant renewal worship. He also has numerous extra chapters on liturgical matters, such as the Apostles' Creed, wearing robes, and paedocommunion. He has annotated bibliography which is helpful.

Also read in 2007 and 2010.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 5 out of 5]

The contents of this book have shaped the way I have worshiped for over two decades now, so it's about time I got around to reading it, eh? I've dipped in from time to time, but haven't been through the whole thing. It's fat, and I'm lazy. (I'm also fat, but it is not also lazy.) Much of what Jeff says I've learned by the teaching of others and by osmosis, but it was great to get it all laid out in a thorough and orderly fashion. He's a clear and understandable writer. I wasn't able to attend the Lord's service on Sunday, but that's when I listened to a good portion of the book. Not as a substitute, but as an edifying reminder of what I was missing. I'm grateful.

One trouble with not getting around to reading a book before it comes out in audio is that, while print and ebook files can be corrected in moments, fixing audiobooks is a more difficult process. But there were some cringe bits that really ought to be edited: subject-verb disagreements, the use of "Episcopal" as a noun, dangling modifiers, etc.

Decently read by Josh Edgren.

[Travis Robnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book of 2022, but I finally finished a few additional essays on worship at the end. It revolutionized my views on worship.

Meyers provides an excellent biblical-theological grounding for a 5-part liturgy in Lord’s Day Worship: God calls us, cleanses us, consecrates us, communes with us, commissions us. This is the sequence of Covenant Renewal seen throughout the Old Testament and is continued in the New Covenant.

If you are from a non-liturgical church, you should read this book and examine the biblical basis for order in the service culminating in communion. If you are from a liturgical church, allow this book to point you beyond “mere tradition” to the strong biblical undergirding for a liturgical service.

This book is a must read, and I believe its thesis is vital to the flourishing of the Church in any era, but especially a post-Christian one.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lords Service by Reverend Jeff Meyers was an absolute delight, and a book to come back to. I had read several sections over the years, it was good to go through the whole thing systematically. This is the book to visit when trying to better understand the liturgical flow throughout Scripture, or the better known Covenant Renewal Worship. I commend this to everyone who is attempting to find answers to questions concerning worship, how does God want to be worshipped on the Lord’s Day?

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 4 out of 5]

A robust defense of covenant renewal worship. I will only disagree with where he places emphasis in a couple of the chapters because he argues from a strictly three-office perspective.

[J. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. Would highly recommend to all Protestants.

“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬
Meyers does a great job looking down ancient paths for guidance on ecclesial, especially liturgical, practice. Constantly sourcing and applying OT worship practices, the patristics, the reformers, Orthodox, and Catholic alike.
If you haven’t read it, you should.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Also read in December of 2000.

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on worship I've read.

[Parker Stoddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute eye opener to what biblical liturgy should look like. Meyers demonstrates from the Old and New Testaments that God has always dealt with His people in terms of covenant renewal. He then shows that the Lord’s Service should follow the same pattern as God calls His people out from the world on the first day of the week to serve them by renewing convent with them. While Meyers is known to deviate from the classically reformed tradition on some issues and argues for paedocommunion in the book, it is still a must read.

[Sean Bohnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most practically encouraging books on worship, I’ve read. Makes each Lord’s day better.

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loads of good stuff in here. There are some places I would differ, obviously, given my particular theological convictions, but I think the general pattern Meyers presents here is incredibly useful and should be seriously considered by all churches.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Lord's Service" is a book that addresses one of the most pressing, but unacknowledged questions within the church--what does worship on the Lord's Day entail, and what is the church to do? Since most churches abandoned the traditional liturgies of centuries past, the church has lost its moorings, and has little understanding of what worship entails.

Jeffrey Meyers offers a biblically-based answer, based on the "continued relevance of the Old Testament's sacrificial rituals." (p. 57) This truth is evaded due to "incipient Marcionite presuppositions." (p. 60) He argues, "According to the New Testament, the way or order in which God drew the sacrificial animals into His presence in the Old Testament symbolizes God's appointed way of drawing sinful human beings into His holy, but life-giving presence in His Son." (p. 76)

The sacrificial rites begin with "cleansing and forgiveness" followed by "consecration" and conclude in "communion". (p. 79) This order, taught by the OT sacrificial system is repeated and is clearly the "liturgy of approach to God." (p. 81) Meyers' rhetoric here, is compelling. He writes, "If the covenantal structure, the sacrificial system, and the personal examples of men and women drawn into the Lord's presence do not instruct the church in the proper way, the proper order in which to approach God, then what are they for? If these passages don't' count as liturgical instruction for the church, what would?" (p. 85)

Meyers then reminds us that the church is "called together in order to get, to receive." He elaborates, that "By faith Christians are given and receive God's forgiveness, Word, nourshiment, and benediction in worship." Of course, we do worship, but it is "always be a faithful response to God's gift of forgiveness, life, knowledge, and glory-gifts we receive in the service." (p. 94) He adds that "without this perspective" our understanding of worship becomes "dangerously Pelagian", having reversed the emphasis of who is doing the work. (p. 95)

So we see that worship is the gifts of God received corporately, with the church responding in thanks and praise after each portion of the service. This is "Covenant Renewal Worship"--modeled after the way that God instructs throughout the Bible on how he is to be approached. The Worship service is formative, for just as Israel of old, we are reminded at each step that it is God who is the giver of every good and perfect gift, and man, in response, offers thanksgiving. Repeating this service each week helps form us into what God desires us to become. As Meyers writes, "Over time how one worships, the ceremonies one performs, will determine what one believes." (p. 115)

Having established the fundamentals of Covenant Renewal Worship, Meyers spends the rest of the book fleshing it out. He offers a sample liturgy from his church, and then expounds on the how's and why's of each step.

The book is a tour de force of biblical and systematic theology--expounding on what the Bible teaches us what worship is, without setting aside the majority of the Bible first. The church would do well to become familiar with this book and listen to God's Word on how to approach Him in worship.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to understanding why we worship the way we do (or ought). There are many books written on the topic of worship, but very few (or none at all) that work out what the Lord’s day service should look like.

While this is a systematic approach to worship, and particular to the structure of the author’s own congregational practices, the book is like walking into a mechanic’s shop and being able to see all the tools that are being used on the job. Some tools you might see are Electric vehicle tools that are unnecessary for most people - such as the practice of wearing a clerical collar. Other tools found, like an Easy-Bake oven, don’t belong at all - such as the practice of Paedocommunion. But other tools, like an oil pan or an air compressor, are mandatory - like the practice of the Lord’s supper and preaching. Meyers explores different aspects of the Lord’s day service and shows how they are intrinsically connected to the idea of the covenant. All of these sort of themes and practices are brought out clearly and helpfully.

I have said this elsewhere, and I am sure I heard it from someone smarter than myself, but the danger of these sort of books and ideas is the wrongheaded idea that liturgy is like a smorgasbord where we can pick and choose what we want and leave behind what we don’t like. This seemed like no problem to me before when I was a Reformed Baptist - chew the meat, spit out the bones mentality. And while I do not deny that every congregation will have its own personalities and characteristics, it is important to be consistent in how we come to decide what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in worship. Thankfully, the Lord has given us a manual of liturgy in the Scripture and expressed through Church history. This is all to say that if we are considering what size fog machine a church ought to buy for their Sunday morning worship event, we are in the situation where now the tail is chasing the dog, and it’s time to start over by returning to Scripture for the principles of worship that have been given to us by God to worship Him in the way that He has chosen.

[Micah Bloomquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read about worship on the Lord's day. Every pastor and elder should read this book before forming his church's liturgy. It's not whether you will have liturgy but which liturgy you will have. Churches today tend to think little about the order, structure, and content of their worship service, tending to follow the classic "3 songs, sermon, and a song" pattern, leaving out Psalms, confession of sin, assurance of pardon, their children, the Lord's Supper, etc. The question that needs to be asked is, "Why are we doing what we are doing?" And "Why are we not doing these things that our fathers who came before us did?" Honestly there's so much in this book that I don't think I could faithfully summarize it here. One thing I will say is that you can't claim the reformed faith if the extent of your reformed theology begins and ends with soteriology. Semper Reformanda

[Laurabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this one after starting it two years ago!

I gave it 4 stars bc the content is important. Meyers gives the basic "whys" to the reformed layout of the service that my church closely follows.

His writing is not professional (sometimes borders on cheesy), and some of his reasoning as to why we should follow certain peripheral customs was not strong, specifically his reasoning for following the church calendar. However, this book does a helpful job of laying out the order of service and backing up everything with Scripture.

[William Schrecengost · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book on liturgy. Based mostly off of the sacrificial worship structure in Leviticus 9. Full of really interesting points and considerations. His essays at the end are also excellent.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a second time. This time I appreciated even more the balance and wisdom he shows on a bunch of difficult issues around the ministerial office.

Previous review:

This was excellent. Meyers does a fine job laying out what a Sabbath service is; its shape and the grace God gives to his people in it. He shows the full richness of an understanding of the service as a dialogue between God and his people--God is magnified and we are renewed.

Loved it.

[Hannah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and very helpful. Every reformed (or not reformed!) Christian should read this. Yes, it’s daunting and a bit long, but it’s worth it. Trudge through a chapter at a time and you will go to church on Sunday with a newfound understanding of what exactly is going on.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent explanation and defense of covenant renewal worship. The chapter on paedocommunion is worth the price of the book.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book in an under-taught area. Reformed folk tend to think through what we say very carefully, but as Meyers points out, when it comes to worship, we think too little about what we do. Meyers does a great job of explaining what worship is (and just as importantly, what it's not), and introducing the concept of covenant renewal worship, showing it's biblical basis. Additionally, the quality "bonus" essays in part III cover a great swath of worthwhile, related material. Although it's really aimed at ministerial students, this is the best introductory overview a lay person could ask for, especially if you go to a CREC church, where much of this material is under girding what you do every Sunday. Highly recommended.

[Timothy Vernot · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This book is incredibly helpful for considering worship, and why, how, and to what end we do it.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding, every Christian should read

[Ben Zornes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meyers' work here is a really helpful primer on how to biblically order our corporate worship services. He exegetes scripture to show how certain Old Testament precedents should be carried on in our New Testament worship, as well as showing how our worship––now in Christ––should be patterned after the sacrifices of the Mosaic law (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). Meyers also provides insight into historic context for why the Church has continually observed certain practices time and time again.

The shallowness of much of our modern worship services is largely due to lackadaisical thoughtlessness. We rarely ask how God's Word describes and proscribes how our congregational worship should be ordered. Some may bristle at the notion of ordering or establishing a set liturgy, thinking this "boxes out" the Spirit. However, even in the most spontaneous Pentecostal church, there will inevitably emerge a routine and pattern for our regular meetings. We can either be deliberate and purposeful, or mindless and willy-nilly. 

Meyers argues for "covenant renewal" worship. This orders the way in which worship in accordance with the Word, and centers upon the shared meal of the Lord's Supper. In this way, we are frequently reminded of the covenant of Grace which the Gospel proclaims to us. Overall, this book was a wonderful defense of such an approach to Lord's Day worship. There are a few points where I would depart from Meyers' suggested practices, but on the whole, a really worthwhile read.

[Suzannah Rowntree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely! It was so interesting--with Scriptural backing and historical explanations for a lot of things I had observed without fully understanding, or had heard in part elsewhere, or even had never thought of. Don't be scared off by the length of the book--the print is big, the chapters are short, you'll get there.

The book is about form and ritual in worship, coming from a robust Presbyterian viewpoint. Some things I particularly liked:

* The chapter "Worship as Sacrifice" exploring what the sacrificial system of the Old Testament can tell us about the order of worship. It always puzzled me why the Lord would give such detailed explanations for OT worship, only to wipe them all out and leave us with so little in the NT. Meyers doesn't go particularly in-depth but what he does have to say is incredibly helpful.
* Like many Protestants, I've sometimes felt uncomfortable with the idea of a liturgy with spoken congregational responses, kneeling, etc--isn't that a bit of a Catholic thing to do? Meyers ably counters this with some illuminating history lessons, such as the way that Reformers like Calvin conducted worship. According to Meyers, before the Reformation the service was conducted by the priest, at the front of the church, with little or no participation by the congregation. Strong congregational participation was a Reformed innovation, aimed at restoring the idea of the priesthood of all believers.
* Finally, the chapter on admitting children to the Table, which includes a fantastic overview of 1 Corinthians, is alone worth the price of admission! In summing up, Meyers says, "Who really ought to be fenced from the Table? Christ's little ones or traditionalist Presbyterian theologians and pastors who continue to oppose the unity of the entire body of Christ, adults and children, around His Table?" HA.

There were things that I remain unconvinced on--for instance, while Meyers made a good case that ministerial robes are historically normal and practically useful, he doesn't provide a very strong Scriptural case, simply referring to Aaron's special priestly wardrobe.

Otherwise, have I mentioned how much I enjoyed this book? Excellent stuff. I'd recommend it to anyone looking to improve their church's order of service, or anyone who needs to know the reasoning behind the uses of liturgy in the Church.

[Emma R. Pilcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. A lot to digest in here. As a baptist, I was *kind of* dragging my feet through the paedocommunion/paedobaptism section(which, admittedly was a fair chunk of the book). Still though, everything was well argued from a theological and historical standpoint. Especially appreciated his discussion of the regulative principle, it wasn’t hopelessly nuanced…

The best part? An entire chapter of recommended reading at the end!!!

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know my philosophy and understanding of worship, this is basically it.

[Lucas Dorminy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed the way I viewed worship and covenant. Long, but worth the time. One of my favorites.

[Nash Hawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Some good stuff, some alright stuff, Some really bad stuff.

[Alfred Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm currently reading it and so far, it's presuppositions is mostly FV which I would disagree but I understand what he is trying to implement the emphasis of worship as a response to God's call, cleansing, preserving us in the gospel. I would agree with the worship but his teaching on this is either a hit or a miss mainly because He is looking at this with FV lens. I'm a reformed Baptist and I can see some issues of his language and terminology that can trigger those who are confessional in CT whether your Presbyterian or reformed. For instance, he keeps on emphasising that the Adamic Covenant was a gracious covenant. It's gets real blurry after this because it covenant becomes to FV your faithfulness to God when rather monergistically it is God's faithfulness to us.
There's Pastoral probelms with this as well as biblical issues but I will stop.

[Sharon Janzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read this, mainly because I read about the first quarter of it, then put it down and packed it and moved across the country. When I picked it back up, I slowly worked my way through it because he references so many Bible verses and other source materials that I wanted to look up and/or add to my reading list for later.

I really enjoy the way Pastor Meyers writes. His tone almost seems conversational, but he also includes a ton of footnotes, so it's like the best of both worlds, for me. Academic and challenging, but also like I'm just blessed to have a great conversation with a man who has thought and studied long and hard about Christian worship and cares very much about getting it right!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand why we do what we do, and why those "seeker sensitive" services you may have experienced are so... off kilter.