A Primer on Worship and Reformation

by Douglas Wilson

It is no secret that our world desperately needs change. Politicians, journalists, advertisers--each of these groups (and countless others) spend their lives working to convince others that they hold the key to a better country, a better life, a better future. A Primer on Worship and Reformation proposes that true change begins, not with a process or an idea, but through faithful worship. To witness true global change—true reformation—we must first pray that we would see worship at the center of life. The truth is that when the Word is faithfully preached, even the gates of hell tremble. When the Psalms are sung, the meek inherit the earth. When the church celebrates at the Lord's Table, those who mourn are comforted. If we learn these lessons and believe them to be true, we will find that through renewed worship God brings change to every facet of our lives.

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

72 pages

First published November 6, 2008

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We sinned our way into this mess together, and we must repent of it together. Our individualism has hidden the nature of our corporate sin from us, but it is a corporate sin nonetheless. American Christians need to start repenting of their strengths and virtues… We will come to church expecting the Word to be thundered, not suggested. We will come to the Table weekly in order to be strengthened, fed, and nourished. We will give ourselves to the demanding task of learning hundreds of new (to us) psalms and hymns. And we will learn that the pronouncement of “Ichabod” over the American Church was premature.”

[Matthew Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this is a slim volume, it packs an Ali punch. Wilson's treatment here of psalm singing, Word thundering, Sabbath feasting, and what he calls "high church Puritanism" is simply breathtaking. I ended this book with a great taste in my mouth and a hunger for robust Christianity. May I live to see another true Reformation and another Awakening in America of the caliber that Scripture mandates and Wilson heralds with a horn at the gates of our modern Jericho.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Piper once said of Doug Wilson that he's unusually compelling. He also noted that Doug likes taking risks (of the theological kind). Read this book, and you'll understand why Piper made those statements. It will challenge what you think about worship. Artfully written, in a way that only Doug Wilson could.

[Joel Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, I especially liked his section on the "isms" of humanity. Made me really think about how much individualism has crept into my daily life. Also his vision of a worship service has given me a lot to think about

[Shea Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024: second time through audio because I loaned out my physical copy. Wonderful again and much needed in the church at large. The first chapter Wilson speaks of the church at large and acknowledges their errors as his own. Not meaning that he is actually making the seeker sensitive errors himself but rather the fact that his church is part of the larger corporate body of the church and so the sins of the big C Church are also the sins of his church community. In light of things like the Moscow Mood article and other aspects of "Doug Wilson derangement syndrome" its remarkable how much the Moscow crew sees the church at large as their brothers in the faith, but many seem quick to not want to consider them brothers. May God have mercy on us.

Another helpful book I went through in audio and would like to go back through slowly with a pen. There is a lot going on in worship, and we as Christians need to continue to examine this more deeply, here Wilson is helpful.

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good solid, practical thoughts on worship and reformation. I don't agree with every conclusion, but I appreciate the diligence that went behind every argument.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book I've read this year (2018) and my favorite Wilson book I've read thusfar. So many excellent thoughts throughout every chapter. Savory.

[Gradon Schaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book sets forth the problem of modern worship services and the antidote to those problems. The difference between this book and most jeremiads on modern worship is that Wilson offers hope and solutions from Scripture. Definitely worth reading if you are a pastor. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Worship is warfare."

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to understand a robustly biblical view of covenant renewal worship and a much needed corrective to the Evangelical epidemic of superficiality.

Excellent introduction to understand a robustly biblical view of covenant renewal worship and a much needed corrective to the Evangelical epidemic of superficiality

[Myersandburnsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re-read. I came across this small book in 2010 and read it one sitting. I appreciate the thoughtful, scriptural insight into worship. I’ve never entered a “church service” the same way since. I love to attend worship on the Lord’s Day

[Miles Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated but still good in diagnosis of the weakness of Evangelicalism; Wilson is always interesting. Im not convinced that his brand of Baptist/Presbyterian syncretism is particularly catholic even for Protestants, but he has some good points.

[Jake McAtee · Rating 5 out of 5]

audiobook otw

[Connor Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet, yet punchy

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent book on Worship, and it's nice to see a book that I can agree with on the subject of Worship.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes it’s an excellent book but I have a hard time giving it five stars like the other readers. The title is pretty misleading and he mentions the high church Puritan in the subtitle but it’s only one chapter in a very small book. Almost thin enough to be a booklet. Really it is asking for covenant renewal as a response to individualism. Proper worship does not seem to be the driving force but a backdrop. That being said for what he does talk about he has good points.

[Craig Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has definately hit a core problem in the BODY of todays CHURCH and made me rethink some of my INDIVIDUALISTIC IDEAS and IDEOLOGY. God is the same Yesterday , Today and tomorrow, why do we try to change it?

Thanks to my BOOK READING BEAST accountability partner for keeping me accountable to reading and understanding different viewpoints.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book as a suppliment to "The Lord's Service", it is poignant and clear. I especially liked the second part of the book that went the efficacies of Worship. My favorite was the 7th chapter, "Bone of His Bones", it is about the Lord's Table.(It gets 6 stars)

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great little book. There is a lot more in here than just corporate worship. There are two chapters in particular that are just phenomenal; one on Bible interpretation and the other on children and worship.

Doug breaks down how to utilize the NT to interpret the OT. He calls this an "Apostolic Study Bible." Take the OT and lay it flat. Then, take the NT and lay it on top of it. Stick a pin in the spots of the OT where the NT quotes it. Now use the enlightened eyes of faith that the NT gives us to see Christ and the typologies that foreshowed Him in the Old and how they are fulfilled in the New. Doug gives an example of this with the typological fulfillment of the Church being the "last Eve" taken from Christ's side. Really good stuff.

Doug's chapter on children and worship doesn't pull any punches. He addresses the issue of the Church today, isolating Covenant children from participation in the Christian community, head on. If you adhere more to the Orthodox faith, this won't trigger you that much, but it will likely cause some involuntary "amens." For those who see things a bit differently, namely Baptists or inconsistent Presbyterians, this chapter is a smack in the face.

Highly recommend!

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[D. Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this short book today (or rather, listened to it as an audiobook). Overall it was great! One of the better books I've read on worship. A beautiful and biblical vision for the "Reformation of Worship" that needs to happen today. This does not mean that we "re-do" the Reformation or modify worship in our chruches until it perfectly mirrors 16th Century Geneva. Rather, it means we do what the Reformers did. That is, we reform worship--according to the Bible--by identifying and throwing out the abuses of worship that persist in our own century, and in our own churches.

In terms of the audiobook, I did not care for the narration. The narrator had a robotic voice, as though you had asked Siri or your Google Assistant to read the book out loud to you. But the content was good. My only critism of the content is that the first chapter is a bit difficult to get through, as Wilson's screed agaisnt Christian retail and "Jesus Junk" goes on for far too long, and he really beats up that horse long after it's dead. But once he gets that out of his system, the rest of the book is his solution or alternative to "Jesus Junk." Namely a fresh vision for the Reformation of Christian Worship in our day that calls us back to something good, true, and beautiful.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was scrolling through one of my Scribd lists last night, looking for another book to start, when I was excited to see a Thomas Watson I hadn't read. Alas, it turns out I had read it under a different title. Cruel, cruel publishers to get my hopes up then dash their heads upon the rocks like that! 😉 So I kept scrolling and came upon this one. It's a shorty, so I started and finished it at one go. I know Jeff and Jim and Peter have written much more extensively on these topics, but it was nice to get Doug's little synthesized version. I've been coveant-renewal-worshiping for the better part of two decades now, but it's been a while since I've brushed up on the whys of it.

Jack did a fine job on the narration.

[Jennifer Lokken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was an amazing book on the what our hearts and souls should be when we worship and the purpose of worship. Worship, especially corporate worship is the body of Christ unifying against the enemies of God, we are the battering rams against the enemies strongholds. This is why it is so important that our worship be focused on the truth of God and who He is and us laying our lives down for Him and His glory. We read this book as part of our family worship and it gave us a new perspective as we sang hymns, got in His Word, prayed together as family. Read it, you won't regret it.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I do appreciate several things Douglas Wilson says, I had some red flags with this one. One example was when he discusses paedo-communion claiming that not allowing your children to take may cause them to fall away from the faith. Another when sums up the book, saying, "To be understood, almost all of this has to be tasted, not discussed. But as we have tasted it, we have seen that the Lord is good."

This first time through, I predominantly used audible. I want to go through it again and make notes.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson does well to join stinging rebuke, robust theology, common sense, cultural critique and realistic hope all into one little volume. This is not a practical primer on worship, try the daily prayer app for that; this is a primer laying out the problems with modern American evangelicalism and why it's reformation will and must begin with a reformation of its corporate worship. Some good quotes in this one.

[Jason Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good and challenging read. Wilson disagrees with a lot of the things I have been raised on as an evangelical. This makes me uncomfortable but is a great conversation starter. I would like to spend more time with this book and engage with it on a deeper level. I give five stars not because I agree with everything written but because I think he is a thoughtful guy who raises important questions in this book. It is short and to the point. It uses scripture well.

I heard the audiobook version of this. Reader was so slow that listening to it on 1.5x speed actually just sounded normal.

[Eric Naykalyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Solid Introduction to Worship

A solid critique of modern worship and its effects on our church life as a whole. The points made and matters discussed deserve 5 stars, but it loses one in the structure; the latter chapters feel slightly more disjointed and difficult to follow. An excellent book, nonetheless.

[Josh Dockter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great little book that introduces the reader to the basic elements of covenant renewal worship. The author had been laboring in the work of worship and reformation for more than 40 years in the pastorate and this book shows his wisdom on the subjects at hand. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to plant themselves in a historic understanding of worship in the church.

[IL KWON KIM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great and funny remarks

Worship is essential in modern reformed circles but unconsciously ignored.
This book however describes various fundamental issued with applicable explanations.
I thus gives three stars and recommend to those who want to develop the reformed spirit of eorship .

[J Landon Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much a step-by-step manual for worship but a look at what worship is supposed to be and why for most churches it isn't. Very solid. My only quibble would be a few sentences favoring paedocommunion.

[Joshua J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I loved this book. The whole thing. Having been raised Baptist without any understanding of covenant or covenantal theology this book highlights a way back to true worship not three songs and a lecture.

[Patrick Porras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and challenging. As always from Wilson, this is lucid brevity that packs a punch. I loved the brief chapter on the Sabbath and was compelled to think through liturgy .ore deeply from the book as a whole.

"Jesus was the ultimate metaphor" was probably my favorite quote from the book.