{Book Review} What Happens When We Worship

Reformation Heritage Books is the publisher of What Happens When We Worship by Jonathan Landry Cruse. This book has a very nice foreword by Michael Horton that very favorably endorses this book by Cruse. 

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What Happens When We Worship

What Happens When We Worship is different, and in a very good way! I’ve never read an entire book that was about what happens when we worship the Lord. I’ve read many books about worship, and many of those books talk briefly about what is actually happening during the worship. But this is an entire book that shows the church what is taking place during the worship of the Triune God. The result of this (hopefully) is that the Lord’s Day worship will be the highlight of every Christian’s week! 

This book comes in just under 200 pages and 15 chapters. Cruse breaks the book into three parts:

1. A (Brief) Theology of Worship
2. The Anatomy of a Worship Service
3. Preparing our Hearts

Part One: A (Brief) Theology of Worship

Part one is just excellent! Cruse discusses how worship is the most important thing a Christian will ever do, what is going on in the worship of God. He discusses how we are being shaped by that worship, how we meet with God, how God renews His covenant, how we are called to submit to God’s agenda, and how we commune with the Saints.

Part Two: The Anatomy of a Worship Service

Part two is a continuation of part one in that Landy continues to discuss, as you might have guessed, what is actually happening in the worship service.

Part Three: Preparing our Hearts

Part three is extremely practical as Cruse, in two chapters, writes about the preparing of our hearts for worship. 

About the Author: Jonathan Landry Cruse

Cruse is a very clear writer. He has certainly well-researched his topic, and he articulates his points in a way that anybody can understand. He also writes in a way that is very relevant, so that the reader will often say, “Yes, I know what he’s talking about there.” It is also evident from his tone that Cruse is a pastor. He cares not just about disseminating information, but about the reader maturing in their faith and understanding of the worship of our God.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I’m confident that many others will as well. I highly recommend this book. Tolle lege, take up and read! 

Disclaimer: My thanks to Reformation Heritage Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.