Story-Shaped Worship: Following Patterns from the Bible and History

by Robbie Fox Castleman

Publisher:

Inter-Varsity

, 2013

Overview

What is the right way to worship?

Right worship does not require a return to the identical forms found in the early church or later in Rome or after that in Westminster. What it calls for is a faithful response today to the God of our salvation in light of those biblically ordered and historically informed patterns.

In this study Robbie Castleman uncovers the fundamental shape of worship. What she finds—outlined in Scripture, enacted in Israel, refocused in the New Testament community, guarded by the apostolic fathers, and recovered in the Reformation—is a grand narrative of redemption offering order and meaning to all worshiping communities down to the present day.

Key Features

• Presents a study of the biblical and historical patterns of worship
• Helps evangelicals rediscover God's design for worship that is focused on God's pleasure
• Urges readers to recover a much-needed stress in worship on the narrative of salvation at the heart of the gospel

Contents

Part I: Biblical Patterns: Story-Shaped Liturgy

• Genesis and the Gospel: Worship in the Beginnings
• Worship and Identity: Yahweh and Shâbath in the Torah, Prophets and Gospels
• Abad: Worship as Holy Service
• The Shape of Biblical Worship
• Worship by the Book
• Worship and Holiness
• Worship in Exile, Synagogues and the Early Church

Part II: Historical Patterns: the Interpretations of Worship

• Patristic Patterns for Christian Worship: Clarifying the Faith
• Reformation Patterns for Christian Worship: Recovering the Faith
• Contemporary Patterns for Christian Worship: Keeping the Faith

Praise for Story-Shaped Worship

Evangelicals need to recover a theology of presence in their public worship today. Robbie Castleman encourages us to do exactly that by presenting here a richly textured and nuanced study of how liturgy interacts with spiritual life, all framed in the context of how the church has remembered and recited the story of Jesus as the story of Israel's God. A book of biblical wisdom and theological depth.

Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, and general editor of theReformation Commentary on Scripture

Robbie Castleman's Story-Shaped Worship skillfully places the biblical teachings on worship within the larger narrative of salvation history. It represents a valuable contribution to the resurgent evangelical interest in the theology and practice of worship. I heartily commend it to all pastors and seminarians who want to take worship to the next level of excellence.

John Jefferson Davis, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

In Story-Shaped Worship Robbie Castleman carefully explores the biblical basis for worship, not as something that pleases us, the worshipper, but as something meant to be pleasing to God. She then puts this in historical and practical contexts in a way that is both winsome and wise. This book is a wonderful, carefully written guide that will be helpful for worship leaders, pastors or anyone who cares about worshiping well. I'm already looking forward to working through the excellent discussion questions at the end of each chapter with other worship leaders in my church. What a great resource!

Robert J. Keeley, professor of education, Calvin College, and author of Helping Our Children Grow in Faith

Product Details

• Title: Story-Shaped Worship: Following Patterns from the Bible and History
• Author: Robbie Fox Castleman
• Publisher: Inter-Varsity
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Pages: 224
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Worship in the Bible; Worship › Biblical teaching; Worship › History
• ISBNs: 9780830884292, 0830884297
• Resource ID: LLS:9780830884292
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T20:54:12Z

About Robbie Fox Castleman

Robbie Fox Castleman (D.Min., University of Dubuque) is professor of biblical studies and theology at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She previously served for several years as a staff member with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, specializing in ministry to graduate students at campuses in and around Tallahassee, Florida.