Discover the depth, beauty, and enduring power of historic Reformed worship.
In The Worship of the Reformed Church, esteemed pastor and scholar Terry L. Johnson presents a comprehensive, compelling case for recovering the biblical, theological, and historical foundations of Reformed worship in our contemporary age. With clarity and conviction, Johnson demonstrates how Scripture-saturated, God-centered, gospel-structured worship not only shaped centuries of Christian piety but remains essential for forming faithful, mature disciples today.

Drawing from the Reformers, the church fathers, and modern scholarship, Johnson explores every aspect of corporate worship – reading, preaching, praying, singing, and the administration of the sacraments – showing how each element serves as a vital means of grace. He also offers practical guidance for pastors, elders, and congregations seeking to implement historic Reformed patterns with excellence, reverence, and pastoral wisdom.

This book helps readers understand:

• Why historic Reformed worship is rooted in Scripture and the early church
• How worship shapes belief, character, and long-term spiritual vitality
• The strengths of God-centered, Bible-filled, gospel-structured order of service
• Practical steps for restoring classic Reformed elements in modern congregations
• The dangers of consumer-driven, entertainment-oriented worship trends

In an era marked by shallow spirituality and shifting tastes, this book calls the church back to its rich heritage – demonstrating that true renewal is found not in novelty, but in the enduring practices that have sustained believers for generations.

Endorsements 

Johnson’s thorough work, the result of years of extensive research and mature thought, will helpfully inform church leaders in their understanding of what worship is in its biblical and historical context. Highly recommended. 

Iver Martin
Principal, Edinburgh Theological Seminary, Edinburgh, Scotland

A compelling and timely work, this book masterfully recovers the central place of worship within the theology of John Calvin and the broader Reformed tradition. Both scholarly and accessible, it offers a vision of worship that is at once ancient, biblical, and urgently needed today. 

Cameron Clausing
Lecturer, Christ College, Sydney, Australia

The book that you hold in your hand provides a valuable resource for pastors and elders who are charged with leading in public worship, and it provides a masterful introduction to the historic, biblical practice of worship and church life in the Reformed tradition. It is worthwhile for all Christians to read and reflect upon, and I cannot commend it highly enough.

Jonathan Master
President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, South Carolina

… the most comprehensive and pastorally useful guide to historic Reformed worship available. It cuts a deep and straight shaft into the mine of God's ordinary means of lavishing His extraordinary grace out into the lives of saint and sinner alike. It belongs on every minister's desk.

Neil Stewart
Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church (ARP), Columbia, South Carolina