Liturgical Worship: A Lutheran Introduction

Since Covid-19 and due to local church issues here in California, we have been attending the LCMS having been introduced to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod through Brian Wolfmueller's ministry at St. Paul Lutheran church in Austin, TX (via YouTube) and also Dr. Cooper's "Just and Sinner" YouTube channel. I can't thank Dr. Cooper enough for writing this book, it is a tremendous blessing, it is extremely well-written, easy to understand and explains clearly what is happening in the service and why. Coming as we are from a Reformed perspective, this book has given us a new way to see and appreciate God's providence has he has directed His church through the centuries. I especially appreciate the fact that Dr. Cooper does come from a Reformed background so he takes time to show us the difference between the various Protestant traditions as well as explaining how the Lutheran service differs so fundamentally from the Roman Catholic Mass and the Eastern Orthodox Liturgy. This book along with attending the LCMS services has opened my eyes to something new and beautiful. God be praised!

Great insight into Lutheran liturgy. I learned just how much the liturgy is based in scripture.

Dr. Cooper can be very academic, but this book is in easy language, which he writes rather well. It begins with a discussion of worship, its purpose and varied forms, touching lightly on background and symbolism without any complicated details. Reading this book will help inform the layman and strengthen his ties. Cooper is Lutheran, and the book is certainly aimed at Lutherans. Recommended reading for understanding the why's and wherefore's of the Divine Service and strengthening one's connection to church.

This book has given me so much clarity on the significance of the liturgy of the Confessional Lutheran Churches but also a much deeper understanding of the WHY behind each aspect of it. I didn't know that the liturgy of The Divine Service was so deeply rooted in scripture but we are literally following the order of worship in heaven. We are literally worshipping as those in heaven are. I have learned more about the importance of the liturgy from this book than any of the explanations I've found elsewhere. This book should be recommended reading for every convert, catechumen, and even those that have been practicing Lutherans for decades. It's THAT informative. A must read. It will make your worship that much more meaningful and fulfilling to have this understanding.

Cooper does a wonderful service to the church by explaining the various elements of the liturgy in a clear and helpful way. For those coming into a liturgical tradition from broad evangelicalism this is a much needed roadmap. For those who grew up in a church with a classic liturgy, but never reflected deeply or seriously on the meaning of the service or the reasons behind it, this will be an epiphany. The fourteen chapters are brief, the prose accessible, and the theology sound. Many of the other explanations of the liturgy suffer from archaic language and dated references. Cooper would be my "go to" book to recommend to lay people regarding the liturgy.

One of the most useful books I've ever read. Too the point & concise, but full of thorough explanation of the liturgy. Highly recommend

and well written

The best book I've read this year! Phenomenal insights on the Scriptural basis for liturgy in the church.

I've read most everything Cooper has written. And it's all scholarly, lucid, comprehensive, cogent, and confessional.

Eine wirklich tolle Einführung in den lutherischen Gottesdienst. Zudem: sehr verständliches englisch, also keine Angst. ;-)

Um excelente livro pra quem deseja aprender sobre liturgia, e em especial a liturgia utilizada nas igrejas luteranas. O autor Jordan Cooper descreve cada aspecto da liturgia luterana, do início ao fim do culto solene, sem ser excessivamente detalhista mas sem deixar nada sem a devida explicação. Fui muito edificado por esta leitura, ao contrário do que se pensa há muita bagagem de Escritura em casa etapa da liturgia. Recomendo fortemente o livro.

This is a pearl in form of book. O found here excelent arguments for liturgical worship. God bless you, Jordan.