Ancient-Future Worship: Proclaiming and Enacting God's Narrative (Paperback)

by Robert E. Webber (Author)
Key Phrases: eternal intercession, historical recitation, biblical worship, Jesus Christ, Applying God's Story, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
With the many models of worship available, choosing a style to worship God can be a bit overwhelming. Is it better to go with traditional or contemporary models? Christians may find themselves asking how early believers worshiped and whether they can provide insight into how we should praise God today. Rooted in historical models and patristic church studies, Ancient-Future Worship examines how early Christian worship models can be applied to the postmodern church. Pastors and church leaders, as well as younger evangelical and emerging church groups, will find this last book in the respected Ancient-Future series an invaluable resource for authentic worship.

From the Back Cover
God has a story. Worship does God's story. There is a crisis of worship today. The problem goes beyond matters of style--it is a crisis of content and of form. Worship in churches today is too often dead and dry, or busy and self-involved. Robert Webber attributes these problems to a loss of vision of God and of God's narrative in past, present, and future history. As he examines worship practices of Old Testament Israel and the early church, Webber uncovers ancient principles and practices that can reinvigorate our worship today and into the future. The final volume in Webber's acclaimed Ancient-Future series, Ancient-Future Worship is the culmination of a lifetime of study and reflection on Christian worship. Here is an urgent call to recover a vigorous, God-glorifying, transformative worship through the enactment and proclamation of God's glorious story. The road to the future, argues Webber, runs through the past. Robert E. Webber (1933-2007) was, at the time of his death, Myers Professor of Ministry at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Illinois, and served as the president of the Institute for Worship Studies in Orange Park, Florida. His many books include Ancient-Future Faith and The Younger Evangelicals.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801066247
• ISBN-13: 978-0801066245
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,689 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It surprised me...actually quite good, May 25, 2008

By	Jcb Atkn "JBA" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This is the first Webber book I have read. I was originally uncomfortable with his ideas (about five years ago) but having recently been dismayed with all modernist Christianities (be they liberal, Evangelical, or some Reformed), and given a recent interest in Patristic thought, I decided to give this book a chance.

Webber defines "ancient-future" worship as "publically enacting God's narrative." The worshipping church tells God's narrative, which Webber carefully defines, following the Eastern tradition, as "Creation-Incarnation-Recreation." Given this, an ancient-future church will proclaim God's Scriptures as "true," but not merely in the Enlightenment style of "proving the Bible."

Ancient-future worship will climax in the Eucharist. Don't worry, he isn't advocating Roman transubstantiations. His "Word and Table" model, in my humble opinion, is the best I have ever seen. The Eucharist tells the story of the Incarnate, who while being in the womb of the Virgin, united humanity to his nature so that he may redeem humanity and the world. The bread and wine symbolize the life of the world; the life being given to the world. Christ is really present. The Patristics, contra the moderns (be they conservative or liberal), saw the reality inherent in a sign.

Conclusion:
I don't have any cons with this book. It is very easy to read and flows very well. Webber cuts across the so-called "worship wars." He notes how staid traditionalism and silly happy-clappyism easily tend toward idolatry and man-worship. An ancient-future model provides a glorious alternative.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thought Provoking Read, January 12, 2009

By	E-Cowboy - See all my reviews

This is a book that I wrestled with as I read through it.

I believe it's the final book in the "Ancient Future" series, but it's the first I've read by Webber. I didn't get the sense that you absolutely have to read these books in order as I immediately engaged with the subject-matter and the approach.

In this book, Webber made me grapple with how the Enlightment and modern thinking has impacted my understanding and approach to the Bible, prayer, worship, and the Eucharist. At numerous times, Webber made me uncomfortable (my modernist mind?!) to wrestle with the mysteries of God.

I'm sure this book is most often used by church leaders and pastors, but it shouldn't be exclusively read by that group. It's an important resource for the laity as well and will challenge you in how you read the Word, how you pray, and in the story of God's interaction with humanity across history.