The Westminster Directory for the Public Worship of God in Modern English (Paperback) by Kevin Bidwell

The Westminster Directory for the Public Worship of God was first published by the Westminster Assembly in 1645. This modernised version makes it accessible for a contemporary reader.

The complete modernised text is complemented by a series of essays designed to increase the applicability of the Directory and promote a new appreciation of the sacraments as means of grace to work alongside the preaching and reading of God’s Word.

Contributors include:

Kevin J Bidwell
Terry Johnson
George Curry
Timothy Hoke
Maurice Roberts
Johannes Muller
Chat Bailey
Joseph Pipa Jr

Title

The Westminster Directory for the Public Worship of God in Modern English
Author(s)

Kevin Bidwell
ISBN

9781783974313
Format

Paperback
Publisher

Evangelical Press
Audience

Church Leaders
Pages

272
Published

04/30/2024

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Overall rating

5.0 based on 2 reviews

An excellent resource

Does it really matter how we worship God? What does Scripture say about how we should order our public worship?

During the Reformation there were two main schools of thought with regards to public worship - the “Normative Principal” which taught that whatever is not prohibited in Scripture is permitted in worship, whilst the Regulative Principle taught that public worship should be ordered in accordance with the commands of Scripture. It is clear to see that both of these approaches to worship will look very different in practice!

So the Westminster Directory for the Public Worship of God (DPW) is a liturgical manual that was first published by the Westminster Assembly in 1645 and it is part of the Westminster Standards. It was aimed at reforming the church’s worship by prescribing a framework for public worship that is focused on Scripture.

In this modernised version, the DPW is clearly presented in modern English in order to make it accessible to the modern reader. The editor Kevin J. Bidwell has also gathered together a series of helpful essays on some of the Sub-Directories of the DPW from some leading contemporary Presbyterian theologians. Terry Johnson’s essay on the continuity between Calvin and the Westminster Puritans explains how it is not just the form of worship that matters, but the attitude towards the worship itself, since worship comes from the heart. I particularly appreciated the chapter on Public Prayer before the sermon by Maurice J. Roberts which was full of some very important practical advice in the leading of public prayers.

In conclusion, this modernised version of the DPW is an excellent resource, it is a definitive guide for the ordering of public worship that will prove to be an essential worship handbook for ministers.

*Disclaimer: @10ofthose kindly provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gareth Dicks @biblebookstheology

Biblical, accessible, engaging and well written

What is worship? What does God require from us in worship? And what can we learn from the Westminster Assembly of Divines?

In this modernised version of The Westminster Directory of Public Worship (DPW), a number of contributors seeks to answer these questions, spurring the reader to “increasingly zealous biblical faithfulness”

The book contains Sub-directories in the DPW pertaining to Public Worship. Several standout essays were ‘Prayer after the Sermon’, ‘Public Reading of the Holy Scriptures’, and ‘Sanctification of the Lord’s Day’. Roland S Barnes’ survey of the Sabbath was especially helpful, as he explored the universal & eternal principles of the Sabbath.

I also enjoyed Dr Terry L Johnson’s work concerning ‘Worship from Calvin to Westminster’ in which Johnson explored the continuity, common theology and substantial agreements between Calvin’s liturgies and that of the DPW. I especially found the section on the five basic elements (Prayer, Singing, Scripture Reading, Preaching and Sacraments) of public worship insightful, as both Calvin and the Westminster Assembly had a desire and a conviction that worship must be ‘according to Scripture’ although they “shared a concern for balance between correct form and freedom that is necessary for heart religion” p. 21

At the back of the book you’ll find the actual modernised Westminster Directory itself which I read prior to the Sub-directories, as this just made sense to me.

Kevin J Bidwell did an excellent job with the editing of this book and the updated language makes this very accessible.

Much of what is included in the DPW is bygone tradition to many Evangelicals, however, what is contained in it is biblical, meaning that God cares about it, and therefore has prescribed how we should approach Him in worship.

I believe many church leaders (and Christians) would benefit from these essays, and would love to see a resurgence of the content found in this book.

Biblical, accessible, engaging and well written - I recommend

10 of those