Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service

This is an excellent book for anyone looking to understand the following: (1). The nature of Christian liturgy (Definition). (2). The origins of historic liturgy in the Old and New Testaments. (3). The early church history of Christian liturgy/development and its impact on our liturgy today. (4). The development of Christian liturgy in conservative Lutheranism. (5). Some of the questions/issues of bringing the significance of the historic liturgy to bear for people living in a postmodern context. It is also useful for anyone looking to love the liturgy more. The author fosters in the reader a sense of reverence and fidelity for the ancient tradition, and everything he writes about in the liturgy is Christocentric (the whole liturgy is Christocentric!). Further, his handle on the Gospel of Luke is evident. I would recommend this book to anyone who is serious about living their life around the Divine Service (Lutheran Sunday worship services), where Jesus gives us His gifts. I would recommend this book to anyone who is concerned with the historic liturgy in the early church and how it developed. I would especially recommend this book for those coming into Lutheranism from non-liturgical traditions.

Let me confess I am a big fan of Dr. Just and own all his books. His series on Luke is tremendous. Luke 1:1-9:50 (Concordia Commentary) Luke 9:51-24:53 (Concordia Commentary) . With Heaven On Earth Dr. Just has risen to a new level and taken his readers with him. Heaven On Earth traces the historic Liturgy back to the days of Christ. He shows how the Liturgy has sustained the church through persecution, heresy, wars, famine, plague and even divisions within the church. And then reminds us to take that Body of Christ when we leave the church and share it generously. I will be buying copies of this book to give as presents.

Just packs so much well-documented information and insight into a few hundred pages you'll find your finger constantly on your Kindle highlighter. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of Christian worship, whether you're Lutheran or not. It is a must-read for every Lutheran.for its profound examination of each element of the.liturgy. Just writes with clarity and conviction.

Great for understanding the meaning in the historic liturgy. Reading this book has enhanced my experience in worship tremendously. It would be most understandable for people who attend liturgical churches such as Lutheran, Episcopal, or Roman Catholic.

What a great read. Book was in excellent condition!

This little book is amazing in its Christ centered approach, its Biblical approach to the what the Divine Service is and how we have been gifted with it. If you have ever wondered about what is happening in the church service, by all means, read this book.

Dr. Arthur Just makes it so easy to understand just how the divine service should be conducted. But more than that, he gives such great historical and biblical references so you understand so easily where our Christian roots come from. Being a lifelong Missouri Synod Lutheran, this book is invaluable to me. I can finally understand the why's of the divine service. Thank you!!

This is an interesting take on the blessings of the historic liturgy and its place in modern worship. Chapter 11 is especially valuable and should the reader start getting bogged down in details early on, it's worth skipping to that chapter for a read. Dr. Just plays it a little fast and lose with some of his history, but most is accurate as I recall it from my Seminary days, (a long time ago). My lasting impression is that the invasion of Rome by the Barbarians brought an accommodation to their culture by the church which embellished the early, simple liturgy with pomp and flourishes that adulterated it. Good thing that Luther cleaned it up theologically. I'm left with the conclusion that the modern move to simplify the liturgy is, perhaps, a return to its earlier roots and that's not all bad, an impression with which Dr. Just would, no doubt, take exception. Footnote: Agreed that it's unacceptable to compromise principles to accommodate the culture, but if we don't put the Message in a context the culture understands and can embrace, the game is over - and we've struck-out. Why it was OK for Luther to put good theological text in popular tunes but it's not OK to do the same thing today, I never will comprehend.

Being a Lutheran it was very interesting how and why we used a liturgical form of worship. I borrowed a copy from my pastor and ended up buying two copies; one for myself and the other for our church library.