Maxwell begins his book, Outline of Christian Worship, by addressing primitive worship and its origins and growth. He defines worship as consisting “of our words and actions, the outward expression of our homage and adoration, when we are assembled in the presence of God.” The words and actions are governed by the knowledge of God and the human resources we bring to worship, and Christian worship is distinct in that it is directed to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because the Church has been accompanied by the Holy Spirit in her worship down through the ages, taking a historical approach to worship is valid. Maxwell notes that in the early Church four things stand out, namely that Christians for a time continued to worship in the synagogues and in the Temple, that they shared a common meal known as the Love Feast, and following that feast they celebrated the Lord’s Supper. Finally, they would then prophesy and/or speak in tongues, though this and the Love Feast/ A...
