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

Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service is a book that needs to be read, and read again, by every Lutheran. To understand our Liturgy, is to understand the Real Presence of Christ in the entire Divine Worship service. Arthur A. Just Jr. has done an excellent job of presenting the need for Lutherans to learn the roots of the Divine Liturgy, and shows us how God serves us through the Divine Worship. The reader will develop a much deeper appreciation for the Lutheran Liturgy, and will grow in love for all aspects of Divine Worship. This is an enjoyable book, but not an easy read. If one wishes to grow in knowledge and understanding about the history of, and need for, the structure of Lutheran Worship, this book is well worth the effort. Although the book is packed with facts and information, it is not in any way dry. I found I did not want to put this book down. It seemed each page revealed something wonderful.

This book needs to be in every Lutheran home and Church. Arthur Just does a great job explaining the Divine Liturgy and it's history back to the Early Church and why it's necessary for the Lutheran Church today to have and keep it despite modern and post-modern trends infiltrating the church. As Lutherans we can no longer plead ignorance to all the modern and post-modern trends going in the church we must along with Arthur Just address the issues, give the church good and proper catechesis of the lex-orandi,lex crendedi in the Divine Liturgy, and finally to get the Lutheran Church back to her roots. St.Jerome said,"Ignorance of scriptures is ignorance of Christ." Well it is same with Divine Liturgy without it the Church is without Christ once Lex orandi,Lex credendi is properly understood.