Swee Hong Lim and Lester Ruth have filled an important gap in the study of worship. Lovin' on Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship is the first scholarly work of its kind on this topic. Lim and Ruth trace the origins and development of what we commonly call contemporary Christian worship, exploring it thoroughly and methodically. Their research includes early recordings and interviews with many who were directly involved in the early stages.

The authors were students of James White, and their book is, in a sense, a much-needed addition to White's classic...