14/09/2025
Title: A Guide to Christian Worship
Author: Rev. J. Makaniko
Rev. J. Makaniko’s A Guide to Christian Worship is a comprehensive and timely exploration of Christian worship, with a unique emphasis on the African—particularly Zimbabwean—context. The book succeeds in bridging biblical theology, historical development, and contextual application, making it both scholarly and practical.
The opening sections lay a strong theological foundation, rooted in John 4:24: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth.” Makaniko carefully unpacks this anchor verse through exegetical and theological reflection, establishing worship as Spirit-led, Christ-centered, and grounded in truth. This provides a consistent thread throughout the book.
The strength of the work lies in its holistic approach. The author traces the history of worship from the Old Testament and early church through the medieval and Reformation eras, missionary encounters, and into contemporary expressions. This historical sweep helps readers appreciate the evolution of worship traditions while showing how each era still informs modern practices. Particularly valuable is the way Makaniko connects these traditions to African cultural expressions such as music, dance, storytelling, and communal celebration—demonstrating that worship can be both doctrinally faithful and culturally resonant.
Another highlight is the treatment of Wesleyan/Methodist worship, where the author explores the sacraments, hymnody, liturgy, and communal life with clarity. The contextualization to Zimbabwean Methodist congregations—such as the use of vernacular hymnody, indigenous instruments, and call-and-response practices—gives the book authenticity and practical relevance.
Stylistically, the book is well-researched, drawing from a wide range of scholars (from Augustine and Calvin to Mbiti and Magesa) while remaining accessible to pastors, worship leaders, students, and lay readers. Each chapter concludes with reflections that point toward both personal devotion and communal transformation, reinforcing the idea that worship is not confined to ritual but shapes the entirety of Christian life.
If there is a limitation, it is that the book is heavily focused on mainline and Methodist traditions, with less attention to Pentecostal or emerging African Independent Churches, which also play a major role in shaping contemporary African worship. Including these perspectives could further enrich the conversation. Nevertheless, the book remains balanced, deeply rooted in Scripture, and highly relevant.
A Guide to Christian Worship is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand worship in its biblical, theological, and cultural dimensions. Rev. J. Makaniko offers the church in Africa—and globally—a thoughtful, contextual, and inspiring vision of worship as a transformative encounter with God that engages mind, body, and spirit.
