"Gordon Lathrop has juxtaposed two of his loves in this volume: the gospels and the Christian assembly. He reminds us that the gospels were addressed to local Christian assemblies and were read in actual assemblies gathered for word and meal. Lathrop makes a compelling case that biblical and liturgical scholars need to pay attention to each other's work and that preachers need to pay attention to the assembly as the context of the gospel texts. This lovingly crafted book will be of interest to scholars but also to the members of the assembly who continue to acclaim, hear, and celebrate the gospels in their liturgies of word and meal." -- Pastor Frank C. Senn "Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, Illinois" "Gordon Lathrop imaginatively traces how the gospels interacted with, and attempted to shape, early Christian assemblies and then draws suggestive implications for contemporary practice. Informed and insightful, his synthesis of scripture and liturgical theology will be valuable for anyone who reads scripture and leads worship today." -- Harold Attridge "Yale Divinity School" "Worship leaders who use the Revised Common Lectionary will welcome Gordon Lathrop's latest contribution.

He takes the differences of the four gospels seriously as guides to effective proclamation and liturgical leadership. Lathrop bridges the gap between responsible biblical scholarship and celebrations of the meal." -- Ralph W. Klein "Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago".