Awesome Worship

 No area of church life has the potential for drawing people closer together,
or alienating them further from one another, than the area of church worship.
Some churches maintain one established form of worship. In corporate terms,
they have carved out a market niche, and reach to a specific subculture within
their community. Other congregations, in an attempt to reach a diverse
population, offer two styles of worship each Lord’s Day. Typically, one is
traditional/blended, while the other is a praise/contemporary service. Larger
churches have differentiated their services even further. The range includes
liturgical, traditional, blended, contemporary, even jazz and country. Pastors may
change their clothing from robe, to suit, to Dockers to fit the ambience of the
service and the clientele attending.
Congregations are also adapting their structures and facilities to
accommodate the various preferences of their people. While many morning
services are still in an auditorium with fixed seating, an increasing number are

moving to a sanctuary plus format. One service will meet in the more traditional
sanctuary, and a less formal service will meet in a family life center or
gymnasium. In addition, a number of churches run a live video feed to lounges,
cafes or food courts. And while choirs and pipe organs will remain a staple in
many churches, how we do church on a Sunday morning will become increasingly
diverse.
But with all the hype about traditional services, contemporary worship,
seeker models, etc., weekend worship formats remain fairly similar. Most
churches say you come to us for a half-hour of music, and then we’ll give you a
half-hour lecture. Most often a group of people practice ahead of time (preacher,
soloist, worship team, readers, etc.) to perform for the congregants. Except for
participatory singing, the typical attendee is expected to remain quiet.
People entrenched in music wars have usually lost perspective on what
worship is all about. They argue about familiarity of lyrics, musical instruments,
choirs or bands, uplifted or folded hands and even standing versus sitting. At the
heart of our struggle is that we’ve lost the big picture. Just as J .B. Philips
reminded us that our God is too small, so, too: Our understanding of worship is too
puny.
Healthy churches maintain a high view of God. They retain the word
awesome for God alone, not a pair of jeans, a football catch, or a video. They
understand seven dominant themes about worship.

Worship is more About God, than About Me
The Creator of our universe made us a diverse people. Complexity and
diversity is stamped throughout his whole world. Since people have different
preferences in apparel, entertainment, cars and food, it shouldn’t surprise us that
they have varied preferences for worship. It is not the place of this book to
discuss how those cultural preferences are acquired, or to relate how neurological
patterns habituate, which makes other worship styles emotionally and
physiologically uncomfortable. The bottom line is that when we come into
community, God is praised when diverse groups of people draw together with one
voice in adoration of him. It is noble for a congregation to seek a balanced blend
of music pulled from the great orb of styles and enriched history. And it is wise
for a church to offer a traditional and contemporary service. But if congregants
are allowed to get feisty over what they don’t like or upset that others enjoy
another style, then this self absorption misses the entire point of worship—that
it’s all about what pleases and praises God.

Several years ago a presenter at a conference derided country music. I
found this rather interesting, particularly because his congregation was located
in cattle country. During a break I asked him a question: Does God enjoy country
praise? He thought for a moment then admitted: I think God enjoys all praise.
While it’s OK for his church to primarily do classical music, it’s not OK across
congregations or within a congregation for people to believe that God is only
praised in one way. Matt Redman in his song The heart of Worship says it well:
I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about you Jesus, it’s all about
You.
Worship is about adoring God. He is honored by all praise that comes from
a grateful heart. We are free to orchestrate a service to accommodate
generational preferences, but we must continually remind our people that we are
about worship, not entertainment. God is the audience; we are the instruments.
Healthy churches remember that worship is more about God than about us.

Worship is more a Medley of Theology, than a Collection of Songs
Some people view worship as the preliminaries. For them, including many
pastors, the sermon is the main event. Unfortunately, this is a shortsighted view
of worship and preaching, and definitely a misunderstanding of human learning.
Let me try something with you. Recite the alphabet. Many of us can
remember the order of letters because of a tune that we hear in our minds. The
bottom line is that words set to music are more easily retained than words just
presented sequentially. Something in the chemistry of our brains facilitates the
deepening of neurological patterns (memory) better through melody and image
than via straight verbiage. So if there is a main event on Sunday mornings, it is
the worship, not the sermon.
Now I say this, not as a worship minister, but as one who preaches each
Lord’s Day. The pastor who thinks his pearls exposited from the Greek will
impact a life more powerfully than a Biblical text in melody (especially
accompanied by image) is naive. And that same pastor is plain foolish if he or she
thinks that a weekly 25 minute exposition will offset the value stamping of dozens
of hours of CDs, radio, cable and videos that are being watched weekly by the
flock.
It is not uncommon in multigenerational congregations to see a difference
of opinion regarding the appreciation of their pastor’s sermon. Older congregants
who grew up in a linear, analytical, sequential world can track with an oral,
logical, didactic sermon. But young adults and youth growing up in an imaging
society are less captivated by expository monologue. Effective preaching that
reaches cross-generationally must use story and captivate attention by creating
images in our minds. Preachers need to communicate more like Jesus, who even
today could capture the postmodern mind.
If we are truly concerned with taking a message from a text and using it to
transform minds, then this is most powerfully accomplished when the entire
morning service is thematically correlated. If the morning worship experience is
just a selection of a couple of hymns and a few choruses to please everybody or
the repetitious singing of a few favorite songs, then we miss the great dynamic of
synergy. The best Christian music is theology with melody.
Therefore in the designing of worship experiences, those responsible for
drawing the congregation together in praise have the same task as the morning
preacher. Together they are communicating a truth to be valued by the people.
We must continually raise the bar in our worship ministries to combine the
soundness of theology with the most captivating medium. For many, the
systematic theology that will stick the deepest in their souls is that which
reverberates through their mind in song and image. Worship is more a medley of
theology than a collection of songs.

Worship is more Sensory, than Auditory
God has given us eyes to see, ears to hear, mouths to taste, olfactory senses
to smell and bodies to move. All of these senses can draw us to God and can be
used in the praise of his name.
For most of us the primary way we worship has been through the auditory
gate. In fact, the words worship and music are used interchangeably by many.
Some churches, for example, have a Minister of Music, while others employ a
Worship Pastor.
Certainly the auditory sense is powerful in capturing attention, stirring
the heart and imprinting our minds. But worship goes way beyond music; it is
more holistic. Yes, I adore God when I hear of his goodness in song and praise
him personally through voice or instrument. But adoration is also stirred by and
offered through my other senses.
Let me illustrate. In my office hangs a picture of Jesus walking on the
water with the Apostle Peter walking toward him and beginning to sink. There
are no words on the canvas or frame, but it carries a powerful message. For
decades that painting has lifted me and hundreds of my guests into moments of
adoration of Christ.
Many churches are increasing the use of imaging in their services. Nature
scenes accompanying PowerPoint are not uncommon. Some are using video clips
in the service. Others use photographs and sculpture to tell a story.

We are told that in the American population 20% are auditory learners,
40% visual learners and 40% kinesthetic learners. Almost half our population
learns best by touching, manipulating, moving and experiencing. For all learners,
especially these tactile learners, worship can also include movement.
Some churches engage their people through drama teams, while others
include creative dance. The use of this type of movement on the platform, even a
dramatic sermon in period costume, widens the participation level of the church
family and captivates the interest of the whole congregation.
As a child, I remember using rhythm instruments in our Sunday school. I
never did like the triangle or bell, but I did enjoy the sandpaper blocks. Now that
I’m in big church they only let a few people on the platform play with the blocks,
drums and bell. In an auditorium of a thousand congregants, only a handful get to
be hands on.
One kinesthetic expression of worship is clapping. Granted, not everyone
is comfortable clapping (or raising their hands in prayer for that matter), but it
does offer an opportunity for those who are comfortable with this physical form of
expression to put their physical self in worship. Movement, whether swaying or
dance, also allows people to express their praise.
Rarely are the senses of taste or smell used in our worship services. We
can do better. If I were to preach on John 6 again, or perhaps Matthew 26, I think
I would have several members of our congregation make bread in small ovens or
small bread machines beginning at the start of the service. No doubt the smell
would permeate the auditorium. The text would be on Jesus being the Bread of
Life and would move to the Lord’s Table. The very warm, fresh loaves would then
be distributed to the congregation. Taste, touch and smell would infuse a multisensory
impression of Christ’s life on our behalf. Worship is more sensory than
merely auditory.

Worship is more Participation, than Performance
For too many people church is an event or an activity. They are attendees.
And while we may complain about their misunderstanding, we are largely
responsible for perpetuating the situation. The fixed seating in our auditoriums,
for example, is arranged for everyone to see the performers. Morning services
comprised of a few hymns, special music by a choir, soloist or praise team,
announcements, a pastoral prayer and a 30-minute sermon limit congregational
participation.
When our reading of scripture becomes more dramatic, using responsive
readings, antiphonal reading, or multiple readers acting parts from a text, then
we become more inclusive. When we use the people’s prayer offered by a
congregant rather than the pastor, we have again widened the participation level
of the church. When people share faith stories that describe their spiritual
journeys, we become more inviting. And when we coordinate the work of visual
artists, musicians and dancers, we again involve more people from the faith
community in leading the faith community.
We can also become more intergenerational in our worship. We can begin
by allowing the children to come to Jesus, and not always shuttle them off into
their own programs. They can act in a drama, collect the offering and lead in
song. They are captivated by a service that is children friendly.
They can also learn in the adult community. For example, I remember
sitting with my Uncle Steve during a communion service (a great object lesson)
and asking him if I could have a sip (referring to the cup). He said: Johnny, when
you’re a Christian you can. This raised questions for me as a young child, which,
with other experiences, eventually led to my acceptance of Christ as my Savior
and Lord. Children, youth and adults all benefit from worship that is more
participation than performance.

Worship is more a lifestyle, than an event
One of my pet peeves is when a worship leader says: Let us now enter into
worship. My first response is to shout: Where has God gone? Haven’t we been
worshipping in spirit and truth throughout this week? Do you mean worship only
happens in this auditorium?
For many people, worship is a once a week event. It is a service that
somebody puts on for them. Oh yes, they’re invited to sing, but if asked when
they worship, they would probably say at the 9:30 hour. But this is far too limited
a concept of worship. If worship is adoration of our great God, then this can
happen in thought, word and voice throughout the week. If our worship is multisensory,
then I praise the Lord for a good meal when I smell the dinner coming. I
thank him for joy when I see the laughter in a child. I praise him for seasons
when I rake leaves and smell their unique fragrance. I praise him for being the
One who refreshes the earth when I smell the fresh rain.
The Greek word for worship is latreia. That word is used in Romans 12:1
where it affirms that presenting ourselves to Christ is our spiritual act of
worship. Interestingly, however, other versions translate the text as our
reasonable service (KJV) or spiritual service (NAV). For that Greek word can
mean either worship or service. In reality if we have a full concept of worship,
then we adore God for who he is whether praising him with our mouth or serving
him with our hands ¾ both are true forms of worship.
Spiritual formation for some people is reading the writings Dallas Willard
while on a silent retreat. At the other end of the continuum are those who think
spiritual formation happens by helping someone on the highway change a flat
tire. Some maintain the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer, while others
journal. Some write songs or sing words of praise. In reality, all of these
disciplines are beneficial for helping us treasure our God.
The businessman completing a noon basketball scrimmage can praise:
Thanks, Lord, for a body that works the way you designed joints and ligaments to
move. This type of adoration could also be heard from the senior who reflects:
That key lime pie was really great, Father. If you make these sensations possible
by just putting a few taste buds on my tongue and roof of my palate, I’m dazzled to
think of all the complexity of your diverse creation.
Praise can also flow from an exhausted mother who says: Lord, take
Johnny’s life and let it be, consecrated completely to thee. And Lord take this bundle
of energy and use it for building up your kingdom. God I worship you for the
privilege of birth and nurturing.
Adoration also comes from the schoolteacher who reflects: Father I know I
collect a paycheck from the school system, but you know I’m working for you. May
my teaching this day be praise to you because I’ll use the passion and skillfulness
that you’ve given me, and because these students need to see a reflection of a Christ
today.
Honoring God for who he it is not a thirty-minute event on Sundays.
Worship is more a lifestyle than an event.

Hoisting the Sails
Here are several specific ways to enhance worship awareness and practice
in a congregation:
Live Q & A Time Following the Message. Move the sermon up in the
service to allow a brief time for questions generated from that text. The
questions can be placed on cards during the offering, handed to an usher, and
then given to someone who will ask them of the pastor.
Thematic Calendar. Utilize a six to twelve month thematic calendar to
coordinate preaching and multisensory worship. Creativity, recruitment and
rehearsals require adequate lead-time.
C D Worship Songs. Sell, at a reduced cost, professional worship CD’s
that people can use throughout the week, thus facilitating the Word of God to
richly dwell within them.
Video Cafes. Consider scheduling a simultaneous service in a café
atmosphere. The band should be live, though the message can either be live or a
video feed from another service.
Cell Groups Studying a Resource on Worship. Use in small groups a
book such as Sally Morgenthaler’s Worship Evangelism to educate the
congregation on the role of worship in our mission.
Halfway House Services. These off campus sites can meet in
coffeehouses, storefronts, apartments, etc. to provide places for small group
worship and teaching. These venues may become increasingly strategic for those
who won’t come into church buildings.
Rear Projection. While churches have benefited from this technology for
years, many congregations still use a flat screen, which is hard to see with natural
or platform lighting. Seniors, particularly, need good contrast (dark navy
background, with yellow lettering is best for them). Professional biblical
presentations (e.g., Lord’s Supper), interviews by the man on the street, image
accompanying lyrics and sermonic illustrations are a few expressions of this
medium.
Instrumentation. Instruments energize worship. While there is a place
for a single guitar, keyboard or organ, the addition of percussion and brass, sax
and bass enriches the worship atmosphere. Younger adults and youth especially
like to feel their music. Developing teams of instrumentalists builds levels of
participation and deepens congregational worship.
Differentiation. Where possible utilize multiple styles of worship. Some
people like predictability, so for them a liturgical service may be preferred.
Others like spontaneity. So don’t worry about a bulletin for them, and vary the
format from week to week. Some people prefer anonymity; others engagement.
And the list goes on. Movie theaters have shifted to multiplex; restaurants have
clustered into food courts. These industries have discovered a cultural reality.
We may want to examine the discoveries they have made about the people in our
communities.
Visit Worship Services. Most people who plan worship services,
including the teams who lead them only attend their own services. Visiting and
interviewing the leaders from churches known for dynamic worship is highly
informative and motivational.
Demographic Studies. When considering the addition of another venue
for worship, conduct through demographic studies on the nature and preferences
of the target audience. Don’t assume everyone wants an upbeat, rock style.
Younger generations tend to be more eclectic than most Boomers.
Guest Interviews. The richest source of feedback for a congregation can
come from people who have visited your church but have chosen to go elsewhere.
Their needs and preferences are particularly important. The faithful may put up
with anything. The antagonistic may never become interested. Those who sense
a spiritual need, and have come to you to investigate, are an important feedback
group.

This is chapter 12 from the forthcoming book , Catching the Wind of the Spirit: Setting a Course
for Church Health All rights reserved. ©2004 Ministry Transitions, Inc. Duplication and
distribution without written consent of author is prohibited.