Part 6
The Ministry
of Worship
Planning for Worship
Themes in Worship
Outlines for Worship
Creativity in Worship
Balance in Worship
Songs in Worship
Change in Worship
SECTIONOUTLINE
Design a worship experience that lasts
for 30 minutes - without singing.
What elements did you use? How did the exercise
challenge your thinking about corporate worship?
Do you think a worship experience could work without singing?
REFLECTION
Five Guiding PrinciplesPlanning for Worship
1. Determine the Focal Point
Five Guiding PrinciplesPlanning for Worship
2. Select Relevant Resource
• Select content• Songs• Readings• Etc.
Five Guiding PrinciplesPlanning for Worship
3. Design a Sequence of Events
• Flesh out outline• Order the outline• Schedule elements• Unfolding drama
Five Guiding PrinciplesPlanning for Worship
4. Check the Content and Flow• Suitability• Movement• Quantity• New vs Old• Sequence• Emotional Shifts
Five Guiding PrinciplesPlanning for Worship
5. Evaluate for Participation
Ask with each item:How can people be most involved?
Sources:
1. Felt Need
2. Special Events
3. Church Experiences
4. Sermon Topic
5. God’s Heart
Themes in Worship
Guidelines:
1. Ask God to reveal it to you
2. Introduce it naturally
3. Link your content to it
4. Don’t overplay it
Themes in Worship
Von Ogden Vogt
Presentation
Penitence
Exaltation
Illumination
Dedication
Outlines for WorshipDeveloping a Pattern
Isaiah 6
Praise
Confession
Pardon
Commission
Vineyard
Invitation
Engagement
Exaltation
Adoration
Intimacy
Outlines for WorshipDeveloping a Pattern
Seidenspinner
Adoration
Communion
Dedication
Outlines for WorshipDeveloping the
OutlineIt’s like preparing to preach:
* Select a theme/text
* Analyse the theme/text
- What is the message?
- What is the natural outline?
- What is the flow of thought?
Outlines for WorshipDeveloping the
OutlinePrepare a worship outline on:
• A current event• A characteristic of God• A passage of Scripture• A calendar event• A felt need
Five Guiding PrinciplesPlanning Worship
1. Determine the Focal Point2. Select Relevant Resource3. Design a Sequence of Events4. Check the Content and Flow5. Evaluate for Participation
Say NO to: Gimmicks to coerce something
from worshippers. Pumping life into a dying
institution. Change just for the sake of
change - without a purpose.
Creativity in Worship
Say YES to: Enabling diverse people to
experience a sense of God’s presence in the company of other believers and to respond appropriately.
Incorporating variety and freshness regularly
Creativity in Worship
Participatory Responses Visual Creativity Singing Creatively Praying Creatively Drama and Poetry Overhead Fill-ins Multimedia Presentations
Creativity in Worship
Adding creativity without losing the congregation
Creativity in Worship
How to change your worship services without being asked
to change churches
How???
* Bring meaningful change
* Respect your context
* Don’t assume objections
* Make changes slowly
* Educate and inform people
* Give reasons for the change
Creativity in Worship
* Encourage dialogue
* Involve people
* Take a survey
* Mix the old and the new
* Be sensitive to responses
* Get affirmation from peers
Creativity in Worship
Tangible Communicable Achievable Definitive Flexible
Setting Goals in Worship
Relational
Balance in Worship
Reverential
Immanence
Balance in Worship
Transcendence
Anthropocentric
Balance in Worship
Theocentric
Love
Balance in Worship
Holiness
Edification
Balance in Worship
Exaltation
Teaching New Songs: How?
* Explain the song
* Use visual aids
* Teach the band
* Learn the melody
* Involve the choir
* Limit new songs
Songs in Worship
Teaching New Songs: When?
* Not during intimate worship
* During early stages of service
* Teach to small groups first
* Follow with a well known song
Songs in Worship
Teaching New Songs: Then?
* Don’t repeat too much
* Do it a few times and move on
* Come back to it next week
* Some take longer to take off
* Repeat but don’t kill songs
Songs in Worship
Using Medleys: Criteria
* Theme
* Direction
* Rhythm
* Key
Songs in Worship
Leading Songs
* Before Songs
* During Songs
* Between Songs
Songs in Worship