Witness-Driven Worship








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Witness-Driven Worship

To God be the Glory! God calls and gathers people of all ages and backgrounds for worship. So how can worship be planned and implemented which is sensitive to the potential of a diverse gathering of people? Note: The key word is “potential”. Remember it is God who calls and gathers. Sometimes, God surprises us with guests at our worship whose presence will nudge us to seek avenues to share the good news of Christ in new ways.

Key Points:
We who have been blessed with a faith strengthened through worship seek ways to have others blessed in worship. The message of the Good News of Christ for a broken world is far too important.

We raise key questions about current practices in worship precisely because we love Christ and people. At the same time, we find gentle ways to invite others to see beyond themselves as they reflect on important elements in worship. We do not gather to serve ourselves.

Additional Points:
Not all people have the same tastes. That may seem obvious, but if a church provides only one kind of music or liturgy, then it is possible to primarily attract only those who connect with that specific style. Example: If a church only offers weekly folk worship then those inspired by folk music will be most likely to attend on a regular basis.

Worshippers can be quite vocal about their musical preferences. That’s an understatement. Sometimes, worshippers drift into the mindset that weekly worship is to please themselves only. If their favorite hymns are not sung, they get quite upset. For whatever reasons, it is easy to forget God calls and gathers a diverse people to hear the Good News of Jesus. Some may come to worship to be inspired in the midst of despair, to be comforted in an hour of grief, to be pricked out of complacency, to be confronted with their straying from God’s love. . .the list goes on and on. Worship involves many people with a variety of needs.

Music carries potential to touch and transform lives. God uses all styles of melodies and instruments to reach out. God will not be limited to music from one generation. Nor will God be limited to music played on organ, guitar, flute or drums. The message of the Good News of Christ for a broken world is far too important.

Do your homework. If you want to reach out to others with the good news of Jesus, look around your sanctuary at worship. Who is missing? What generation is not there? Is the style of worship a barrier to others? These are difficult questions and may be controversial. But, pursue these questions because the message of the Good News of Christ for a broken world is far too important.

Written by Robin McCullough-Bade

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