Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

* What is the nature of your church’s “liturgy,” in other words, how your church organize its services and celebrations in order to “retell the story” in its worship services? What prevents this from being more effective in your church? * How does one shift the cultural climate of a congregation from stiff, familiar worship to dynamic and life-giving praise? What are the steps to such a situation?

Showing Off Unnecessarily

In a local congregation which has more than its fair share of gifted musicians and singers, the church has begun to grow through its dynamic and remarkably excellent worship services. Some have begun to complain, however, because the music minister has made it more difficult for so-called “ordinary” worshipers to be on the worship team or the praise band. All singers must be auditioned for their vocal quality and ability to read music, and no musicians are allowed to participate on the praise band who cannot read sheet music and accompany the beautiful (but difficult) arrangements selected for the songs. The minister of music is strong in his opinion that God is excellent and therefore our worship should be as excellent as possible. What would your counsel be to the music minister if he asked you to comment on the direction the worship was taking in this congregation? The new worship leader in church has been emphasizing the need for active, physical expression during the worship service. He is very strong in his opinion that we ought to employ all the different means Scripture speaks of in expressing our love to God–clapping, lifting and waving our hands, shouting, dancing, kneeling, being silent, lying prostrate, making joyful noise–we ought to show our love to God with our bodies. A small but determined group in the church is dead set against all of this motion and commotion, and wants to end this emphasis on all this bodily expression. After all, this isn’t a pro football game, but the worship of Almighty God. Conflict is brewing among the members about what is most appropriate for this church. How would you help them resolve this issue? You Can’t Make Me Worship

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