Diversity

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Part 7

• Diversity
• in
• Worship

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Diversity in Worship
Areas of Diversity 1. Age Groups 2.
Generations 3. Commitment Levels 4. Worship
Styles 5. Culture Groups
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Age Groups in Worship
1. Children 2. Teenagers 3. Young Adults 4.
Adults 5. Family Worship
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Generations in Worship
1. Pre-Boomers 2. Boomers 3. Gen Xers 4.
Millennials Modern - Postmodern
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Commitment Levels in Worship
1. Believer-orientated 2. Believer-orientated but
visitor friendly 3. Outreach-orientated
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Worship Styles
1. Traditional/Contemporary 2. Worship Languages
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What is Contemporary Worship?
Connects with everyday life Sensory Experiential F
illed with movement Expressing intimate
love Dramatic structure
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What is Contemporary Worship?
Common music genre Music written in last
decade Music with instrumentation Songs
expressing intimacy Songs using sensory
metaphor Smooth flow Songs addressing God directly
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What is Contemporary Worship?
EPIC
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Worship Languages
Gordon MacDonald in Forging A Real World Faith
speaks of six languages that worshippers speak.
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Worship Language The Aesthetic Instinct
Agenda Majesty Example David Aesthetes enter
worship solemnly and love to kneel in the
presence of the God of majesty
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Worship Language The Experiential Instinct
Agenda Joy Example Peter Experientialists are
big hearted and seize any opportunity to meet
with God
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Worship Language The Activist Instinct
Agenda Achievement Example Moses Activists
like to be exhausted as they mobilise people to
do something constructive
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Worship Language The Contemplative Instinct
Agenda Listening Example John the
Baptist Contemplatives love to withdraw to meet
with God in silence and contemplation
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Worship Language The Student Instinct
Agenda Truth Example Paul Students see heaven
as a bible study with God as the discussion leader
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Worship Language The Relational Instinct
Agenda Love Example Barnabas Relationists
believe God is most heard when people are engaged
in good relationships
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Worship Languages
1. The Aesthetic Instinct 2. The Experiential
Instinct 3. The Activist Instinct 4. The
Contemplative Instinct 5. The Student Instinct 6.
The Relational Instinct
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Worship Languages

• Each of us will be inclined to one or two
  instincts
• We will be curious about two others
• We wonder what value there is in the others

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Worship Languages

• Jesus Balanced All Six Styles
• Contemplative and Activist
• Relationist and Student
• Experientialist and Aesthetic

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Worship Languages Implications

• Maturity in faith comes when we become
  conversant in all six languages.
• Worship leaders must ensure worship caters for
  all styles and not just their own style