Comparing Styles Of Worship

Jesus said, "True worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

* Seeker-Sensitive Worship Services

Those who follow the Willow Creek Community Church model who seek to present and explain the gospel in non-religious terms using contextually relevant methods to non-christians. God uses this style of worship often in suburban communities where the unchurched are welcomed to a church service without all the formality of formal worship services. Praise choruses are used as a way of giving a buoyant atmosphere without appearing to be too religious. Drama is often used to creatively present the truth of the Bible in entertaining ways. The felt needs of people are often considered in the presentations as a way of appealing to where individuals are hurting. Believers are encouraged to get the deeper teaching of the scriptures in other mid-week or home fellowship meetings.

* Grow-level Worship Services

These fellowships are aimed at helping growing Christians to develop in all aspects into Christ. Typically worship services will concentrate on the preaching and teaching of the scriptures to Christians who are interested in finding how they can learn how to study the Bible on their own in more personal ways.

* Develop-level Worship Services

These fellowships are designed to provide opportunities to Christian who have discovered their gifts to contribute to the edification of fellow believers. The Lord uses a wide variety of gifts and talents in the developing Christians to provide a worship service that will instruct, inspire, and illuminate the full counsel of God from the scriptures.

* Disciple-Making Worship Services

These fellowships are often conducted in para-church organizations like those of the Navigators, Inter-Varsity Fellowship or Campus Crusade for Christ. Purposefully, these worship services are designed to give disciples opportunities to grow in their preaching, teaching and leadership skills. The greatest benefit that often comes from these worship services is that people have an opportunity to grow in their understanding of how God can use them to make disciples through a variety of speaking, writing and teaching ministries.

* Leaders Worship Services

These fellowships are designed to help leaders grow in their intimacy with the Lord. Often times leaders worship services are done individually so that the leader is able to personalize his worship and gain greater intimacy with the Lord. Occasionally, Pastors, Teachers or Christian leaders will come together in conferences where they will worship the Lord with specific agendas designed around a particular topic.

* Reproducers Worship Services

Occasionally, heads of mission organizations, denominations or para-church groups will assemble their reproducing directors to help refine, focus and sharpen one another for the purpose of finding ways to more effectively fulfill the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20. World wide conferences such as those conducted by the Billy Graham Association and World Evangelical Fellowship bring delegates from around the world to worship, pray and to share with one another ways that they can cooperate as a world wide body of Christ to see the great commission accomplished.

* Multipliers Worship Services

Occasionally, selected groups of world class denominational or para-church organizations will assemble to worship, pray and discuss ways that they can most strategically help fulfill Acts 1:8 "You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."

* Liturgical Worship Services

These worship services tend to worship the Lord by following a prescribed church calendar around the Christian Year Advent, Christmas, Easter. Lectionary guides are often used to provide continuity, consistency and order for the worship schedules. Hymns are often classical and done in a traditional style where the emphasis is on giving the maximum glory to God in a reverential manner. Members of the congregation are content to being led by the minister in their scripture reading, prayer, and responsive readings.

* Traditional Worship Services

Many churches that grew out of the Reformation follow this style of worship that emphasizes giving thanks to God for His goodness, love and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Hymns are generously used throughout the service, but the reading of the scripture and its exposition is a central feature. Some young people are occasionally bored with this method of worship since it can be somewhat predictable.

* Revivalist Worship Services

Patterned after the revival ministries of George Whitefield and John Wesley, this worship style focuses on evangelism to win the lost to Christ. Many gospel hymns are sung with enthusiasm in this worship service since it seeks to draw people to love, forgiveness and free gift of salvation offered through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. An invitation is often given in this service since the priorities revolve around winning people to Christ wherever and whenever the Spirit of God leads.

* Praise And Worship Services

There is an emphasis on practical preaching in these worship services to help people find practical answers for life’s most perplexing problems. Praise choruses and hymns are used to help people find greater ways to give worship, glory and honor to the Lord. Many Pentecostal fellowships prefer this worship style since there is a focus on spontaneous choruses that everyone learns to sing by heart.