Order of Service

[PujolsisbetterthanBonds]

Balaam'sAss51

I understand what you are saying and I concur about all the fluff these days. What comes through in your response the most is your heart for true worship -- a worship that is Scripturally based, God based. I think that's excellent. And if liturgy gets you there -- may your tribe increase!

As a pastor I have to establish a balance for the congregation that consists of both old and new, hymns and choruses. I may not personally like some over the other but I've learned over the years that everyone's on a different level in their walk. And at the current level they are fed by different things. As they grow, the things that minister to them change. So a well rounded worship service with various music styles seems to fill the bill. However, when someone feels they CAN'T worship during hymns or during praise choruses then that individual has no idea of what true worship is.

Also, I do understand the concepts of Scripture that aren't mentioned firsthand but are nevertheless a doctrine. I'm sure there are many concepts like that regarding the worship service. If we were to have sat down in the Jerusalem temple during Jesus' ministry I'm sure the service was vastly different than ours today. But I don't believe that things have totally changed for the worse. Traditions are great, so long as we understand their place. For the most part, churches have formed and followed the traditions (and by traditions I mean the way they've done things for years) of the generations before them.

As far as direct Scriptural quotes regarding shouting, clapping; etc; these are mostly found in the Psalms. If you'd like I can give you the reference, but I'm sure you're familiar with what I'm talking about. Have you ever noticed that the majority of worship methods mentioned in Scripture are rather demonstrative? What's your take exactly?

Ok. Your turn.

Go Cards!

 

[Chadderick0187]

Good topic! I go to a fairly large Nazarene church, and I'm on the praise-team there. We have a full praise band of 2 guitars (electric and acoustic), 2 keyboardists, bass, and drums (electric set). Here's how our service goes:

Opening Praise: An upbeat song like "My Redeemer Live," "You Are Good," etc.

Welcome/Announcements

Offering

Praise and Worship: Normally 4-5 songs, mostly contemporary, but we do some hymns, though with the praise-band they sound pretty modern. Starts off upbeat, and then slows down progressively.

Prayer (open altar...prayer partners available)

Special Music

Sermon

Altar Call Song (either the praise-team or just our worship leader will do this)

Closing Prayer/Dismissal

Our services generally flow great. I think it's good to start off upbeat and gradually slow the service down before the message. It's worked very well for my church, so hope it helps you out!

 

[BalaamsAss51]

Balaam'sAss51

Have you ever noticed that the majority of worship methods mentioned in Scripture are rather demonstrative? What's your take exactly?

Hello P.

Just noticed this post. I'd say that God's Word doesn't tell us everything we might want to know but does include what we need. Therefore as far as being demonstrative during worship is concerned, while that happens, and I've never said it shouldn't, I've said that it should not be the focus or the reason for the service. In the Bible we are told to limit certain things. Paul says that we should not overdo things, one person reading, one preaching, one or do doing this or that. Not everybody doing everything. And often we are told, as with speaking with tongues, that only one or two should do this and if there is no one present to translate, then don't do it at all.

What is not expanded on in scripture are the readings, sermons, and things like Baptism and Communion. They are there but not fleshed out. We are told to break bread but it takes a while to do that. We are told to preach and read the word but it takes a while to do those things too. Early Christian writings tell us how the people assembled to worship, and in those explainations most of the time was spent on reading, preaching, prayer, baptisms and Communion. Less time was spent on song. Today we have this reversed.

Pax

 

[PujolsisbetterthanBonds]

Hello P.

Just noticed this post. I'd say that God's Word doesn't tell us everything we might want to know but does include what we need. Therefore as far as being demonstrative during worship is concerned, while that happens, and I've never said it shouldn't, I've said that it should not be the focus or the reason for the service. In the Bible we are told to limit certain things. Paul says that we should not overdo things, one person reading, one preaching, one or do doing this or that. Not everybody doing everything. And often we are told, as with speaking with tongues, that only one or two should do this and if there is no one present to translate, then don't do it at all.

What is not expanded on in scripture are the readings, sermons, and things like Baptism and Communion. They are there but not fleshed out. We are told to break bread but it takes a while to do that. We are told to preach and read the word but it takes a while to do those things too. Early Christian writings tell us how the people assembled to worship, and in those explainations most of the time was spent on reading, preaching, prayer, baptisms and Communion. Less time was spent on song. Today we have this reversed.

Pax

I would agree totally. Doctrine has become a dirty word. Today's worship service has been replaced by a dramatic skit, 45 minutes of music and a 10 min. sermonette. Nothing is wrong with drama and music but to give them more emphasis than the Word of God is wrong. Perhaps that's why we have the mile wide inch deep problem. I know when I was pastoring in a Pentecostal church -- which I left because of doctrinal issues -- the majority of my church members couldn't define their beliefs from Scripture. And I don't think this is limited to Pentecostals, I'm sure it's like that across the board from whatever denomination you adhere too. I only speak of them from experience. But true worship must be carried out in Spirit and in Truth. When Ezra stood and read the Law from morning until night and the people stood there and listened. The emphasis has got to be the Word of God. The reason the Jews were in that position of needing to rebuild is because they forsook God's Law. Which is something many churches may be in danger of in their worship services. Wasn't it King Josiah that found the lost Law of God in the temple ruins? Sometimes the Bible gets lost right in the church. May God help us to find the right balance my friend.

Go Cards!

 

[xtianaxel]

well, this is what we do at my church.
1. give a verse and pray to start worship
2. worship
3. prayer requests/praise reports
4. more worship
5. offering
6. greetings with congregation
7. announcements
8. sermon
9. end up with a worship song

that's usually out typical sunday service for NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD, San Diego, Ca

 

[wannaberichr]

1. Worship team leads singing (3-5 songs)
2. Prayer
3. Announcements
4. Special music
5. Sermon
6. Special music (sometimes)
7. Close

 

[diana_ch]

Do you have any suggestions as to how to keep the worship flow going while we are praying for the needs of our congregation?

What we do in my church is we have written prayer request/praise reports, the MC comes up on stage when the last song is being sung and when the worship leader (whoever is rostered on) gives the nod, the MC will quickly read out a couple of praise reports (to stir faith) and then mention some "topics" of prayer needs (like sickness, financial needs, etc) and then these are prayed over (our worship varies anything between 30-45min) I believe that after communal worship there is real tangible faith...
Then we have a quick 3-4 min message for tithes/offerings, church news, then one more praise song, and into the message/sermon.
After the message, the pastor gives an alter call (we're not a very big church, normally we'd have 50 pple; at this time the worship team comes back to stage and plays background instrumentals), the alter call may be for reconciliation with Christ, or if the message spoke to them in any way, or even for any personal needs...
While prayer is happening the worship team sing a slow "heart n heaven touching" song... once it is all over, we sing 1 or 2 (depending on time and the spirit) praise songs, then we're basically done. The pastor prays a brief blessing over the congregation, and we continue to praise while the congregation is leaving... sometimes people stay around and want to continue to P&W, so we continue on for a few more songs, depending on how things are going, but we are always open to changing things and following the Spirit...

Hope this gives you a little bit of an idea, not that we are right or wrong, but it works really well for us...

Bless you
Diana

 

[underOATH!]

Well the way we do it oin Wednesday nights is like:
1 or 2 worship songs
teaching/youth
worship

we do the most part of worship at the end so its uniterrupted. It is really amazing 'cause you always hate it when someone starts speaking to pull you out of worship. So this way, that doesn't happen.

 

[underOATH!]

Hello P.

Just noticed this post. I'd say that God's Word doesn't tell us everything we might want to know but does include what we need. Therefore as far as being demonstrative during worship is concerned, while that happens, and I've never said it shouldn't, I've said that it should not be the focus or the reason for the service. In the Bible we are told to limit certain things. Paul says that we should not overdo things, one person reading, one preaching, one or do doing this or that. Not everybody doing everything. And often we are told, as with speaking with tongues, that only one or two should do this and if there is no one present to translate, then don't do it at all.

What is not expanded on in scripture are the readings, sermons, and things like Baptism and Communion. They are there but not fleshed out. We are told to break bread but it takes a while to do that. We are told to preach and read the word but it takes a while to do those things too. Early Christian writings tell us how the people assembled to worship, and in those explainations most of the time was spent on reading, preaching, prayer, baptisms and Communion. Less time was spent on song. Today we have this reversed.

Pax

just adding one more thing about the toungues thing. This is a true story.

There was a woman who was a pastor's wife and her and her husband were in a meeting because the pastor had started speaking in toungues while he was preaching and they were wanting to kick him out. The woman said "When my husband started speaking in tongues I had this strange feeling in my gut. I knew something wasn't right but at the same time it was. The next day at work I had the same feeling in my gut and felt so bad I asked my boss if I could go home. He let me because he knew that I never asked to go home unless something really was wrong. I came home to find my sons suiccide note on the kitchen counter. I ran to his room and he was sitting on the bed with a gun in his mouth. I told him that if he was still going to pull that trigger, then he would have to do it with me watching. He put the gun down. But let me tell you, that my husband speaking in toungues saved my son's life."

We are not supposed to limit God. Just because you think it's not right doesn't meant that God does too.

 

[ElElohe]

Generally:

1 - music (3 songs or so)
2 - hugs and greetings
3 - music
4 - communion
5 - offering (video announcements during)
6 - announcements
7 - sermon
8 - single song to end
9 - baptisms, if any, are either at the front or back.

My wife and I have dicussed this a lot, between ourselves and with our friends. Just last week I was craving variety. It seems our old church used to shake things up a little more.

The funny thing is we also have a constant craving to participate in "high church," a more traditional liturgy. The above is from our non-denominational, evangelical church.

My father has made some observations of late as well, and taking these into consideration I've realized we go through phases of corporate worship which we desire. More teaching now; more singing then . . . and so on.

There isn't one right liturgy. And I wish I could get more of a balance without having to attend two churches on a regular basis. (Churches with two styles of services won't be different enough to meet these expectations, in my experience.)

God deserves "high church." The formal liturgies. And also the informal and spontaneous. Both are part of his creation. And I desire to be a part of both.