“The problem also arises from the congregation’s lack of instruction in the liturgy, so that the worshippers fail to understand the relationship of the various components of the service, even when these components might be well selected and in a proper sequence. “
- What do we know about the order or worship?
- Why is the “long prayer” usually at the end?
- Why do we celebrate the Lord’s Supper after the Sermon?
- Why do we stand for the call to worship?
- Why does the minister raise his hands with the greeting and the blessing?
- Is it a prayer of illumination for illumination – and what kind?
- Why does the elder shake the minister’s hand?
If not, that’s exactly the problem!!
“Expressing dissatisfaction because the worship service does not communicate the Christian faith to contemporary people, is to miss the point of what Christian worship essentially is.”
Worship services are sometimes evaluated based on their connection with young people. And, if young people don’t find what they are looking for, worship needs to be changed. Sermons need to have lighter elements and some humour so that people smile. But does God smile? Do we know where we are and what we do in corporate worship?
“Many who speak of relevant worship mean worship that shows the influence of the secular world and has been adapted to the changing attitudes of the secular society of the day. Or relevant worship is worship people like because it pleases their individual artistic tastes.”
Where does worship connect with our society? What does “relevant” mean? How relevant should worship be? And, relevant to what or who? Is the theology of worship showing some utilitarian characteristics?
Yes, I reviewed some of my bookmarks in Rayburn’s “O Come, Let Us Worship.”