The Complexity of Pentecostal
Worship
Dr. Randal L. Quackenbush
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Church Music Prior to the Reformation
•Presentation of music often left to clergy
•Sometimes used selected singers
•Also used “professionals”
•Congregations sat in silence
•Music not in their language
•Lack of participation of the people
•Lack of understanding by the people
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Church Music Prior to the Reformation
Addressing the Issues – Three Opinions
•Luther - let the congregations sing, new songs,
language of the people, instruments, all
arts
•Calvin - singing yes, instruments no, singing only
scripture (Psalms) a cappella
•Zwingli - Swiss pastor & musician, no music,
“too powerful”, crusade to dismantle
organs
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
“The worship wars are alive and well.”
Christianity Today, August 2009
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Issues which provoke division in the Church:
1.
Music
• Style
• Volume
• Quality of songs
• Frequency of new songs
• Lack of older songs
• Hymns
• Choirs
• Orchestras
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Issues which provoke division in the Church:
2.
Environment
• Concert hall or sanctuary?
• Lighting
• Fog
• Candles
• Architecture
• The Cross
• The Baptismal
• Casual or formal attire?
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Issues which provoke division in the Church:
3.
Preaching
• One preacher or team approach?
• Topical or expositional
• Translations
• Use of video excerpts
• Scriptures on screen and/or use of Bibles
• Altar calls/Invitations
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Issues which provoke division in the Church:
4. Demographic
• Multi-cultural
• Multi-ethnic
• Multi-generational
• Family friendly worship
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
John 4:23-24 TNIV
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit
and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the
Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers
must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Spirit – pneuma, “breath, a current of air, a breeze,
human spirit – life”
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
Truth – “To be true in doctrine and profession.”
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #1: Does our worship have the breath of the
Spirit upon it?
•Anointing for service in Pentecostal worship
leadership
•Songs which have the breath of the Holy Spirit upon
them
•Hard to quantify, yet ever so recognizable
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #2: Does our worship have the life of the
Spirit in it?
•Our worship should reflect the life that dwells in
Christ
•Our worship must be alive and life-giving, rather than
apathetic or dead
•Worship leaders should have a contagious joy about
them, making life in Christ attractive to unbelievers
and inspiring for believers
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question 3: Does our worship engage the human
spirit of the people who make up our congregation?
•Worship in “the spirit” -both the Spirit of God and the
spirit of man.
•The human spirit relates to several factors:
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
The human spirit relates to several factors:
•Ethnicity or race
•Level of spiritual maturity
•Culture
•Generation
•Socio-economic strata
•Education
•Other
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question 4: What is the demographic context in our
church and in the surrounding community?
•The ever changing tide of ethnicity in the U.S.:
 In 1950, 90% of Americans were white/not Hispanic
 In 2000, 69% of Americans were white/not Hispanic
 In 2002, Hispanics surpasses Blacks as the largest minority
in U.S.
 Hispanic and Asian populations - expected to triple
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question 4: What is the demographic context in our
church and in the surrounding community?
•The aging of America:
 In 2000, 12% of Americans were 65+
 By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65+
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Points to Ponder
•Church leaders have a responsibility to engage the
human spirit if we are to worship in the spirit
•Unity can be experienced when the human spirit is
engaged
•We must engage young people and seniors and those
in between
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Points to Ponder
•A church has not won the worship war when all of the
seniors leave, nor has it won when the youth leave
•A pastor’s personal preference should have little
factor in matters of style of music, etc. Pastors are
called to serve their constituency and community by
relating to demographical considerations
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #5: Is our worship Christ-centered?
•Is the name of Jesus prevalent in our singing,
praying, & preaching?
•Is the Word of God prevalent in our songs, sermons
and liturgy? Are we elevating the Scripture through
the public reading of Scripture?
•Is Jesus Christ the center of our Pentecostal liturgy?
•Are we pointing people to Jesus for their needs and
salvation?
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #6: Is our worship formational for
Christians?
•Substantive worship is what the people desire and
need
•What greater responsibility do we have than to make
disciples? (The Great Commission)
•Are the songs we sing and sermons we preach
contributing to making disciples?
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #7: How can we keep both “Spirit” and
“Truth” prominent and balanced?
“Can our churches ask better questions so that the music we use
in worship enables us to be both filled and free with the Spirit
and also grounded in biblical and doctrinal truth? Without the
emotion and willingness of Spirit, our music becomes dry and
dusty—without life. Without doctrinal bones as a skeleton, the
Body is not enfleshed in a healthy way.”
- Dr. Marva Dawn
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #7: How can we keep both “Spirit” and
“Truth” prominent and balanced?
•Danger in either extreme
•Worship can be full of life/spirit and lacking in
truth/doctrine
•Worship can be loaded with truth/doctrine and
lacking in life/spirit
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Question #7: How can we keep both “Spirit” and
“Truth” prominent and balanced?
•Responsible leadership gives careful attention to both
“spirit” and “truth” and constantly evaluates the
services to ensure both are being experienced by their
congregation
The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship
7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating
“in Spirit and in Truth” Worship
Is worship rocket science?
•Know you congregation
•Know the community your church is planted in
•Give them Jesus – Exalt His Name
•Elevate the Word of God
•Pray for the breath of the Spirit of God upon your
leaders & services
•Tap into the human spirit of your people
•Enjoy life-giving worship and preaching
•Let your worship be formational – making disciples
The Complexity of Pentecostal
Worship
Dr. Randal L. Quackenbush