Part 7
Diversity
in
Worship
Diversity in Worship
Areas of Diversity:
1. Age Groups
2. Generations
3. Commitment Levels
4. Worship Styles
5. Culture Groups
Age Groups in Worship
1. Children
2. Teenagers
3. Young Adults
4. Adults
5. Family Worship
Generations in Worship
1. Pre-Boomers
2. Boomers
3. Gen Xers
4. Millennials
Modern - Postmodern
Commitment Levels
in Worship
1. Believer-orientated
2. Believer-orientated but
visitor friendly
3. Outreach-orientated
Worship Styles
1. Traditional/Contemporary
2. Worship Languages
What is Contemporary Worship?
Connects with everyday life
Sensory
Experiential
Filled with movement
Expressing intimate love
Dramatic structure
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
What is Contemporary Worship?
EPIC
Worship Languages
Gordon MacDonald in
Forging A Real World Faith
speaks of six languages
that worshippers speak.
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
Worship Language:
The Experiential Instinct
Agenda: Joy
Example: Peter
Experientialists are big hearted
and seize any opportunity to
meet with God
Worship Language:
The Activist Instinct
Agenda: Achievement
Example: Moses
Activists like to be exhausted as
they mobilise people to do
something constructive
Worship Language:
The Contemplative Instinct
Agenda: Listening
Example: John the Baptist
Contemplatives love to
withdraw to meet with God in
silence and contemplation
Worship Language:
The Student Instinct
Agenda: Truth
Example: Paul
Students see heaven as a bible
study with God as the
discussion leader
Worship Language:
The Relational Instinct
Agenda: Love
Example: Barnabas
Relationists believe God is most
heard when people are engaged
in good relationships
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
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
Worship Languages
Jesus Balanced All Six Styles:
 Contemplative and Activist
 Relationist and Student
 Experientialist and Aesthetic
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