Come, Now is the Time Come, Now is the Time to Worshipto Worship

NCD - Inspiring WorshipNCD - Inspiring Worship

Mission MomentMission Moment

• What is “inspiring worship?”What is “inspiring worship?”

NCD - Inspiring WorshipNCD - Inspiring Worship

• Key Question: Is the worship service a Key Question: Is the worship service a moving, life-changing experience – an moving, life-changing experience – an encounter with God?encounter with God?

• Worship is the place where the sacred and Worship is the place where the sacred and the profane collide.the profane collide.

• Were we changed in worship? Were we changed in worship? • Were we empowered, enlightened, Were we empowered, enlightened,

energized – or just entertained in worship?energized – or just entertained in worship?• When is GOOD ENOUGH not GOOD When is GOOD ENOUGH not GOOD

ENOUGH?ENOUGH?• When it describes the When it describes the qualityquality of our worship! of our worship!

Inspiring WorshipInspiring Worship

• Worship that results in times of joyous exultation Worship that results in times of joyous exultation and times of quiet reverence.and times of quiet reverence.

• Not driven/defined by a particular style, but Not driven/defined by a particular style, but rather, the shared experience of God’s awesome rather, the shared experience of God’s awesome presence presence

• Worship may target Christians or non-Christians, Worship may target Christians or non-Christians, the style may be liturgical or free, the language the style may be liturgical or free, the language may be “churchy” or “secular” – it makes no may be “churchy” or “secular” – it makes no difference for church growth.difference for church growth.

• What does matter is whether worshipers feel that What does matter is whether worshipers feel that they have encountered God during the worship they have encountered God during the worship service.service.

The NCD Survey Measures:The NCD Survey Measures:

• Feelings of being inspired Feelings of being inspired

• Care for children Care for children

• Life transforming preaching Life transforming preaching

• Visitor friendly Visitor friendly

• God-centered and celebration musicGod-centered and celebration music

Caution!!!Caution!!!

• You have not been called just to do You have not been called just to do worship. You have been called to be a worship. You have been called to be a church that worships as part of its entire church that worships as part of its entire missional identity.missional identity.

• Our Lutheran traditional bias is that Our Lutheran traditional bias is that worship is the visible (gathered) church, so worship is the visible (gathered) church, so we must start there. we must start there.

• How does worship “serve” your mission How does worship “serve” your mission and reflect your core values?and reflect your core values?

• Where does your mission and values Where does your mission and values surface in worship?surface in worship?

The Heart of WorshipThe Heart of Worship

• Know who you are trying to reachKnow who you are trying to reach• Know the context of your ministry Know the context of your ministry • How will worship and Mission interact?How will worship and Mission interact?• ““Honor” your resources and giftsHonor” your resources and gifts• You never get a second chance to You never get a second chance to

make a first impression - don’t start make a first impression - don’t start something new until you are ready to something new until you are ready to make a good first impressionmake a good first impression

Inspiring Worship is…Inspiring Worship is…

• ……Fun! Fun!

• People who attend inspiring worship People who attend inspiring worship services unanimously declare that services unanimously declare that the church service is a life-changing the church service is a life-changing experience and fun.experience and fun.

• When worship is inspiring, it draws When worship is inspiring, it draws people to the services "all by itself." people to the services "all by itself."

Inspiring WorshipInspiring Worship• So what are you doing to create worship So what are you doing to create worship

that is inspiring?that is inspiring?• How’s it going for you?How’s it going for you?• What’s going well? What’s going well? • What can you celebrate?What can you celebrate?• Where are the challenges – Where are the challenges –

opportunities?opportunities?• What are your concerns?What are your concerns?• What are your hopes? Visions for What are your hopes? Visions for

worship?worship?