Signs Of A Renewing Worship

The objective and subjective characteristics of a renewed worship, as well as the results, are clearly discernible. The following list details these features.

A. Objective Characteristics

      1.     Restoration of a Christ-centered focus (worship celebrates the living, dying, and rising of Christ in which the powers of evil are overthrown, a sacrifice for sin is made, and an example for living is set forth)

      2.     Characterized by a good balance of order and freedom

      3.     Rediscovery of Christ's active presence in both Word and Table

      4.     Appropriation of the arts as servants of the text

      5.     Use of a wide range of music drawn from the history of the church and from various contemporary cultures                 

      6.     Heightened communication skills in both preaching and leading of worship

      7.     A space for worship that works for the participation of all the people

      8.     A worship that is intergenerational

      9.     A worship characterized by intimacy and pageantry

    10.     A warm and hospitable environment

    11.     Rediscovery of the evangelical nature of the church year

B. Subjective Characteristics

    12.     Aliveness of the people through active participation

    13.     An experience of joy, celebration, love, victory, and peace

    14.     A rehearsal of one's relationship to God

    15.     The engagement of the whole person—mind, heart, will, body, and senses

    16.     The experience of spontaneity

    17.     A feeling of personal involvement and corporate relatedness

C. Results

    18.     The ministry of people to one another in worship

    19.     A growing concern and commitment to evangelism and social outreach

    20.     A heightened spirituality, both personal and corporate

    21.     The experience of Christian community