Connor, Dennis

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LeavenVolume 6Issue 4 The Small Church Article 61-1-1998Meaningful Worship in the Small ChurchDennis ConnorFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/leavenPart of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought,Theology and Philosophy of Religion CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Religion at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Leaven byan authorized administrator of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact Kevin.Miller3@pepperdine.edu.Recommended CitationConnor, Dennis (1998) "Meaningful Worship in the Small Church," Leaven: Vol. 6: Iss. 4, Article 6.Available at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/leaven/vol6/iss4/6176 Leaven. Fall. /998.~Small ChurchSome are standing in the hallway as time for eveningworship approaches. One of the gathering worshippersremarks, "It's been a great day, hasn't it? The service thismorning was really uplifting."Two couples are seated in Burger King after Wednes-day evening Bible study discussing worship. One churchmember remarks that he can never recall being truly af-fected by a worship experience in the congregation inwhich he grew up. Another across the table says that hecan recall feeling moved on occasions as an adult, "Butbefore coming to this congregation, it has been a long timesince a worship assembly has stirred me." Since cominghere it happens regularly, he says.For most of a decade, we have had raging controversyand meaningful discussion in our fellowship regardingworship renewal. Large-membership churches have ledthe way in newly emerging worship styles, perhaps lead-ing some to the mistaken conclusion that soul-stirringworship is best experienced in those larger settings. Noth-ing could be farther from the truth. As the two foregoingconversations confirm, meaningful worship can happenin small-membership churches. In fact, meaningful wor-ship has little or nothing to do with the size of a congrega-tion or its talent pool. It has to do with a congregation'sheart. If anything, the small-membership church isuniquely suited for fostering a sense of intimacy and fam-ily.By Dennis ConnorBut how does a church nurture its heart for worshipand, consequently, its heart for God? Are there measureswe can take to promote meaningful worship in the smallchurch without succumbing to manipulation or culturalwhims? Our answer from the Yadkinville church wouldbe an unhesitating, "Yes!"The Yadkinville ChurchLocated in rural Yadkin County (population 34,000)in north central North Carolina, Yadkinville is the largesttown in the county, with a population of2,600. The churchwas planted in 1979, and in 1986 Sunday morning atten-dance climaxed with an average of 64. A period of de-cline set in shortly thereafter, and in 1996 the average at-tendance was about 34, occasionally dipping into the mid-20s. When a congregational crisis occurred in 1995, themembership responded with a commitment to corporateprayer and a renewed emphasis on excellence in worship.Attendance for the first quarter of 1997 was 37; by thefirst quarter of 1998, it had grown to 64. We experienceda net growth rate of 55 percent for 1997, much of whichwe attribute to a renewed commitment to worship excel-lence.Our experience is proof that stagnation and declineneed not be the norm for small churches. However, growthdoes not happen by accident. It is our conviction atYadkinville that worship is the very heart of a1Connor: Meaningful Worship in the Small ChurchPublished by Pepperdine Digital Commons, 1998congregation's life. Vitality in mission and ministry is theoutgrowth of vital worship.So what can smaller churches do to nurture meaning-ful worship? The following is what our experience hastaught us.A Strategy for Worship RenewalWhen I speak of worship renewal, I do not mean modi-fications of biblical teachings on worship but rather a re-newed emphasis leading to a renewed heart. In Yadkinvillewe now do things differently-we deliberately brokethrough the hedge of congregational traditions and com-placency that had engulfed us.We did not have a clearly defined strategy when webegan, but our initial determination to pursue worshipexcellence to the glory of God soon led to one discoveryafter another. What follows is a workable strategy formeaningful worship that glorifies God and edifies thechurch without compromising biblical teaching.First, prepare the soil. Stale worship will not be trans-formed in just a few weeks. In most small churches, itwill be the preacher who initiates and leads the prepara-tion. The wise preacher will establish credibility with thecongregation before encouraging change. If the churchdoes not trust him, any significant changes, no matter howharmless, will likely be met with suspicion and criticism.Too many preachers have unwisely initiated changes toosoon after beginning with a church. Many of us enter aministry with our agendas clearly set, determined that thechurch will follow our utopian vision, at times runningroughshod over congregational sensibilities. Patience isan absolute must.Part of the preparation is to seek consensus beforeinitiating changes. Although this step is emphasized invirtually everything written these days about managingchange in churches, it is still widely neglected. InYadkinville we sought consensus by discussing worshipin our congregational meetings and personal conversations,by teaching on the subject of worship, and by using ques-tionnaires.Second, once credibility and consensus are estab-lished, start small. Create sure successes-small changesthat will be accepted by almost everyone. Add extra songsand Scripture readings, or a prayer devoted exclusively topraise. In most congregations, wholesale changes arethreatening and will be understandably resisted, but smallThe Small Church 177successes can pave the way for other measures to furtherenhance the worship experience.Third, change the focus of worship, if needed. Is theworship assembly God centered or human centered? Wor-ship should heighten a worshipper's awareness of the be-ing and activity of God. To determine the focus of yourworship, ask these questions: What is the theme of yoursongs-human achievement or God's greatness and work?Is the worship about our duty, or is it a celebration of God'sgrace? Is our work presented as the primary thing or asthe proper response to the primary One? Does worshipcenter around the preaching event or around praise? Doesthe preaching itself tend to draw more attention to us or toGod? It would be an interesting exercise to put these ques-tions to the congregation.One simple thing we have done at Yadkinville is to setaside a block of time during the worship for a Scripturereading of praise, a praise hymn, and a prayer devotedonly to praise. There is nothing revolutionary in that, butchange does not have to be drastic to be effective.The small church revolves around relationships andis typically defined by the strength of those relationships.What better context, then, for celebrating our relationshipwith God?Fourth, plan for effective worship. The scene is all toofamiliar. The song leader stands in the foyer or sits on thefront pew hurriedly flipping through the hymnal just be-fore worship, jotting down a few numbers. A Table crewis hastily conscripted to serve the Lord's Supper. The or-der of service and preaching style haven't varied a bit overthe past ten years.The saying is well worn but true that "to fail to plan isto plan to fail." Time spent in thoughtful preparation isessential to meaningful worship. Our God deserves wor-ship that is more than an afterthought. The disgrace is notin being a small church but in being small minded aboutGod.Thoughtful worship planning can help create an at-mosphere that elicits reverence to God's greatness in thehearts of the worshippers. The planning does not have tobe elaborate, just thoughtful. The following guidelinesshould be helpful in planning for a meaningful worshipexperience.1. Determine the objective of the worship for thatday. What is it that you want to accomplish? What2Leaven, Vol. 6 [1998], Iss. 4, Art. 6http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/leaven/vol6/iss4/6178 Leaven, Fall, 1998spiritual response do you seek in the worshippers?Is it praise or repentance? Gratitude or humility?Select songs and Scripture readings that willsupport the objective. Have prayers that are focusedon the objective.2. Plan around a theme. When possible, relate themusic to the sermon for that day. If the preacher isinvolved in a sermon series, select a theme song forthe series. Even if you cannot always coordinate themusic with the sermon, the songs themselves can befocused on a theme. There can also be a prayer anda Communion reading that are both focused on theworship theme for that day.3. Communicate. Those who plan the worshipshould clearly communicate the theme and objectiveto everyone else involved in the worship so that theyknow how to direct their words and hearts as theyread or pray.Planning will require additional time and effort. How-ever, the dividends will far outweigh the investment, andGod will be duly honored.Finally, focus on substance over style. Much of thecontroversy today over "traditional" versus more "con-temporary" styles of worship is unfortunate, leading someto equate style with substance. The fact is, if the funda-mental attitudes and elements of biblical worship arepresent, God can be exalted in any style. The Creator isnot impressed by a particular style. Nor will those whovisit our worship assemblies be drawn like moths to a flamebecause of a style. Both God and the visitor ask, "Canheart be found here?"ConclusionIn his book Small Churches Are the Right Size, DavidRay shares this insight about worship in the small church:In asking myself the question, "What is worship?" Irecalled Jesus' great commandment: "You shall lovethe Lord your God with all your heart, and with allyour soul, and with all your mind .... You shall loveyour neighbor as yourself' (Matt 22:37-39) ....According to this definition, worship is the activeresponse of the Christian community to God's lovewith the praises of our hearts, the yearnings of oursouls, and the ponderings of our minds, and theactive movement toward a loving mutual ministry toall that are in our sphere of influence .... By thisdefinition an imposing sanctuary, large numbers ofpeople, majestic music, and powerful preaching arenot necessary for legitimate worship .... What isnecessary is a body of people actively committed toGod, to one another, and to a shared ministrybeyond the doors of the church.'Regardless of the size of your congregation, this kindof worship is not only possible, but Christ and the holyWord call us to it. Are we willing to answer?DENNISCONNERis preaching minister for the YadkinvilleChurch of Christ, Yadkinville, North Carolina.Notes'David R. Ray, Small Churches Are the Right Size(New York: Pilgrim, 1982),56.3Connor: Meaningful Worship in the Small ChurchPublished by Pepperdine Digital Commons, 1998

Meaningful Worship in the Small Church

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Meaningful Worship in the Small Church

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