Order of Worship

One of the things that has certainly continued to change across denominations over time is the content of worship services. Much of the liturgy and repetitive procedural elements are being deemphasized, while the spiritually motivating and instructional elements continue to grow. The most important thing is that the congregation leaves each service with Jesus in their hearts and joy and hope in their conversations.

From combining the general order of worship from several recently visited churches, here are the general elements. The churches following this design have very demonstrative and involved congregations, are very well supported financially, and are growing.

• Praise music, as an obvious indication that the service is beginning; praise is the overwhelming and critical element of these songs.
• Welcoming comments, with perhaps a few announcements, all very brief.
• Prayer time, including personal prayer, prayer for others and for other churches, and pastoral prayer.
• Offering. If the offering is included at this point in the service, the offering prayer is part of the pastoral prayer, with the offering sometimes continuing to be collected through the beginning of the sermon message. Otherwise, the offering is collected after the sermon message, accompanied by reverent praise music or a musical presentation. The offering requires more time if collected after the message.
• Sermon message, incorporating scripture reading throughout. Sermon messages are seldom less than 30 minutes long, and are filled with Bible cross referencing, spiritual interpretation, and historical context.
• An invitation and opportunity to become a member of the church, accompanied by contemplative and prayerful background music (although not all churches emphasize membership at this time). The closing includes an invitation for consultation or prayer with the pastors or lay leadership who accompany the pastors at the front of the church. The emphasis in this stage of the service is for individuals to recognize that the Spirit is moving within them, regardless of whether that movement is toward new membership, personal action, or prayer.
• Benediction and departure.

The design with the offering prior to the sermon message tends to be the most convenient for the praise band, since there is no musical accompaniment for the offering. The praise band leaves the altar during the announcements and joins the congregation for the message, returning at the end of the message to provide background for the prayer/contemplative closing.