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6 Words That Could Change Your Worship
How to figure out where you're going, and then getting there by using short and clean behavioral objectives to help in planning your worship.

About a month ago I wrote blog entitled Wait for it...wait for it... about the discipline of describing one's worship experience in 6 words. I received a deluge of responses to my invitation to submit personal 6 word reviews of reader's own worship encounters. I've selected a few of those responses that exemplify both the depth of thought and, strangely, the occasional miscalculations of some of those who planned these worship events.

Here's the point: Before you plan your service, figure out what 6 words might be the best definition of worship for your congregation, then plan the service. Don't leave it to chance. Yes, of course I believe that  the Holy Spirit ultimately steers our worship, but I also believe that intentionality is probably next to Godliness (good Scout, good Scout...) when it comes to really powerful, Spirit-led worship.

For example, if we were just to write a quick behavioral objective for our worship this weekend, we might say—in 6 words—"We will only worship God Sunday" or "Cut some stuff, make the point!" Any 6 words that could help you keep your worship priorities straight will benefit the Kingdom of God. Do I hear a "Praise the Lord, All You People?" Check every week to see you if you need to change your words or refine the ones you've already used. (to fully understand this blog, make sure you also read Wait for it, Wait for it)

From our readers:

Jesus loves me, this I know

Hoping to make a meaningful difference

Helping children to believe in themselves

Sharing God's love one on one

Singing brings me closer to God

Singing connects my soul with life

God is the center and the bounty

All that matters is God's love

It's all about Him! Join me!

God-inspired; Hair raising; life-fulfilling

Empowering believers to do his work

Inspirational, sensational, motivational, indispensable: Worship God

I fell asleep in short order

It's all about Him, not us

Pillar of fire, pillar of smoke.

Interdependent transcendental collision between flesh/Spirit

Authentic community here to praise God.

Spirit-filled, loving, hopeful, convicting, inspiring, awesome!

Celebrate God's love. Nurture relationships. Serve.

Loving community open to God.

Spirit-filled, Christ centered, open loving community

Traditional organ with all the side-dishes.

Presbyterian intellect seeks Pentecostal passion also

Casual liturgical Book of Common Worship

Expectant, Humbled, Reverent, Joyful, Affirming, Peace.

You need not join to belong

Heaven on earth, discover and co-create

HE's here; Celebrate! Silence! Listen! Change!

Praise, worship, adore and hear Him!

Forgive me I am still catholic

Thanksgiving, Word, Sacrifice, Meal, Real, Jesus 

 About his granddaughter:
Her exuberant praise pleases our Lord!

Worshiping God, Experiencing His Presence, Blessed

Audience of 1; we're on stage

Presenting ourselves as holy living sacrifices

Disciples - renewed, refreshed, ready-to-go! 

Traditional, relaxed, family, small country church 

Family, reflection, humbleness, IHS, mom, dad. 

Loving,obeying,worshipping God,serving others 

Living Word deeply infusing human lives. 

Blessings
Doug 

—Doug Lawrence, internationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, helps churches assess and improve their skillfulness in creating engaging worship experiences by utilizing his more than 35 years of "deep trench" worship leadership in prominent mainline churches. You may reach him at dlawrenceconsult@mac.com. Or, if you wish, call 1-650-207-8240 for assessment information and scheduling.


Doug now teams with the slingshotgroup.net to place 
extraordinary worship leaders in extraordinary churches.

Also read Doug's latest Monday Morning Email at CreatorMagazine.com!