Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
—Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Worship Styles…
I love worship planning and thinking of ways to include music and other creative elements in worship. I have served churches with both contemporary and traditional worship services, which has led me to compile worship style resources (see below). God is so mighty and great, we should bring all the praise we can in all the ways we can! In Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin writes: “Musical diversity reflects the varying aspects of God’s nature. He is transcendent and immanent. He splits the mountains and clothes the lilies. We worship him as our Creator and Redeemer, King and Father. How can anyone think that a single kind of music could adequately express the fullness of God’s glory?” (p104).
Considering a change in worship styles, whether adding an additional service in a second style or moving into a blended worship style, should begin with prayer. Change of any sort can be challenging, but it is easier when we know in our hearts that the Lord is leading us and with us every step of the way. The Psalms have multiple references to worshiping the Lord in different ways and with different instruments, and Paul gives encouragement twice to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19). I believe there is enough scriptural evidence to show that we can honor the Lord with multiple forms of worship. Christians churches generally operate out of a mission and vision based on the Great Commission, hoping to connect people with Jesus and transform the world. This is where Philippians 2 really informs how we plan and lead worship.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
—Philippians 2:1-8 NIV
We must have the same mindset as Jesus as we work to share the Good News and help others to know Christ. Maybe a particular service element or song is not our personal preference, but let us consider that it might be how the Lord reaches someone else. Maybe that one hymn or that one worship song is what finally makes someone see that Christ died for him or her as well. We need to stop treating worship styles as one versus another, but instead treat them as multiple ways to achieve the same goal: worshiping the One who created all of us and helping others do the same.
So where do we begin…
As I mentioned, prayer is the place to start. Prayer is always the place to start. Ask your congregation to be in prayer about this as well. Then, as Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are Christ’s ambassadors! How can we broaden our worship horizon and be ambassadors of Christ at the same time? Here are a few ideas:
Try to put the “best foot” forward for the music you are introducing. One way to do this is to pair the new with the familiar. If you’re trying to include more contemporary worship music in your service, consider a modernized hymn arrangement. If you’re trying to include more traditional music, consider starting with hymns that have language we still use today or a melody that is easy to follow for first time singers. Whether you’re trying to add more of either style, consider pairing a worship song with a hymn to bring the styles together.
Experiment with different keys to make the range more congregation-friendly. Some worship songs and hymns are pitched pretty high/low for people who are less experienced singers.
Experiment with instrumentation. Try an acoustic set or use the organ as the ambient pad under the worship song.
Keep the choir! Choir and worship team can work very well together, and choir can be a great outlet to multiple generations to participate in worship together.
Use simplified chord charts for hymns, so the worship team and organist/pianist can play more easily together. Nathan Drake at Reawaken Hymns has great resources for this.
Experiment with arrangements. Teach the chorus first, so the congregation knows part of the song from the start. Repeat a section that is easy for everyone to sing. Do you want to share a worship song that is usually fairly long? Take out some repeats the first few times through.
Consider modern hymns from people like the Gettys, Matt Boswell, and Laura Story. Or consider worship songs that have more straightforward rhythms.
Invite your congregation to listen to worship music and contemporary Christian music and share which songs spoke to them. This will help you see what songs they connect with, both musically and thematically. Even if they connect with songs that aren’t congregational, this exercise can still help you know what types of songs and/or themes are speaking to them, which can then inform your selection of songs that are congregational. You can create an online form through Google or Planning Center to collect their thoughts, or feel free to use this pdf survey.
Make sure the songs you introduce, in any style, are theologically sound. Music helps people remember words; we want them to be remembering truth!
These are just a few things to be a starting point for you, as is the Song Ideas list linked below. Above all, incorporating multiple worship styles should be a means to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-28). God will guide us in this, too, if we let him. Amen!