The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship Dr. Randal L. Quackenbush.

The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship

Dr. Randal L. Quackenbush

Church Music Prior to the Reformation

• Presentation of music often left to clergy• Sometimes used selected singers• Also used “professionals”• Congregations sat in silence• Music not in their language• Lack of participation of the people• Lack of understanding by the people


Church Music Prior to the Reformation

Addressing the Issues – Three Opinions• Luther - let the congregations sing, new songs, language of the people, instruments, all arts• Calvin - singing yes, instruments no, singing only scripture (Psalms) a cappella• Zwingli - Swiss pastor & musician, no music, “too powerful”, crusade to dismantle organs


“The worship wars are alive and well.”Christianity Today, August 2009


Issues which provoke division in the Church:1. Music

• Style• Volume• Quality of songs • Frequency of new songs• Lack of older songs• Hymns• Choirs• Orchestras


Issues which provoke division in the Church:2. Environment

• Concert hall or sanctuary?• Lighting• Fog• Candles• Architecture• The Cross• The Baptismal • Casual or formal attire?


Issues which provoke division in the Church:3. Preaching

• One preacher or team approach?• Topical or expositional• Translations• Use of video excerpts• Scriptures on screen and/or use of Bibles• Altar calls/Invitations


Issues which provoke division in the Church:4. Demographic• Multi-cultural• Multi-ethnic• Multi-generational• Family friendly worship


John 4:23-24 TNIV

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.


Spirit – pneuma, “breath, a current of air, a breeze, human spirit – life”


Truth – “To be true in doctrine and profession.”


7 Questions Which Assist in Evaluating “in Spirit and in Truth” Worship

Question #1: Does our worship have the breath of the Spirit upon it?

• Anointing for service in Pentecostal worship leadership

• Songs which have the breath of the Holy Spirit upon them

• Hard to quantify, yet ever so recognizable



Question #2: Does our worship have the life of the Spirit in it?

• Our worship should reflect the life that dwells in Christ

• Our worship must be alive and life-giving, rather than apathetic or dead

• Worship leaders should have a contagious joy about them, making life in Christ attractive to unbelievers and inspiring for believers



Question 3: Does our worship engage the human spirit of the people who make up our congregation?

• Worship in “the spirit” -both the Spirit of God and the spirit of man.

• The human spirit relates to several factors:



The human spirit relates to several factors:

• Ethnicity or race• Level of spiritual maturity• Culture• Generation• Socio-economic strata• Education• Other



Question 4: What is the demographic context in our church and in the surrounding community?

• The ever changing tide of ethnicity in the U.S.:

In 1950, 90% of Americans were white/not Hispanic In 2000, 69% of Americans were white/not Hispanic In 2002, Hispanics surpasses Blacks as the largest minority

in U.S. Hispanic and Asian populations - expected to triple



Question 4: What is the demographic context in our church and in the surrounding community?

• The aging of America: In 2000, 12% of Americans were 65+ By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65+



Points to Ponder

• Church leaders have a responsibility to engage the human spirit if we are to worship in the spirit

• Unity can be experienced when the human spirit is engaged

• We must engage young people and seniors and those in between



Points to Ponder• A church has not won the worship war when all of

the seniors leave, nor has it won when the youth leave

• A pastor’s personal preference should have little factor in matters of style of music, etc. Pastors are called to serve their constituency and community by relating to demographical considerations



Question #5: Is our worship Christ-centered?• Is the name of Jesus prevalent in our singing,

praying, & preaching?• Is the Word of God prevalent in our songs, sermons

and liturgy? Are we elevating the Scripture through the public reading of Scripture?

• Is Jesus Christ the center of our Pentecostal liturgy?• Are we pointing people to Jesus for their needs and

salvation?



Question #6: Is our worship formational for Christians?• Substantive worship is what the people desire and

need• What greater responsibility do we have than to

make disciples? (The Great Commission)• Are the songs we sing and sermons we preach

contributing to making disciples?



Question #7: How can we keep both “Spirit” and “Truth” prominent and balanced?

“Can our churches ask better questions so that the music we use in worship enables us to be both filled and free with the Spirit and also grounded in biblical and doctrinal truth? Without the emotion and willingness of Spirit, our music becomes dry and dusty—without life. Without doctrinal bones as a skeleton, the Body is not enfleshed in a healthy way.”

- Dr. Marva Dawn




• Danger in either extreme• Worship can be full of life/spirit and lacking in

truth/doctrine• Worship can be loaded with truth/doctrine and

lacking in life/spirit




• Responsible leadership gives careful attention to both “spirit” and “truth” and constantly evaluates the services to ensure both are being experienced by their congregation



Is worship rocket science?• Know you congregation • Know the community your church is planted in • Give them Jesus – Exalt His Name• Elevate the Word of God• Pray for the breath of the Spirit of God upon your

leaders & services• Tap into the human spirit of your people• Enjoy life-giving worship and preaching• Let your worship be formational – making disciples



Dr. Randal L. Quackenbush

The Complexity of Pentecostal Worship Dr. Randal L. Quackenbush.

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