I’ve been preaching recently in a number of congregations encouraging them to consider starting new congregations of various kinds.  The text I’ve used is Exodus 3, Moses at the burning bush.  One of the noteworthy aspects of this verse is the “sign” given to Moses that it is God who has called him and sent him (the missional identity of the text).  That sign is that Moses and the children of Israel will worship God on the mountain where the bush is not consumed.  The sign of Moses sending is worship.  I know this isn’t prescriptive or “the” sign of every endeavor, but it is a curious sign.  No lightening bolts, no miraculous moments….unless you consider a worshiping community a miracle.  In this day and age I think it is.

In the conversation about contemporary or emergent worship etc, we need to move far beyond techniques as has been noted.  Worship is shaped not by what we can buy (people and equipment) but by the gifts God has bestowed on us (people and ?).  The word I choose to use when talking about worship is “AFFECTIVE”.  Often the conversation about worship is “effective”.  “What works?” is our major concern.  “How do we get the most bang for our buck?” is a constant measurement.  This efficiency conversation is completely a modern construct.  It is far from what is emerging in the communities where God is at work.

AFFECTIVE worship seeks to move people without manipulating them.  In this sense it can be three traditional hymns, jazz, gospel, liturgy of the highest order, a combination of anything, or silence with the Word read.  What moves people in our communities to honor God with their lips and hearts and hands?  Worship is AFFECTIVE not effective in my way of thinking.  What will produce worshipers?

I could go on, but then I’d have my first chapter written for my book.  Any takers?