Rick Warren’s 12 Insights on Worship
Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) wrote a two part article on Saddleback Church’s 12 convictions about worship (part 1 & part 2). Here is the list:
- Only believers can truly worship God.
- You don’t need a building to worship God.
- There is no correct style of worship.
The truth is God loves all kinds of worship styles – as long as we worship him in spirit, in truth, and in an orderly fashion.
- While unbelievers can’t worship, they can watch believers worship.
Non-Christians can’t worship, but they can see the kind of joy worship brings us.
- Worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers if God’s presence is felt and the message is understandable.
- God expects us to be sensitive to the fears, hang-ups, and the needs of unbelievers when they are present in our worship services.
Whenever you hear people talk about being sensitive to unbelievers, that is not watering down the gospel. It’s called love. You’re just being nice to them.
- Worship services do not have to be shallow to be evangelistic, and the message does not have to be compromised. It just has to be understandable.
Remove the unnecessary barriers, so people can hear the often-uncomfortable gospel.
- The needs of believers and unbelievers often overlap.
For instance, both believers and unbelievers need to know what God is really like. - It’s best to specialize your services according to purpose.
It’s best to design one service to edify believers and another to evangelize non-believers. Most churches try to do both at the same time. But if we send mixed signals, we’re going to get mixed results. You can’t aim at two targets at the same time.
- A service geared toward non-believers is meant to supplement personal evangelism, not replace it.
- There is no standard way to design an evangelistic worship service.
- It takes unselfish mature believers to offer an evangelistic worship service. This is the most important of all.
Paul says it like this: “We would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way” (1 Cor. 9:12b GW).
For more thoughts on each of the twelve be sure to read the original article (part 1 & part 2).
Adam Lehman Said,
February 15, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
Why can only believers worship? I truly understand what Rick is saying. I’m not opposed to his thoughts, i’d just like some clarification.
One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
Matt Said,
February 15, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
“nly believers can truly worship God.”
I believe he is getting at saying a non-believer can worship, but God won’t accept it because they haven’t surrendered themselves to Him.
Worship is defined as “adoring reverence or regard.” This cannot be done by someone who hasn’t given themselves fully to God and become a believer. Until they ask God to remove the barrier of sin, they cannot truly worship. God can’t look at sin. That is why the sky went black before Jesus died on the cross. It signifies the moment He took all of our sins and sufferings upon himself. That is even more clarified by the cry “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
irreverend fox Said,
February 15, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
#9-12 are justifiable by neither Scripture nor the witness of Church history…I could not disagree with it any more…
irreverend fox Said,
February 15, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
Adam,
indeed…even the demons in hell know that He is God and they tremble…sinners on judgment day will be forced by utter terror to bow their knew…they will be overwhelmed by their fear.
that is not worship. Their knees will bow, but not out of gratitude or love. unbelievers can not worship for many reasons…but the primary reason is that they have no desire whatsoever to worship the God of reality.
Romans 3:9-18
Jermayn Parker Said,
February 17, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
@irreverend fox Said - Good points. I do think Rick should use scripture instead of his experience or at least back up his experience with scripture…
Some more on worship
arudd Said,
February 18, 2008 @ 8:00 am
irreverend fox - Agreed as well.
The only way most of these ‘non-believers’ will ever come to Christ is through relationship with believers. Where are the believer’s?… Oh they’re in the ‘other service.’ Please…
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
It would seem to me, having a service geared toward non-believers would end up the opposite. ‘Let your light shine at men’ at phrase I’m sure you’ve heard.
Good stuff gentlemen. God bless.
m Said,
February 18, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
jermayn - see the original article where Rick does use scripture: http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/default.asp?id=339&artid=10969&expand=1
arudd Said,
February 19, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
That link only displays the first 6 of 12.
The latter ‘insights’ are the ones we’re looking for scripture on.
Kent Shaffer Said,
February 19, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
Here is a link to part 2:
http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/?ID=341&artid=10989&expand=1
Ben Daniel Said,
February 28, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
The idea of having two different kinds of worship services–one that is evangelistic and the other that is for the edification of believers–is fine if you are a mega church. But if your church is small–rual or inner city or struggling in the ‘burbs it’s–not really practical.
This is where I get turned off by people like Rick Warren and the folks at Willow Creek: I often feel like they’re giving advice that can really only be used by a small number of churches. Most of us don’t have the luxury of replicating what they do.
It’s like giving investment advice to someone who is in debt.