Worship is at the heart of what we do as followers of Jesus.
When we gather to worship, it can be a deeply moving experience: filled with awe in the presence of God, united as a community, and empowered to seek justice together. But if we’re honest, it doesn’t always feel that way.
Part of the challenge is that worship is full of paradoxes – things that seem to contradict each other but are somehow both true. For example, we believe that God is majestic, holy and far beyond us. And yet we also believe God is close – present in ordinary relationships, conversations and moments.
Six worship paradoxes
This course aims to explore six of these paradoxes. It aims to encourage us to keep worshipping, and to resist the temptation to jump to one pole of the paradox or the other. Good news can appear when we embrace the mystery and give it space to breathe
- Heavenly worship: Is God distant and majestic, or close and personal?
- Creative worship: Should worship be carefully planned, or open to spontaneous creativity?
- Social worship: Does worship only happen when we gather in person, or can it flourish online and anywhere?
- Team worship: Is worship best led by trained specialists, or can anyone contribute meaningfully?
- Attractive worship: Should worship preserve its unique ‘churchy’ style, or adapt to contemporary culture?
- Whole-life worship: Is worship something we do on Sundays, or is it woven into every part of life?
