Using God-Given Arts in Christian Worship & Service    
   

                                                                              Dr. Diane Howard        
                                                                          Copyright © 2008, 2009               

The Arts are God-Given Gifts that invite us to feel and experience Truth. Beauty transcends belief. Art awes, draws, and transports us to God. Worship transports us into the Transcendent Mystery of God. Through worship we Praise the Father, Thank the Son, and Invite the Holy Spirit. In worship we recite our God’s great acts in history and celebrate His mighty deeds of salvation that culminate in Jesus Christ. In worship we gather to hear God's Word, to celebrate with praise, give thanks, and pray as we go forth in service.  In worship God speaks and we listen.  We remember the death of Christ and celebrate His resurrection.

Questions for consideration as we plan, prepare, and evaluate worship in our churches:

• Are God-given beauty, artistry, and excellence evident in our worship services?
   

• Is God's word and Truth reflected in our worship arts?
   

• Do the arts in our worship enable us to feel and experience God and Truth?
   

• Does our worship review the great deeds of God that culminate in Christ?
   

• Although there are many cultural styles of worship, does our worship have truthful content and meaningful structure that leads us through  hearing the Word, praising God, giving thanks to the Son, and inviting the Holy Spirit?
   

• Do the arts in our worship draw and transport us to God?
   

• Do they lead us to the transforming presence and a living experience of Christ?
   

• Do they create in us awe as we celebrate the great deeds of God that culminate in Christ?
   

• Do the arts in our worship services reflect the wonder, awe, and truth of our God?
   

• What kind of worship role models do we find in the Bible?
   

• Do we know the great Christian art and its elements that were produced throughout history?
   

• Do we allow Christian artists to use their talents and gifts in the life and service of the church?
   

• Do the elements of our services encourage corporate, interactive worship?
   

• Are we providing on-going training for all ages for good stewardship of God-given arts and talents for worship?
   

• Do we include and relate well to all people?
   

• How does God reveal Himself through nature and the Bible?
   

• How did Christ incarnate, reveal, and teach Truth?
   

• Do we use the best in artistic and communication practice to captivate, inspire, edify, and uplift worshippers?
   

• Do we have an historical, knowledgeable perspective as we produce art for worship?
   

• Do we understand elements of great, lasting storytelling and production elements?
   

• Does Ethnocentricity lead to mediocre worship in Christian Sub-Cultures?
   

• Do we have an historical, knowledgeable perspective as we produce art for worship?
   

• Do we go the extra mile to produce the best art that we can?
   

• Are we led by popular appeal or sub-cultural pressures?  
   

• Are we sacrificing excellence in substance, values, and/or artistry?
   

• Do we understand and employ the techniques of communication art that Jesus our Lord used (such as parables)?
   

• Is American art, even American Christian worship art confined to contemporary and American worship art?
   

• Are we as American Christians ethnocentric?
   

• Do we have an international, global, multi-cultural, historical, and scholarly perspective, as well as good training
  and ongoing hands-on experience in meaningful and substantive projects communication and worship art?
   

• Does our art have depth and breath?
   

• Does our communication art have universal and timeless appeal?
   

• Are we open to good instruction as we produce worship art?
   

• Do we know the basic elements of great art in terms of content, structure, production elements, and style?
   

• Do we know what facilitates heart, soul, and redemption in worship art?
   

• Do we know what makes our worship art credible, engaging, inspirational, and thought-provoking?
   

• Are we familiar with historic and contemporary models of Best Practice?
   

• Do we understand principles of effective communication in artistic worship projects?
   

• Are we minimizing the place and value of the arts in Christian worship?
   

• Do we consider our congregation and how to best inspire, uplift, and edify?

  Example of Best Practice in Christian Art and Communication in Worship:  Hour of Power, Crystal Cathedral- Excellence in Communication (Teaching, Speaking); Excellence in Music (Breadth, Depth, Range, Expression, Musicality, Execution, Delivery); Excellence in Visuals

  See Addicted to Mediocrity
  
  See Effective Filmmaking as Salt and Light
  
  Christians in Filmmaking
  
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