Theological Analysis of a Church Service

In this assignment you sketch a theological analysis of a church service (but not a Westmont chapel service). This can be the service of your choice at the Christian church of your choice. My goal is to help you draw connections among the doctrine we've been learning in class, your discovery groups, and the Christian practice that goes on in the worshiping Church.

If we are in spring semester and you have the opportunity to make this a service during Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday), I strongly recommend you choose such a service, as these tend to showcase the riches of Christian traditions and highlight key themes in Christian doctrine. Obviously the easiest connections to make during Holy Week will probably involve the atoning work of Christ (for instance, theories of atonement or the offices of Christ). But these may not be the only ones you find. And since the resurrection underpins practically every Christian doctrine, you might be able to range far and wide.

Underline and develop the connections by drawing explicitly on the lectures and relevant readings, on what has happened in your DBSs, and discussing details from the service. If you could have written the same analysis without having been in Christian Doctrine, then you haven't fulfilled the assignment.

Don't forget to list the name and denomination of the church, which service you attended, and so on. However, if you want to do well on this assignment, don't spend much time (or even any) rehearsing or describing the service. Analyze it theologically, bringing in background only where directly relevant to the points you are making.

In movements, discovery groups coming to faith use the 'church circle' to grow into the full Acts 2 'church circle' of Christian fellowship right after Pentecost. So where do your DBSs overlap with the basic elements of this service, and where do they not? What could either do to be stronger where it's weak?

If you attend a church service outside your tradition and find the proceedings unfamiliar, don't be shy — ask a fellow worshipper what is going on, or wait until after the service and ask one of the leaders to explain things. In my experience, these people are delighted to help you by sharing the things they love.

Did I mention that you need to draw extensively on course concepts from lectures and readings as well as your experiences in your DBSs? Why, yes I did. At least three times now. Is that because semester after semester, some students write 'reports' rather than analyses, with little if any appeal to course concepts, materials, and experiences? It is indeed. Does that make me suspect that these students haven't learned the materials and are hoping I won't notice? Draw your own conclusions.

On the due date of the assignment, please give me the bulletin or order of service in class. If the church has no bulletin or the bulletin doesn't mention the order of worship, then add an appendix with the main elements, list of songs, prayers, scripture readings, and so on.

Further tips:

Look for:

• Prominence of central themes in Doctrine: for instance, the personhood of Christ; the personhood and work of the Holy Spirit; the threefold office; doctrine of the Trinity; sin and grace; atonement theories; election.
• Connections with particular details from lectures and readings (cited appropriately, of course).
• Particularly insightful or striking uses of doctrinal themes or theological uses of Scripture.
• Ways you see Christian doctrine presented practically, and lived out in the Church.

Look in:

• The structure of the service (what comes where in the order of worship, and why might the order be theologically significant?).
• The words and tenor of either rehearsed or extemporaneous prayers.
• The words and tenor of songs and hymns. Often traditional hymns are theologically packed, and chosen carefully for their liturgical occasion, so pay close attention here.
• Scripture. "Liturgical" churches often have readings preselected from a lectionary. My church picks them ad hoc. How does the choice of Scriptures serve theological purposes?
• Sermon themes and illustrations.
• Other features of the service: processional; dress, decorations, and "effects"; special rituals like baby dedications, drama, baptisms, and confirmation; offering and offertory; Communion; benediction; recessional; etc. How do these reflect doctrinal themes in the church's worship?

Uh-oh! What if the service is theologically and doctrinally poor?

• First, don't condemn it too quickly. Before you give up on the service, look hard for solid doctrine coming to life. Begin with a spirit of charity. Be responsive to the fact that the church may simply be doing things in an unfamiliar way, so that you have to "translate."
• Most of the 'heresies' or 'problems' students identify in these analyses aren't as problematic as they think. However, if the service really does need doctrinal improvement, then tell me how you would improve it. Again, here I would be most impressed with suggestions that tie doctrine in with real Christian worship practice in a compelling way.

Remember, I want to see proper style, clear writing, a thorough answer to the question, and explicit citations of course materials.