Analysis of responses to Q18. Q18 began a series of three questions that sought to discover whether a characteristic focus of the content of elements that worship pastors select to begin a worship service could be discerned. The data indicate a variety of focal points that always characterize worship service beginnings. Figure 6 shows that in 41% of worship services, announcements, greetings, and verbal introductions always occur within the first ten minutes. Elements characterized by adoration and celebration of Christ, the cross, and the gospel always are a part of 24.5% of worship service beginnings. (An analysis of Scripture as a part of worship service beginnings is forthcoming in the presentation and analysis of Q19 and Q20.) Elements characterized by God’s love and care for his creation (immanence) always occur in the beginning minutes of 18.2% of worship services. Elements characterized by God’s distinction and separateness from his creation are always found in 14.6% of worship service beginnings. Elements characterized by thanksgiving always occur in 12.5% of worship service beginnings. Contemplation, reflection, dedication, commitment, confession, and repentance rarely characterized the elements that occur in the first ten minutes of most worship services.
Figure 6. Characteristic focus of elements that always occur within the first ten minutes of a worship service
Figure 7 displays the combination of the “always” and the “frequently” categories related to the characteristic focus of elements that occur in the first ten minutes of the service. The elements comprising the top five categories are essentially the same for those reported in Figure 7 below and those reported in Figure 6 above, though the ranking is slightly different. In Figure 7, the adoration/celebration of Christ, the cross, and the gospel at 85.1% moves up to the number one characteristic focus of elements that most commonly are found in worship service beginnings. Moving to second position, the adoration/celebration of God’s love and care for his creation (immanence) frequently or always characterize worship service beginnings over 75% of the time.
Figure 7. Characteristic focus of elements that always and frequently (combined) occur within the first ten minutes of a worship service
Figure 7 demonstrates relatively high frequency percentages for five of the eight categories queried in Q18: announcements/greetings (64.7 %), adoration/celebration of God’s immanence (76.4.%), thanksgiving (68.1%), adoration/celebration of God’s transcendence (64.6%), and adoration/celebration of the gospel (85.1%). Because five categories are highly indicated (instead of one or two), the best analysis that can be extrapolated from this particular data is that elements typically chosen to be included in worship service beginnings are not restricted to a single characteristic but rather are varied.
