As God's children, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Moreover, He created us to worship Him personally and uniquely. The nine worship styles derive from Gary Thomas’ book, Sacred Pathways: Discovering Your Soul’s Path to God. Each style offers a distinct avenue through which Christians express their devotion and love for God. Through this exploration, readers can find resonance with their own worship style, fostering a deeper understanding of their relationship with The Lord.
Naturalist: Loving God Through Nature
Naturalists connect with God through experiencing His first handiwork — nature. The beauty of His creation ignites their souls and prompts them to worship, pray, or simply marvel at the glory of God. Any place with a natural landscape — be it plains, mountains, lakes or streams — can be God’s cathedral. For naturalists the outdoors is not only a place for rest and restoration but also revelation. A naturalist might glean more from observing a bird in the sky than listening to a sermon. To them, nature is the ultimate testament to God's boundless creativity and divine presence. For naturalists, the Book of Genesis is significant as it narrates the creation of the world, emphasizing the inherent beauty and diversity of God's handiwork. This book serves as a foundational testament to the natural world's role in God's divine plan, reinforcing the idea that the outdoors is a place where they can connect with The Creator and marvel at the magnificence of His creation.
Contemplative: Loving God Through Your Emotions
Contemplatives seek to love God with unrivaled devotion and deep intimacy. They hold very dearly the new covenant made by the shedding of Jesus' blood and the privilege to commune with Him. Their pursuit of God is driven by a desire to love Him and His people wholeheartedly. Healthy contemplatives enjoy both fellowship with other believers, as well as solitary time with the Lord, understanding that God's love, healing, and communion can be found in both sacred places. Psalms and Song of Solomon resonate deeply with contemplatives as they provide a rich tapestry of human emotions, spiritual yearning, and passionate expressions of love for God. In Psalms, contemplatives find a reflection of their own spiritual journey, with heartfelt expressions of joy, sorrow, praise, and lament that mirror their own experiences. Song of Solomon, on the other hand, speaks to the intimate and affectionate relationship between bride and Bridegroom, mirroring the deep longing for a close and loving connection with God that contemplatives passionately pursue in their spiritual lives.
Sensate: Loving God Through Your Senses
Sensates or senses-centered people use their senses (touch, smell, sight, taste, and hearing) to connect with The Lord. Their worship might include things like incense, architecture, music, arts and crafts, or food. Sensates see God's presence in beauty and often possess creative, artistic inclinations. They connect with God through the means of feeling and creating, noting that they are made in God's image and that He designed them to learn, enjoy, and interact with the world in these ways. For sensates, the Book of Exodus is particularly meaningful due to its vivid descriptions of the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and the intricate details of worship rituals. These sensory-rich narratives align with the sensates' appreciation for beauty and the use of their senses in worship, as the book vividly portrays the importance of aesthetics, artistry, and sensory experiences in the context of divine worship.
Traditionalist: Loving God Through Ritual and Religion
Traditionalists are drawn to ritual and ceremony, finding comfort and meaning in structured, ordered worship. They anchor themselves in the historical traditions of the faith and thrive on disciplined, predictable worship practices. Traditionalists honor the paths of those who came before us in the faith, noting that these time-honored customs and rituals connect them to a rich tapestry of religious heritage, imparting a profound sense of continuity and reverence for their faith. Traditionalists often find deep meaning in the Gospel of Matthew. This book of the Bible contains a comprehensive account of Jesus' teachings and life, and its emphasis on moral and ethical guidance aligns with their structured, disciplined approach to faith, providing them with a strong foundation for their spiritual journey. Additionally, the Gospel of Matthew includes the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), a foundational prayer in Christianity that traditionalists value for its structured and reverent approach to communicating with God.
Ascetic: Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity
Ascetics connect with God through self-discipline, solitude, simplicity, and deep commitment. They prefer to pray alone, away from distractions. Ascetics engage in practices that help them connect with God through silence and self-control, like fasting and meditation. They also tend to be very introspective and deep thinkers. All of these combined attributes help Ascetics hear God's "still small voice." The Epistle of James is a book of the Bible that ascetics tend to appreciate. Its emphasis on practical Christian living, moral guidance, and self-control aligns with the ascetic lifestyle of self-discipline and simplicity. Ascetics may find inspiration in James' teachings on faith and works as they seek to live out their commitment to deep introspection and a life dedicated to God.
Activist: Loving God Through Activism
Activists express their love for God by advocating for righteousness and justice. They actively engage in social reform, confronting injustice, and are often involved in roles such as writing, preaching, politics, academics, or the arts. Activists thrive on interaction, even if it involves confrontation, and fulfill their mandate to "love their neighbor" through actively addressing societal issues. The Book of Isaiah is a significant text for activists due to its focus on justice, compassion, and the call to care for the oppressed. The prophetic messages of Isaiah emphasize the importance of social reform; activists draw inspiration from its teachings as they work tirelessly to confront injustice and inequality while seeking a more righteous and compassionate society.
Caregiver: Loving God by Loving Others
For caregivers, acts of service are a practical and profound way to express their love for God. They often sense God's presence more clearly when they are catering to others' needs than during solitary prayer. Caregiving, to them, is not a chore but an act of worship, symbolizing love overflowing onto those around them. In their service, caregivers mirror the selflessness and grace that Jesus demonstrated, embodying His teachings to love and care for one another as a direct expression of their devotion to God. The Book of 1 Corinthians often resonates deeply with caregivers for its teachings on the importance of love and selfless service within the Christian community. It provides valuable insights into the spiritual significance of acts of service and the profound impact of love in caring for others.
Enthusiast: Loving God Through Celebration
Enthusiasts thrive on excitement and the mystery of worship. They are cheerful ambassadors for God and the Christian way of life. They enthusiastically applaud, shout, and even engage in joyful dancing to express their zeal. They not only want to understand God, they want to know and experience His glory and wonder. As they mature in the faith, enthusiasts often encounter phases marked by unanswered prayers, where their anticipation wanes and God's whereabouts seem mysteriously concealed. However, this period of growth is where celebration becomes a means of intentionally aligning the spirit with worship, gratitude, and praise. It serves as a way to prepare the heart to rejoice in the presence of the Lord no matter the circumstance. Enthusiasts resonate with the passion and wonder displayed in the Book of Acts, finding inspiration in the stories of bold faith, charismatic celebrations, and the uncontainable joy of the early believers as they encountered God's presence and worked miracles.
Intellectual: Loving God with Our Minds
Intellectuals emphasize the importance of loving God with their intellect, which Scripture underscores as a vital aspect of deepening one's relationship with The Lord. Their primary goal is to gain wisdom and understanding, and they believe that to grow in their faith, they should challenge their minds through the study of Scripture, reading, and intellectual pursuits. For them, the key to a dynamic relationship with God is continual learning and intellectual engagement. The Book of Romans is often a favorite of intellectuals. This book is renowned for its profound theological content, addressing fundamental Christian doctrines such as justification by faith, God's righteousness, and the role of law in the life of a believer. Intellectuals appreciate Romans for its theological depth, systematic explanations, and emphasis on the mind's role in understanding the complexities of faith, making it a natural fit for their intellectual pursuits and the exploration of their relationship with God.