Transformation would never happen by merely making programmatic changes because the issue runs far deeper. It begins by training our congregation in a theology of spiritual formation. We believe the Spirit typically brings transformation through our sustained effort over a period of time. So we don't think of or talk about our weekly worship experiences as a walk down the Damascus Road where light constantly flashes and people are instantaneously changed.
We want wonderful "moments" in our services, and we often have them. But we have spent many years trying to train our congregation to understand the difference between an exhilarating experience and authentic transformation. Our success as leaders is not in designing compelling experiences but in helping people live more fully under God. In essence, we try to plan services that constantly point at God and how daily life can be different when it is lived out under him.
So we plan our worship experience to be a retelling of the story of God. In our teaching, we give people a bigger vision of who God is and what life can be like under his reign. This is not about "steps" to a deeper life with God, but about developing keener eyesight and sharper hearing so we can discern his presence in our daily lives.
—Mike Lueken, Oak Hills Church, Folsom, California
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