Worship Identity Map
The Worship Identity Map is built on two key tensions that exist in every congregation’s worship life: Encounter/Formation and Vertical/Horizontal orientation.
These tensions are not opposites. They are healthy dimensions of worship that work together to form us. But each church tends to lean toward one side more naturally than the other, and that leaning helps us understand the kind of song your congregation instinctively embraces.
Identity Descriptors
Within each broad quadrant, churches often express themselves in more specific ways. These descriptors help you recognize the nuances of your congregation’s worship personality. Your church community probably won’t fit exactly into one of these categories, but you will likely resonate with one or two closely. In reality, every church will have a unique place on this simple graph, but for simplicity's sake, we’ve narrowed it down to the most common worship identities:
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Worship that emphasizes holiness, order, and reverence; shaped by Scripture, tradition, and a sense of sacred space.
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Worship that prioritizes truth, clarity, and theological depth; songs function as sung discipleship and spiritual formation.
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A reflective, prayerful posture of worship marked by attentiveness, stillness, and thoughtful engagement with God’s presence and the life of the community.
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Worship that responds passionately to God’s presence; expressive, dynamic, and open to spontaneous moments of encounter.
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Worship that lifts high the greatness of God; grand, awe-filled, Christ-exalting, and emotionally expansive.
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Worship that shapes the community together; emphasizes belonging, unity, and the shared practices that form a church family.
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Worship rooted in story — celebrating redemption, transformation, gratitude, and the testimonies of God’s work.
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Joyful, energetic worship that brings people together; marked by gladness, praise, and wholehearted participation.
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Worship that expresses God’s heart for the world; focused on justice, compassion, service, and the church’s calling in the city.