Project – The Role of Anglican Liturgical Worship in Promoting Christian Discipleship: A Study of Selected Anglican Dioceses in Lagos State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Worship has remained the defining characteristic of the Christian Church from the apostolic era to the present day. It is through worship that believers acknowledge the sovereignty of God, commemorate the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, experience the transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit, and are nurtured into mature disciples of Christ. Within the Anglican tradition, worship is primarily expressed through a rich liturgical heritage that integrates Scripture, prayer, sacraments, music, preaching, and ceremonial practices into a unified act of praise and spiritual formation. Unlike spontaneous forms of worship that depend largely on individual expressions, Anglican liturgical worship follows an ordered pattern rooted in biblical teaching, historical tradition, and theological reflection. This structured pattern of worship seeks not only to glorify God but also to shape the spiritual lives of believers into faithful disciples of Jesus Christ (Avis, 2018).

The concept of liturgy is derived from the Greek word leitourgia, meaning “public service” or “the work of the people.” In Christian theology, liturgy refers to the ordered pattern of corporate worship through which the Church participates in God’s redemptive activity. The New Testament portrays worship as an essential activity of the Christian community, emphasizing prayer, the reading of Scripture, teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and praise as foundational elements of Christian life (Acts 2:42–47). These practices formed the basis of early Christian liturgical worship and provided the framework for nurturing believers in faith and discipleship. Consequently, Christian worship has historically been understood as more than a weekly religious gathering; it functions as God’s instrument for transforming believers into faithful followers of Christ (White, 2021).

The Anglican Church traces its liturgical heritage to both the early Christian Church and the English Reformation of the sixteenth century. During the Reformation, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer developed the Book of Common Prayer, which became the defining liturgical document of Anglicanism. Cranmer sought to preserve the richness of catholic tradition while reforming worship according to biblical principles and Protestant theology. The resulting liturgy emphasized intelligible worship, congregational participation, scriptural centrality, sacramental life, and regular prayer. Since its first publication in 1549 and subsequent revisions, particularly the 1662 edition, the Book of Common Prayer has remained one of the most influential worship resources in Christian history (Booty, 2017).

Anglican liturgical worship is distinguished by its balance between Word and Sacrament. Every service is carefully structured around biblical readings, prayers, confession, absolution, creeds, sermons, intercessions, Eucharistic celebration where applicable, and the blessing. This balance reflects Anglican theology’s commitment to Scripture, tradition, and reason as complementary sources for understanding Christian faith (McGrath, 2023). Through repeated participation in these liturgical acts, believers are expected to internalize biblical truths, cultivate spiritual disciplines, and progressively conform their lives to the image of Christ.

Christian discipleship occupies a central place within the mission of the Church. Before His ascension, Jesus commissioned His followers to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19–20). This Great Commission establishes discipleship as the primary responsibility of every Christian community. Christian discipleship involves far more than church membership or participation in religious ceremonies. It encompasses lifelong commitment to following Christ, obedience to His teachings, spiritual maturity, moral transformation, faithful service, and witness to the Gospel (Bonhoeffer, 2003). Genuine discipleship therefore requires continuous spiritual formation through the ministry of the Word, prayer, fellowship, and worship.

Modern theological scholarship increasingly recognizes worship as one of the primary contexts through which Christian discipleship occurs. Smith (2009) argues that worship is fundamentally formative because human beings are shaped by the practices they repeatedly perform. According to his cultural-liturgical theory, Christian worship does not merely communicate theological information but forms believers’ loves, desires, habits, and worldview. Repeated participation in liturgical practices gradually shapes Christians into people whose lives reflect the kingdom of God. This understanding moves beyond viewing worship as an intellectual exercise toward recognizing it as a transformative encounter with God.

Similarly, Schmemann (1973) describes Christian liturgy as participation in the heavenly worship of God that renews both the individual believer and the entire Christian community. Through liturgical worship, believers experience communion with Christ and are continually reminded of their identity as God’s covenant people. This sacramental understanding highlights the role of worship in sustaining spiritual vitality and strengthening Christian commitment in everyday life.

Within Anglican theology, liturgical worship functions as a means of grace through which believers receive divine instruction, forgiveness, encouragement, sanctification, and spiritual empowerment. Regular recitation of biblical prayers, creeds, psalms, and scriptural readings gradually reinforces Christian doctrine while simultaneously nurturing personal devotion. The liturgical calendar—including Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Trinity Season—also provides believers with a comprehensive framework for meditating upon the entire narrative of salvation history throughout the year (Avis, 2018).

The Book of Common Prayer further contributes to Christian discipleship by encouraging disciplined habits of daily prayer through Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, family devotions, pastoral offices, and special services. These liturgical practices extend worship beyond Sunday services into the daily lives of believers, thereby cultivating consistent spiritual disciplines that support Christian growth. Consequently, Anglican worship seeks to integrate doctrine, spirituality, ethics, and mission within a holistic framework of Christian living.

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has experienced remarkable expansion over the past several decades and currently represents one of the largest Anglican provinces worldwide. Its rapid growth has been accompanied by strong emphasis on biblical orthodoxy, evangelism, church planting, discipleship, theological education, and liturgical worship (Church of Nigeria, 2020). Within Nigeria, Anglican churches continue to regard liturgical worship as central to nurturing faithful Christians who are equipped for service both within the Church and society.

Lagos State occupies a unique position within Nigerian Anglicanism. As Nigeria’s commercial capital and one of Africa’s largest metropolitan areas, Lagos is characterized by rapid urbanization, cultural diversity, technological advancement, economic opportunities, and significant social challenges. The Anglican Church has established numerous dioceses across Lagos State, including Lagos, Lagos West, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Central, Badagry, and others. These dioceses minister to diverse populations comprising professionals, civil servants, traders, students, artisans, youths, and elderly worshippers. Despite this diversity, Anglican liturgical worship remains a unifying element that shapes the spiritual identity of church members across the dioceses.

However, contemporary social changes present new challenges to Christian discipleship. Globalization, digital technology, secularization, consumerism, materialism, and changing cultural values increasingly influence Christian beliefs and practices. Many believers face competing demands on their time and attention, resulting in declining commitment to spiritual disciplines, biblical literacy, and active participation in church life. In response to these challenges, Anglican liturgical worship continues to offer structured opportunities for spiritual renewal, theological instruction, communal fellowship, confession, repentance, and recommitment to Christian discipleship.

Recent studies have emphasized that participation in regular corporate worship contributes significantly to spiritual growth, Christian identity formation, and moral development (Wuthnow, 2022; Smith, 2021). Liturgical practices such as corporate confession, responsive readings, Scripture lessons, Eucharistic celebration, intercessory prayers, and hymn singing reinforce biblical values while strengthening communal bonds among believers. Through these practices, worshippers are continually reminded of God’s covenant, Christ’s sacrifice, and their calling to faithful discipleship.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship cannot simply be assumed. While church attendance and participation in liturgical services remain relatively high within many Anglican congregations in Lagos State, questions persist regarding whether such participation consistently produces measurable spiritual maturity, ethical transformation, biblical commitment, and active Christian witness. Some worshippers participate faithfully in liturgical services without demonstrating corresponding growth in discipleship, suggesting a possible gap between liturgical participation and practical Christian living.

Furthermore, increasing influence from contemporary worship movements has introduced new patterns of worship that sometimes prioritize entertainment, emotional experiences, and contemporary expressions over traditional liturgical practices. While these developments have attracted many young people, they have also generated theological discussions concerning the continuing relevance of Anglican liturgical worship in contemporary society. Some argue that traditional liturgy remains indispensable for Christian formation because of its theological depth and historical continuity, whereas others advocate significant liturgical adaptations to meet modern expectations (Williams, 2020).

Within the Anglican Church in Lagos State, clergy continue to invest considerable effort in preaching, sacramental ministry, catechism, confirmation classes, Bible study, youth ministry, and liturgical celebrations. Yet relatively few empirical theological studies have specifically examined how Anglican liturgical worship contributes to the process of Christian discipleship among church members within selected dioceses in Lagos State. Existing literature has concentrated largely on liturgical history, ecclesiology, worship renewal, or sacramental theology, leaving limited attention to the practical relationship between liturgical participation and discipleship formation in the Nigerian Anglican context.

This gap creates the need for a contextual theological investigation into the role of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship. Such a study will contribute to theological scholarship by examining how liturgical practices influence believers’ spiritual growth, biblical understanding, moral transformation, commitment to Christian service, and overall discipleship within selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State. It is against this background that the present study is undertaken.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Anglican Church has historically regarded liturgical worship as one of the principal means through which believers encounter God, deepen their understanding of Scripture, participate in the sacraments, and grow into mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, Anglican liturgical worship seeks to integrate biblical teaching, prayer, confession, praise, the Eucharist, and pastoral instruction into a coherent pattern of worship that nurtures believers spiritually and equips them for faithful Christian living (Avis, 2018). Within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), liturgical worship remains central to parish life and is expected to foster spiritual growth, moral transformation, commitment to Christian service, and active participation in the mission of the Church.

Despite this theological expectation, there is increasing concern that active participation in Anglican liturgical worship does not always translate into genuine Christian discipleship among many church members. Although attendance at Sunday services, Holy Communion, Morning and Evening Prayer, confirmations, and other liturgical celebrations remains relatively high in many Anglican dioceses in Lagos State, observable challenges such as declining commitment to personal Bible study, inconsistent prayer life, poor participation in evangelism, weakening commitment to Christian service, and ethical compromises among some members continue to raise questions about the effectiveness of liturgical worship in producing mature disciples. These realities suggest that regular participation in worship alone may not necessarily result in the holistic transformation expected within Anglican theology.

The rapidly changing religious and social environment in Lagos State has further complicated the Church’s discipleship ministry. Urbanization, economic pressures, globalization, digital media, secular ideologies, and the influence of consumer-oriented religious practices have significantly affected the attitudes and priorities of many Christians. In some congregations, worship is increasingly viewed primarily as a weekly obligation or an avenue for receiving divine blessings rather than as a formative encounter with God that calls believers to repentance, obedience, holy living, and lifelong discipleship. This shift in emphasis may weaken the formative role that Anglican liturgy has traditionally played in shaping Christian identity and character.

Another important concern is the growing influence of contemporary worship styles across many Christian denominations in Nigeria. Contemporary worship often emphasizes spontaneity, emotional expression, and modern musical forms, which have attracted many young worshippers. While these developments have enriched Christian worship in certain respects, they have also generated debate regarding the relevance and effectiveness of traditional Anglican liturgical worship in contemporary society. Consequently, some Anglican members, particularly younger generations, may perceive liturgical worship as overly formal, repetitive, or less spiritually engaging, potentially reducing their appreciation of its theological richness and its role in discipleship.

Furthermore, observations within selected Anglican dioceses indicate that while considerable resources are devoted to organizing liturgical services, less attention may be given to evaluating whether worshippers understand the theological meaning of the liturgy and intentionally apply its teachings in their daily lives. Participation in prayers, creeds, Scripture readings, and the sacraments may become routine if members are not adequately taught how these liturgical practices contribute to spiritual formation, Christian ethics, mission, and faithful discipleship. Without such understanding, the transformative purpose of liturgical worship may not be fully realized.

From a scholarly perspective, existing literature has extensively examined the historical development of Anglican liturgy, the theology of the Book of Common Prayer, sacramental worship, and Anglican ecclesiology (Bradshaw, 2013; White, 2021; McGrath, 2023). Similarly, several studies have explored Christian discipleship, spiritual formation, and worship practices in different Christian traditions (Bonhoeffer, 2003; Smith, 2009; Wright, 2010). However, relatively few empirical studies have specifically investigated the relationship between Anglican liturgical worship and Christian discipleship within the context of Anglican dioceses in Lagos State. Most available studies focus either on worship practices or discipleship as separate themes, with limited attention given to how Anglican liturgy functions as a practical instrument for discipleship formation among church members in Nigeria.

This represents both a contextual gap and an empirical gap in existing scholarship. The contextual gap arises because many studies on Anglican liturgy have been conducted in Europe and North America, where the cultural, ecclesiastical, and social realities differ significantly from those of Nigeria. The empirical gap exists because there is limited research assessing how participation in Anglican liturgical worship influences spiritual disciplines, biblical understanding, Christian character, commitment to service, and discipleship among members of Anglican dioceses in Lagos State.

In addition, there is a pastoral gap in that clergy and church leaders often assume that regular attendance at liturgical services automatically results in spiritual maturity without systematically evaluating the extent to which worship contributes to discipleship outcomes. This lack of empirical assessment makes it difficult for church leaders to identify strengths and weaknesses in existing liturgical practices and to develop appropriate strategies for enhancing discipleship through worship.

It is against these theological, pastoral, contextual, and empirical concerns that this study becomes necessary. The study seeks to examine the role of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship among church members in selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State. By evaluating how liturgical worship contributes to spiritual formation, biblical understanding, Christian commitment, and discipleship, the study is expected to provide evidence-based recommendations that will strengthen liturgical practice, discipleship programmes, theological education, and pastoral ministry within the Anglican Church in Nigeria.

1.3 Aim of the Study

The aim of this study is to examine the role of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship among church members in selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The specific objectives of the study are to:

1. examine the major components of Anglican liturgical worship practiced in selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State;
2. assess the influence of Anglican liturgical worship on the spiritual growth of church members;
3. determine the role of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship among church members; and
4. identify the challenges affecting the effectiveness of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship in selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State.

1.5 Research Questions

The study will answer the following research questions:

1. What are the major components of Anglican liturgical worship practiced in selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State?
2. How does Anglican liturgical worship influence the spiritual growth of church members?
3. What role does Anglican liturgical worship play in promoting Christian discipleship among church members?
4. What challenges affect the effectiveness of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship within selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State?

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be significant to the Anglican Church, clergy, theological educators, church members, Christian scholars, and future researchers by providing a deeper understanding of the relationship between Anglican liturgical worship and Christian discipleship. The study will contribute to theological reflection on the purpose and effectiveness of liturgical practices in shaping Christian identity, spiritual maturity, and faithful commitment to Christ.

For the Anglican Church and ecclesiastical leaders, the study will provide valuable insights into how liturgical worship functions as an instrument of spiritual formation among members. Since worship remains central to Anglican identity, understanding its contribution to discipleship will assist bishops, priests, and church administrators in evaluating existing worship practices and developing strategies that enhance spiritual growth. The findings may encourage greater integration between liturgical worship, discipleship programmes, catechetical instruction, and pastoral ministry within Anglican dioceses.

For clergy and pastoral ministers, the study will provide a better understanding of the importance of teaching the theological meaning behind liturgical practices. Many members participate in prayers, Eucharistic celebrations, hymns, and other elements of worship without fully appreciating their spiritual significance. The findings will help clergy emphasize the relationship between liturgy and Christian living by demonstrating that worship is not merely a religious routine but a transformative process that forms believers into committed followers of Christ.

For church members, the study will enhance awareness of the spiritual value of Anglican liturgical worship. It will encourage believers to approach worship with greater understanding, intentionality, and commitment. By recognizing the connection between liturgical participation and discipleship, church members may become more conscious of how worship shapes their personal faith, moral conduct, relationships, and responsibilities within the Christian community.

For theological institutions and educators, the study will contribute to academic discussions on Anglican theology, liturgical studies, and Christian formation. Seminaries, Bible colleges, and theological faculties may benefit from the findings by incorporating stronger connections between liturgical education and practical discipleship training. The study may also provide useful material for theological reflection on how historical Anglican worship traditions can remain relevant within contemporary Nigerian Christianity.

For Christian researchers and scholars, the study will contribute to existing literature on worship and discipleship by providing a Nigerian Anglican perspective. Much theological literature on liturgical formation has emerged from Western contexts; therefore, this research will add contextual knowledge regarding how Anglican liturgical practices operate within the cultural and ecclesiastical realities of Lagos State. It will serve as a reference point for future studies on worship, spirituality, ecclesiology, and Christian formation.

For church planners and policymakers, the findings may provide useful information for improving discipleship strategies within Anglican dioceses. As churches respond to contemporary challenges such as secularization, changing youth culture, and competing religious influences, understanding the formative role of worship can help leaders develop approaches that preserve Anglican theological identity while effectively nurturing contemporary believers.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the role of Anglican liturgical worship in promoting Christian discipleship among church members in selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State. The study examines the theological foundation, practices, and spiritual implications of Anglican liturgical worship and how these influence Christian growth and discipleship.

The study specifically covers major aspects of Anglican liturgical worship, including the use of the Book of Common Prayer, Eucharistic celebration, Scripture readings, prayers, hymns, sermons, confession, creeds, and other structured elements of Anglican worship. It examines how these practices contribute to spiritual disciplines, Christian character formation, commitment to church service, biblical understanding, and personal transformation among members.

The geographical scope of the study is limited to selected Anglican dioceses in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos State is chosen because of its historical importance within Nigerian Anglicanism, its large Anglican population, and the diversity of its congregations. The study will focus on selected dioceses within the state to provide a contextual understanding of how Anglican liturgical worship contributes to discipleship within an urban Nigerian setting.

The study is limited to Anglican church members who participate regularly in worship services and are familiar with Anglican liturgical practices. It does not examine worship practices of other Christian denominations except where necessary for theological comparison and clarification.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Anglican Church

The Anglican Church refers to the worldwide Christian communion that traces its historical origins to the Church of England and maintains a theological identity based on Scripture, tradition, reason, episcopal leadership, sacramental worship, and liturgical practice. In this study, it refers specifically to Anglican congregations within selected dioceses in Lagos State under the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

Anglican Liturgical Worship

Anglican liturgical worship refers to the structured form of Christian worship practiced within the Anglican tradition, involving prayers, Scripture readings, hymns, sermons, sacraments, creeds, confession, thanksgiving, and other elements organized according to Anglican liturgical principles, especially those derived from the Book of Common Prayer.

Liturgy

Liturgy refers to the ordered pattern or framework of public Christian worship through which believers participate in prayer, praise, Scripture proclamation, sacramental celebration, and communion with God and one another.

Christian Discipleship

Christian discipleship refers to the lifelong process of following Jesus Christ through faith, obedience, spiritual growth, moral transformation, service, and commitment to His teachings and mission. It involves the development of believers into mature followers of Christ.

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth refers to the progressive development of a believer’s relationship with God through increased faith, holiness, biblical understanding, prayerfulness, Christian character, and commitment to living according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christian Formation

Christian formation refers to the process through which believers are spiritually shaped and transformed into the likeness of Christ through worship, Scripture, prayer, community life, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Book of Common Prayer

The Book of Common Prayer refers to the official liturgical resource of Anglican worship containing prayers, services, Eucharistic liturgies, pastoral rites, and devotional materials that guide Anglican public worship.

Eucharist

The Eucharist refers to the Anglican celebration of Holy Communion in which believers remember Christ’s death and resurrection through the consecration and reception of bread and wine as a sacramental expression of communion with Christ.

Selected Anglican Dioceses

Selected Anglican dioceses refer to chosen ecclesiastical jurisdictions of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) located within Lagos State where the study will be conducted.

Project – The Role of Anglican Liturgical Worship in Promoting Christian Discipleship: A Study of Selected Anglican Dioceses in Lagos State