Is It Biblical for Churches to Have Multiple Worship Services?

Type of Doctrine: Typically Tertiary

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

-1 Peter 4:8-11 ESV

Why Does It Matter?

Many churches have multiple worship services. Why? Here are some of the most common reasons. Sometimes they are offered to provide multiple times (for convenience) while other times multiple services are offered to give various worship styles (e.g., contemporary service and a traditional service). Other churches provide multiple services in order for members to serve in one service and attend another. Further, some provide them due to stewardship (i.e., they would rather keep a smaller building and have multiple services rather than purchase a new building). Are multiple worship services biblical? The article below will explore this further.

This topic is typically considered a tertiary issue where Christians can lovingly disagree and remain within the same church. (Obviously, in certain cases [like among church leadership], I suppose this could rise to a secondary issue, mainly since it affects the way church worship is practiced.)

What Is It?

Many contemporary churches offer multiple worship services due to stewardship, convenience, service opportunities, or worship style. Is it biblical? The following will look at this issue biblically, historically, and practically.

Biblical

Concerning multiple worship services, people/churches usually fall into the category of either yes or no. However, there is a wide spectrum regarding how firmly people hold to their own conclusion. Here is a quick summary of both viewpoints.

Yes - Multiple Worship Services Are Okay

There are many churches today who incorporate multiple worship services in their churches. Some, such as John Piper, have argued that it is biblically permissible to have multiple services (i.e., especially when trying to respond to a church growing).[1] Additionally, many in the seeker sensitive movement and among many megachurches have adopted this viewpoint as well (some even utilize multiple services in order to grow).

There are no biblical texts that command multiple worship services or directly address this issue. On the other side, there are no verses that directly forbid multiple services either. Therefore, many use related texts and theological topics in order to think through it. Those who adopt multiple services often consider it a matter of freedom (some arrive at their conclusion pragmatically).

No - Multiple Worship Services Aren't Okay

Others have argued that churches should not have multiple worship services. For example, Kyle Schwahn gives 2 reasons a church shouldn't have multiple gatherings. He claims that: (1) the nature of membership requires one gathering and (2) the nature of the Lord's Supper requires one gathering; here are a few Scriptures that Schwahn provides as proof:

• "Paul called the Ephesian church to sing to one another with gratitude in their hearts to God (Eph. 5:19–20) because corporate singing helps the gospel dwell richly in a body, and even teach the truths we love (Col. 3:16).
  

• A church engages in true fellowship through which they share the good things they have in Christ (Acts 2:42; Phlm. 6).
  

• The church selects and commissions elders and deacons through the laying on of hands (Acts 6; 1 Tim. 5).
  

• Members give prophetic words of encouragement, upbuilding, and consolation (1 Cor. 14:3).
  

• Brothers and sisters spur one another to love, good deeds, and perseverance (Heb. 10:24–25).
  

• They watch over one another’s souls so that the lies of sin don’t take root and harden hearts (Heb. 3:12–13).
  

• And, finally, if a church recognizes how the ordinances connect to conversion and membership (see Bobby Jamieson’s Going Public), then its members will understand that a new convert is baptized into their body and, therefore, into their care. And so they’ll take the Lord’s Supper looking not only at the cross, or even their own hearts, but also at the rest of the body of Christ which the table signifies."[2]

In other words, according to Schwahn, what Scripture says about the nature of community and the Lord's Supper means that one gathering can be the only biblical conclusion.

Furthermore, many among this group argue that each worship service could actually be considered a separate church.[3] Thus, what seems pragmatically wise is not necessarily biblically wise.

Some even argue that Scripture forbids multiple services on the basis of the word for gathering (ekklesia). However, others have pushed back on this rigid interpretation and application of the term.[4]

In sum, interpreters of Scripture disagree. Some say the Bible forbids multiple services (mainly on the basis of Scriptures on community, the Lord's Supper, and the word ekklesia). They would typically prefer church planting rather than adding another worship service. On the other hand, others say there is freedom in application regarding multiple worship services.

Some say the Bible forbids multiple services (mainly on the basis of Scriptures on community, the Lord's Supper, and the word ekklesia). They would typically prefer church planting rather than adding another worship service. On the other hand, others say there is freedom in application regarding multiple worship services.

Historical

After examining Scripture, it can be fruitful to explore church history in order to see how other believers have thought about this topic in other places and times. When did multiple worship services become the norm in church history?

It appears that this transition has happened relatively recently.

Throughout church history one worship gathering has been the norm. Occasionally churches would have multiple services to accommodate large Sundays, but often, at least in the last few hundred years in North America, a church would have one worship service in the morning and one on Sunday evening. Within the last one hundred years, what was an exception became the norm. According to Caleb Morell, multiple service offerings coincides with the invention of cars, rise in consumerism, decline of church partnerships within a city, and adopting the view that "bigger is better" (as opposed to church planting).[5]

Thus, even though church history is not authoritative, we should still consider the fact that most churches throughout church history have not held multiple church worship services as a caution.

Even though church history is not authoritative, we should still consider the fact that most churches throughout church history have not held multiple church worship services as a caution.

Practical

Often churches incorporate multiple services due to practical reasons, and there are some strong arguments in favor of doing so. However, there are also some serious downsides also.

Pros

According to Lifeway Research, here are some common reasons that churches move to multiple services:

• Volunteer stamina

• Options increase participation

• Practice makes those leading better (e.g., at preaching, singing, etc.)

• The first service is often the most difficult (it functions similar to a trial run).[6]

Other churches start another worship service for other reasons, such as:

• Financial stewardship (adding a service rather than building a bigger building)

• Giving worship options for volunteers (so they don't have to take a week off of participation in worship)

• Helping develop a core church planting team

• And so on!

Cons

Nevertheless, there are some practical downsides as well. Consider just a few, such as:

• Burnout of staff and volunteers

• Longer days for staff and volunteers (often, for lay leaders, it becomes difficult to find a day to rest!)

• More people are needed!

• Feeding consumerism

• Failure to equip and send out to plant churches

• Members don't see other members regularly

• And so on!

Therefore, there are some strong arguments in favor of multiple services from a pragmatic standpoint. However, there are also some significant downsides as well.

From a pragmatic standpoint, there are some strong arguments in favor of multiple services, but at the same time, there are also some significant downsides as well.

Conclusion

To conclude, multiple worship services are a new phenomenon in church history. This should give us a healthy pause to examine the reasons for taking this approach. Since it's unique in church history, we must remember: many other believers did not take this approach! Or, in other words, we’re the weird ones!

Concerning Scripture, Bible scholars disagree over whether multiple services are forbidden or not. (It seems to be a tertiary issue where we should use biblical guidance and wisdom.) Nevertheless, there is no text that directly addresses the issue. So, we must take various Scriptures that relate and make an application. We should honestly listen to both sides of the issue and deeply wrestle with the Scriptures on community, the Lord's Supper, and the nature of the word ekklesia, even if we don't end up adopting a rigid approach to this issue.

And, finally, there are some really persuasive practical reasons for adding multiple worship services as well. However, the practical downsides must be considered. Also, we must seriously dwell on this question: Am I willing to adopt a view that is pragmatically unwise if there is a greater biblical value at stake?

Since it is a tertiary issue, let's interact charitably as we think through this topic!

End Notes:

[1] John Piper, "Is It Important for the Sake of Community That a Church Have Only One Service?," Desiring God, Oct. 20, 2008, accessed Feb. 7, 2026, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-it-important-for-the-sake-of-community-that-a-church-have-only-one-service.

[2] Kyle Schwahn, "Two Reasons a Church Shouldn’t Have Multiple Gatherings," 9Marks, July 1, 2019, accessed Feb. 7, 2026, https://www.9marks.org/article/two-reasons-a-church-shouldnt-have-multiple-gatherings/.

[3] Danny D'Acquisto, "Is the Multi-Service Model Really Practical?," 9Marks, Aug. 13, 2024, accessed Feb. 7, 2026, https://www.9marks.org/article/is-the-multi-service-model-really-practical/.

[4] Wyatt Graham, "Can Churches Have Multiple Services?," The Gospel Coalition: Canada Edition, June 17, 2025, accessed Feb. 7, 2026, https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/detrinitate/can-churches-have-multiple-services/.

[5] Caleb Morell, "When Did Multiple Services Begin?," 9Marks, Dec. 20, 2023, accessed Feb. 7, 2026, https://www.9marks.org/article/when-did-multiple-services-begin/.

[6] "Strategic Reasons to Starts a Second Service," Lifeway Research, Apr. 28, 2017, accessed Feb. 7, 2026, https://research.lifeway.com/2017/04/28/strategic-reasons-starts-second-service/.