Date

8-29-2025

Department

School of Music

Degree

Master of Arts in Music and Worship (MA)

Chair

Lori Danielson

Keywords

Discipleship, Personality Types, Myers-Briggs, Psychology, Theology, Worship, Neuroscience

Disciplines

Practical Theology | Psychology

Abstract

Despite many Americans growing up in the church, there is a wide disparity gap in how many of those Christians are heading down a path of greater intimacy with God. Rather than this gap being a result of lackluster desire for something more, research shows that the disconnect stems from a lack of understanding in how to connect with God beyond the theories and philosophies individuals have acquired in church. Churches and discipleship programs, therefore, should consider developing strategies for spiritual development informed by the range of personality types based on Jung’s psychological types. Each person has a God-given way that they naturally receive, process, and interact with information and individuals. Guided by Jung’s research and discipleship experimentation, research through qualitative means can reveal the effectiveness and limitations of allowing personality type to inform strategic discipleship. By understanding how personality type can inform individual discipleship, churches will be able to find effective ways to provide platforms, both comfortable and challenging, for individuals to connect with God as it pertains to their God-given tendencies. A primary goal of worship planning is to create a doctrinally sound worship experience that is well rounded in its approach by incorporating elements that target each of the eight personality type indicators. Research suggests that concepts found within Jung’s research can be an aid to reinvigorating the lives of many Christians as they embark on their spiritual journey.

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