Every worship team and department should have stated values and a purpose or "mission" statement to help keep everyone in the team and department headed in the same direction. At my church we developed values for the department as well as for the individual. Over the coming months I will be writing about these values and our purpose. They are as follows:
Department Values:
1. Authentic Worship
2. Mentoring & Coaching
3. Embracing Humility
4. Pursuing Excellence
Individual Values:
Calling, Competence, Character
Purpose:
We exist to use our God-given abilities to lead others in authentic Christ-centered worship.
Today I'll write about Authentic Worship. If you've read some of my blog before you may have heard that I run worship departments with the view that all of us are leaders. We must lead in the role God placed us in whether turning a knob, singing a harmony, or playing a string.
One of the most significant ways we all can "lead" others well in worship is by worshiping well ourselves... being authentic and allowing others to see it. That shows an example that others follow. But at the moment, I'm not going to talk so much about us worshiping authentically on stage. Rather, about worshiping authentically on the floor with the congregation. (You can find a lot more about being authentic on stage and on the floor throughout my blog.)
In most churches it's the worship leader and the worship team on stage who do all the "leading". The fact is no team member is "off" when they are off the schedule. We are very much "on". And how we worship in the congregation on those weeks is just as important if not more important than when they are on the platform! I guarantee there are people looking to see if you are worshiping the same off stage as on stage.
I've looked out over the congregation while on stage and seen a wave of physical expression and even shouting out to the Lord in praise! Often that begins with just one or two people. One or two people who are free in that moment to worship as in such an openly authentic way that it causes others to open up and be free and authentic in front of others as well. I'd say most of you know what I'm talking about, because you've seen it to. For me, those are some really cool God-honoring moments. But...
If we sit there and daydream about lunch or the football game to come, we also lead by example. When we stand with your arms folded in worship, we lead by example. When we don't engage and don't sing with joyous hearts of praise for our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, we lead by example. Yes, everyone worships authentically in various ways. But the questions remains, are you leading by a good example? Sometimes we lead poorly on the floor.
It's true. I know it is. Because there are times when I myself have been in the congregation analyzing what is happening on stage, partly because that's my job, and realizing that people are watching me. They are watching how I worship in the congregation. I led poorly. I missed the moment.
Let's do our best to worship authentically in the the congregation! We won't always get it right. I don't always get it right. My saving grace... our saving grace is that we are not the focus. There is always a higher worship leader. The Holy Spirit. And highest of all Jesus himself as the high priest who is at the right hand of God serving in the sanctuary set up by the Lord, not by man (Hebrews 8:1-2). And he will continue to lead... perfectly.
Let's worship him well. In that, others may do the same.
worship Him 24/7...
scott
PS - For those of you engaged authentically while on the floor... keep rockin' it. If you aren't, God still loves you. Ask others to help keep you accountable so your mind doesn't wander. You could do the same for me if you know me. Especially when you see me staring... I'm probably analyzing the service! Tell me to stop it! : )
Department Values:
1. Authentic Worship
2. Mentoring & Coaching
3. Embracing Humility
4. Pursuing Excellence
Individual Values:
Calling, Competence, Character
Purpose:
We exist to use our God-given abilities to lead others in authentic Christ-centered worship.
Today I'll write about Authentic Worship. If you've read some of my blog before you may have heard that I run worship departments with the view that all of us are leaders. We must lead in the role God placed us in whether turning a knob, singing a harmony, or playing a string.
One of the most significant ways we all can "lead" others well in worship is by worshiping well ourselves... being authentic and allowing others to see it. That shows an example that others follow. But at the moment, I'm not going to talk so much about us worshiping authentically on stage. Rather, about worshiping authentically on the floor with the congregation. (You can find a lot more about being authentic on stage and on the floor throughout my blog.)
In most churches it's the worship leader and the worship team on stage who do all the "leading". The fact is no team member is "off" when they are off the schedule. We are very much "on". And how we worship in the congregation on those weeks is just as important if not more important than when they are on the platform! I guarantee there are people looking to see if you are worshiping the same off stage as on stage.
I've looked out over the congregation while on stage and seen a wave of physical expression and even shouting out to the Lord in praise! Often that begins with just one or two people. One or two people who are free in that moment to worship as in such an openly authentic way that it causes others to open up and be free and authentic in front of others as well. I'd say most of you know what I'm talking about, because you've seen it to. For me, those are some really cool God-honoring moments. But...
If we sit there and daydream about lunch or the football game to come, we also lead by example. When we stand with your arms folded in worship, we lead by example. When we don't engage and don't sing with joyous hearts of praise for our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, we lead by example. Yes, everyone worships authentically in various ways. But the questions remains, are you leading by a good example? Sometimes we lead poorly on the floor.
It's true. I know it is. Because there are times when I myself have been in the congregation analyzing what is happening on stage, partly because that's my job, and realizing that people are watching me. They are watching how I worship in the congregation. I led poorly. I missed the moment.
Let's do our best to worship authentically in the the congregation! We won't always get it right. I don't always get it right. My saving grace... our saving grace is that we are not the focus. There is always a higher worship leader. The Holy Spirit. And highest of all Jesus himself as the high priest who is at the right hand of God serving in the sanctuary set up by the Lord, not by man (Hebrews 8:1-2). And he will continue to lead... perfectly.
Let's worship him well. In that, others may do the same.
worship Him 24/7...
scott
PS - For those of you engaged authentically while on the floor... keep rockin' it. If you aren't, God still loves you. Ask others to help keep you accountable so your mind doesn't wander. You could do the same for me if you know me. Especially when you see me staring... I'm probably analyzing the service! Tell me to stop it! : )