Ever been in a worship service where:
A) the band was so awful you couldn’t focus?
B) the band was so awesome you couldn’t focus?
C) you were so hungry you raided the communion plate?
D) you were just distracted?
I think we’re all there at times. Particularly we “professional” worship people. When we’re not leading worship, we’re analyzing the band, judging their performance, and comparing ourselves.
Maybe it’s just me, but when I’m attending a worship service (which doesn’t happen all that often), I have a hard time worshiping. I’m wondering if the drummer is going to land that fill, if the BGV’s will stay on pitch, if I like that song, how the band sets up their loops, and if the worship leader is authentic or not.
That’s some exhausting stuff and I haven’t even worshiped yet.
Pursue Authenticity On and Off the Stage
It’s important that we guard ourselves here. I want to as authentic a worshiper that I can be. I don’t want to demonstrate out-of-this-world passion on stage but simply sit back and watch when I’m not in the spotlight.
I want to engage in worship wherever I am, whoever is leading. So if you find yourself in a similar position, consider these tips for engaging your heart when you’re distracted:
- Don’t sing…declare truth
- Close your eyes
- Lift your hands
- Read Scripture
- Move to a new spot
- Sing louder
- Pace
- Worship in between songs
- Pray for someone
- Write to God
- Pray the Psalms
- Kneel
- Go to the altar
- Pray in the Spirit
- Sing your own song
Authenticity is when you’re the same person on stage as you are off. Don’t become one of those worship leaders who only worships when they lead. Support other leaders, fight distraction, and engage your heart every time.
Question: How do you engage your heart in worship when you’re distracted? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Our pastor won’t invite a lot of bands or people to come play at our church because he says he hates it when our band is leading worship….those guys are outside just chit chatting and when it is there time to take the stage…they scream at everyone to stand up and clap and feel the holy spirit!!!!….
I struggle with it for a different reason….kids….but every once in a while …. a friend will take them and I can worship more comfortable… you kinda learn to worship for like 2 minutes with all your heart…cause then you feel a tug at your feet telling you they got to go potty….
I definitely feel you on this one. It’s a serious struggle sometimes and I often have to focus on why the band is even playing…to worship.
I also understand the kid problem, but let me share with you something amazing that is happening at our church lately. The pastor invited the kids up front a while back during worship and they all looked “cute” and such and sang along, but after several months of this they are starting to actually worship. I’m not talking about 11 and 12 year olds who get the idea already, I’m talking about ages 2 to 10. The past two weeks they were on their faces at the alter worshipping and praying. That made me feel convicted, because here I am trying to focus on the right chords to play and the dynamics and such, and here are these kids who want to do nothing but love on Jesus because He is worthy. In my mind they instantly went from cute little kids to people worshipping Jesus in Spirit and in truth. Don’t count the kids out 🙂
What a beautiful picture, Zack. Thanks for sharing that. Made my night! Keep up the good work.
That’s awesome…our church actually does this also…the kids go up front and worship…my 5 year old goes up there…im just a little skitish of my 3 year old cause…kinda don’t want him to walk up stage like i know he could! lol….
Yea, it’s never a good move for a traveling band to be disengaged during the service. Doesn’t leave a good impression on any pastor for that matter.
I would say kids are a good interruption!
Dave – I love your points here… I’ve been there whenever I am infrequently off stage during a worship time as well. Something else also really struck me though — your list of tips for off-stage worship leaders is also a great and very thorough list to encourage congregation members who are struggling to know just what to do with themselves when it’s “worship” time. The lead team of the Chi Alpha college group I lead worship for has been contemplating posting a list of such tips/ideas for congregational worshipers…possibly on the screen before the songs begin, or elsewhere in the sanctuary. Thanks for putting it together for me! This could be very useful.
Loving your posts as always–
Thanks Mary. Glad to help!
I think this post is similar to the one on pride and these tips are great in both cases. Been there, done that. Another idea is to intercede for the people leading or the congregation, act in the opposite spirit – from critique to empathy.
I think you’re teaching us that “worship” isn’t about “music” and how good or not good the leaders of worship are doing. This promotes growth, maturity and character.
Dude your posts are killing it!
Also – a stuffed panda for the winner of the Top Monthly Commenters would be a great way to increase blog comments.
Thanks Rob. Stuffed panda, huh? I wonder if everyone else would agree on this prize 🙂
Yes of course EVERYONE would agree that a stuffed panda would be the finest prize. Right Arny?
I like this.
HUGE challenge!
As a worship pastor, I find it really hard not to be focused on what the band is doing, how they’re doing it and whether it’s ‘working’. Sometimes I think I just need to let it go and focus on what God’s doing.
I agree Rachel! It’s tough but so important.
Love your suggestions David. I can easily get so worked up over a musical mistake and think about what I’m going to say to the guilty musician when we get off the stage… while I’m supposedly worshiping. I don’t think we ever truly get it right. If only the audience knew what does on inside our heads.
Haha, seriously. I’m ashamed of my thoughts during worship sometimes!
Hey I’m cameron and I’m the student body president at a very small, but christian school. last year during chapel only a fraction of the people actually worshiped. just a few days ago the chapel leader came to me looking for advice on how to inspire the student body into better worship or creat a desire for true worship and to come out of their bubbles for this year. To be honest I am not the best at this either so I’m stumped.
Cameron, start with songs they know. Focus less on your performance and more on engaging people. Pray for them. When a congregation knows you care for them and enjoy being with them, they’ll open up more. It takes time, but it will happen.
I really like your tip to read scripture when you feel distracted. This is a great tip to use even when you are not at a worship service! Do you have any suggested verses that will be helpful in a situation like this? thanks for all this great information!