As worship leaders, we love compliments. We love to be validated for what we do.
While we don’t lead for the validation, it’s always nice when others confirm God’s call and say we’re going in the right direction. A few weeks ago was one of those moments.
Following the service, an older man approached me. No offense to older people, but it does make me nervous at times what they’re going to say. I’ve heard quite a few “it’s too loud,” “I don’t like the songs,” “I can’t even be in the room during worship” comments.
But even that negative feedback over the years has helped me. It’s helped me be a better leader. It’s helped me bend not just toward the next generation but the older generation as well. It’s helped me realize that worship isn’t just about being cool it’s about being compassionate to all generations and helping give voice to the people, not just myself.
So…back to the approaching older man.
I braced myself for the worst. I smiled on the outside but inwardly I was prepared for the worst. I could feel the sweat building.
But with tears in his eyes this man approached me and said, “Thank you. I really felt a part of that.”
OK, I know that was simple. But in that moment it was the kindest compliment he could have given me as a worship leader. He felt a part of it.
Do you know why your congregation might not be responding the way you want them to? Because they don’t feel a part of the worship experience.
Do you know why you haven’t seen the breakthrough in worship you’ve been praying for? Because your people don’t feel a part of the gathering.
What You Don’t Need
Oftentimes we get so immersed with being progressive that we leave people in the wake of our creativity. We haven’t brought them with us. And that is a problem.
You know what you don’t need?
- You don’t need more passion.
- You don’t even need better songs.
- You don’t need a better band.
- You don’t need a bigger budget.
- You don’t need pad loops, click tracks, skinny jeans, and a single origin chemex pour over in the green room.
You need to help people feel a part of it. Stand with them. Cry with them. Listen to their stories. Smile at them. Help them find the song they need for their season of life.
Because that’s what we’re supposed to be doing anyway, right? Worship ministry isn’t just about us finding our voice as worship leaders but helping others find theirs.
If you don’t change anything else in 2018, change this. Help your church feel a part of those corporate moments.
Prioritize their voice. Encourage them to sing. Be inviting.
In so many churches all I see is a band playing music in front of a room that hasn’t been invited in. Their voices haven’t been prioritized. They haven’t been told what to do.
So what would it take to increase engagement?
What are you willing to change?
Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
David, blessings.
I am curious of what “older” is but it really doesn’t matter. As you noted, older is relative when set against a gathering for the purpose of the word, prayer, admonition, teaching, connection and song.
Age-driven-Exclusivity is a natural, commonplace thing in the world. We do it on purpose.
6:00 news advertising is almost exclusively for the aging population, if we go by the drug companies allure.
Age-bias is expected at a Bieber concert. Cliques are the norm in youth gatherings.
Multi-generational churches are fewer and farther between as these rubber-stamped-dynamics have taken root . This is perhaps at the heart of engagement diminuendo.
We want to make worship about feelings (the new Holy Spirit and scripture substitute)
such that anyone who cries or waxes verklempt must be getting our music and performance.
Perhaps this type “engagement” is best left for rings, weddings and hero worship?
We see “involvement ” in the scriptures. The church of today and yesteryear has been successful at reducing worship down to a one speaker-didactic sermon, and stage performances hoping to entice, impress and manipulate instead of edifying. Willful ignorance of the Word of God perpetuates spiritual dysfunction and self-centered liturgies. From all of this, yes, we do need a SHIFT.
“My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That’s how it should be when someone sings, or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means.” (I Cor. 14:26)
Corporate worship is not a counseling session, lecture hall or thrilling song festival.
If I am truly called as a leader, I exist, “so that his people would learn to serve, and his body would grow strong.” (Ephesians 4:12)
As one who leads in worship, the best compliment I ever get is one where they understood God to be holy, themselves to be small and sinful, Jesus to be full of grace and mercy, and his work for them to be ready on every horizon.
And they never knew I was anywhere to be found as a leader.
What version of the Bible is this? I really like it, but I can’t find it in my Bible app.
“My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That’s how it should be when someone sings, or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means.” (I Cor. 14:26)
Hello Lindel.
CEV Contemporary English Version
It’s nice when that certain translation “speaks” to me the way I need to hear at that time.
We almost have a translation for every learning style these days. What a blessing.
Blessings to you.
Thank you!!!
“Prioritize their voice. Encourage them to sing. Be inviting.”
What does this mean?
It really spoke to us, that is so true. We need to get people engaged in what we do. Well said.
Thanks for your article. It’s easy, as worship leaders, to focus too much on great “execution” of the songs as opposed to selecting meaningful songs that prompt people to want to engage in worship. And often prompting engagement begins with words of exhortation; perhaps about what the song means and why its words are powerful … to you … and honoring to God.
How do we balance execution and engagement?