If you lead worship, there’s a question you should be asking on a constant basis.
Not…what songs should I do?
What creative elements can I add?
How skinny is too skinny when it comes to jeans?
Should we use two electric guitars?
What loops are we going to use?
These questions are great, but there’s something that needs needs to come first. The problem is, so few are asking this.
We can be so caught in our worship subcultures that we don’t see clearly enough to ask this most important question.
What is this powerful question?
What is God doing in my church?
Matter of fact, I would love to hear your answer to that question in the comments. Because here’s the deal:
We can get so caught up in our music and worship songs that we disconnect ourselves (oftentimes unintentionally) from the life of the church.
We stand mesmerized with the development of our talent, passionate to stand on a stage, anxious to push our creativity to greater levels that we perform for our community rather than pastor them to a closer relationship with Jesus.
We can too easily chase the feeling worship ministry gives us, rather than loving and serving God’s people.
The simple question gets overlooked: “What is God doing in my church?”
Transformational Worship
Worship musician, I want you to zoom out for a second. Set down your instrument, turn off your Spotify worship playlist, and for a moment, stop brainstorming ways to make your ministry more “cutting edge”.
Let’s talk about worship, at its essence.
If you think about it, worship is about transformation. We need to worship God more than God needs our worship. He is self sufficient, all satisfying and all satisfied. He has no needs, no beginning, no end, no ego problems that cause Him to demand worship. We worship because it transforms us.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
What would change if you looked at your congregation through this lens? Rather than it being about your music and your opportunity, you pray:
“Lord, as we behold Your glory each week, transform us into who you want us to be. More than great songs and a great show, what my people need is to behold Your face. Problems pail in comparison to your glory. What was once overwhelming becomes overwhelmed by the greatness of Your majesty. You are what my church needs. You are what I need.”
And so I want to pass the baton to you.
What is God doing in your local church? What are the truths He is emphasizing?
What season are you walking through? What is your pastor preaching on?
Do you have a few minutes to discuss this in the comments?
Because, my worship leader friend, this may be the most important question you can ask this week regarding your ministry. You will serve God’s people better in worship when you know what God is doing.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Powerful words, David. Thank you.
Thanks, Alice! I’d imagine God’s doing some pretty cool things in your church?
Thanks, David. Going through some tough issues with my worship team right now, small church, not enough volunteers. Seems like I have to beg people every week. This is the ONLY question I should be asking God right now. What are you doing in our church? How is this part of the plan? I just want to hear from you Lord. This calling is so tough sometimes. You have encouraged my heart though, so thank you.
Michelle, I know the struggle. Keep your vision front and center and don’t be afraid to lead worship with a small team as you anticipate a host of new musicians coming your way 🙂
Currently, I believe God is restoring, healing and refreshing the people of my local church. He seems to be renewing and drawing the hearts of the people back to Him. I see so much hurt on the people’s faces when I’m leading and hear about so many challenges that they have appeared numb in the past few months. So, in the intros and song selections recently I’ve been focusing on “crying out” to God. Sometimes I feel they can’t express that pain in words but I remind them that Jesus can hear them and heal that broken place. I’m so glad you asked that question because it’s causing me to be really intentional in the team’s prep time and song selection.
Wow. So great. There are seasons in the life of a church where it seems everyone is suffering and struggling to breathe. I thank God for worship leaders like you, Rhonda, who are right there with them, encouraging them to cry out to God in faith. Beautiful.
David, this is so vital for worship leaders to know. Currently my church has been invaded by the manifestation of His glory. Our services have not been the same since 7/7/13. He has invaded us in supernatural way. My prayer to God is to deposit songs in my spirit concerning the glory, concerning who He is. Thank you for your humility.
Gabriel, this sounds amazing! What kind of supernatural things have been happening?
David,
We have seen creative miracles, such as our Pastors wifes breast growing back after having a partial masectomy and losing 75% of her breast. People being healed from all kinds of things. All we have been doing is worshipping and have been under a cloud of His glory. As he has inhaled our worship, He has exhaled breakthroughs, miracles, signs, and wonders.
I want to speak to my situation as well. I feel like we as a church are coming out of a difficult season of questions. One of our pastors – an amazing, loved man of God – passed away and it was difficult for our people. It came out of nowhere. It taught us about worshiping through the pain, and trusting God knows the end of the story and sees the big picture. But I feel we are ready for a new launch this fall where new leaders will be raised up and released into ministry. I’m excited.
God is really moving our church to go deeper into who He is. Our pastoral staff host “Equipping” classes every month to learn more about gospel, doctrine, questions, and other things outside of the Sunday service. People attending want to know more about Jesus and what that means in their current lives.
http://realityla.com/resources/equip/
Albert, that is fantastic. Are these classes once a month?
The Lord is on the move at our church. We have gone through some tough seasons, but are beginning to break through. The spirit of worship is so strong here, but there is also a call to excellence…and that’s where we are. We need to improve in a lot of technical areas.
I hear ya, Craig. Technical improvement is a never-ending process. Don’t get too overwhelmed. Just focus on one baby step at a time.
Muchas gracias, Mr. David Santistevan, for this wonderful reminder! I pondered on this question, and I can say God is doing something indescribable in our church. Though sometimes I can sense that the people we lead are having a hard time expressing themselves during our praise & worship gatherings (which may be caused by lack of programs during weekdays to guide them along their spiritual journey), I know I can never limit God’s power to change the hearts of His people. He is forever faithful!
Sweet! What are some of the cool things God is doing in your church?
This speaks to me so much. Thank you for placing that question before us. We have made some new technical changes recently that kinda threw everyone for a loop. We’ve been so focused on transforming our sound and technique, that we’ve begun to lose sight of letting God transform us. Tension in the group. When you think about it, the question is kinda like a reset button for your ministry. I can’t wait to use this at our next practice.
Good to hear, Jeff! I like the idea of a “reset” button 🙂
Do you have a commitment form that you use with worship team members? Specifically outlining the specifics for example:
Must be saved and made a profession of faith
Must of been baptized
Has made a commitment to church membership
Is a tither
Does your agreement go for 3 month, 6 month, 1 year then must be renewed?
Sorry to bring this up…a lot of folks without expectations will say I was never asked, never told, and I never agreed to anything on paper! Share your thoughts worshippers… it would automatically be assumed that the expectation would be understood unfortunately a millennial perspective can be un-empathetic to the value system in God’s house.