During a recent Sunday-morning sermon, a young man asked his Father, with hope in his eyes: "is that the end?" He asked this right when the preacher paused to look as his notes and his voice carried throughout the room. After this funny moment passed, I observed that the young man spoke for the entire congregation. The congregation was not captivated - but instead, in a sense, were captives. What kind of conversation with God are you leading the congregation in each Sunday - a captivating one, or a captive one?
As the curator of this conversation and monitor of the tell-tale signs, you have the responsibility to (1) put God's work on display in our lives in relate-able ways (which captivates), and to (2) give us the structure, songs, and other elements that respond naturally to this message (which facilitates).
If you are leading a captivating conversation, people will be led to ask "What does this mean in my life, and how can I respond?". If not, people will be thinking "are we done yet?" The tell-tale signs are in the congregation's eyes, in their voices, and in their posture. Do they have "dead-fish" eyes, or thoughtful, responsive eyes? Are their voices strong and true, or monotonic and muffled? Is their posture attentive, or passive? As the curator of this conversation and monitor of the tell-tale signs, you have the responsibility to (1) put God's work on display in our lives in relate-able ways (which captivates), and to (2) give us the structure, songs, and other elements that respond naturally to this message (which facilitates).
Consider these four practical suggestions:
1. Don't just focus on song performance issues (leading the band).
1a. DO invest equal time developing the conversation and flow of worship.
2. Don't over-spiritualize.
2a. DO realize where the people really are in their faith as they gather for worship.
3. Don't attempt to force a worship response with "up-tempo" music or gimmicks.
3a. DO put God on display and allow congregational response to be a natural and heartfelt response to His work.
4. Don't go too long.
4a. DO judge if people want to sing another song or chorus, and do so only to facilitate their genuine response to God.
Consider these four practical suggestions:
1. Don't just focus on song performance issues (leading the band).
1a. DO invest equal time developing the conversation and flow of worship.
2. Don't over-spiritualize.
2a. DO realize where the people really are in their faith as they gather for worship.
3. Don't attempt to force a worship response with "up-tempo" music or gimmicks.
3a. DO put God on display and allow congregational response to be a natural and heartfelt response to His work.
4. Don't go too long.
4a. DO judge if people want to sing another song or chorus, and do so only to facilitate their genuine response to God.
RSS Feed
