WC – 1.20.08 – 1 cor. 14:15
i have carefully shifted some of my focus on sunday mornings. feeling a slight apathy about the tone and timbre of worship at my church, i’ve become discouraged in bringing songs of inspiration before them. our worship team has striven to present both hymns and contemporary songs that might challenge and inspire. but, not much change has occurred.
i realized recently that my discouragement may have more to do with our congregations’ perspective on singing/worship than on our song selection. now, my attention will now be in search of creative ways to spur them on during our worship service.
this sunday i shared a scripture to encourage our congregation to truly engage their minds in worship:
1 Corinthians 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
i want to intentionally lead them in worship of both old and new songs. i want to help them grasp that music is a means to communicate with God.
so i challenged them to engage their minds in the words of the songs that we were singing. i asked them to make these words true of them today.
and, on more than one face, i noticed a change.
Songs:
Take my life and Let it be (hymnal) – Francis Havergal
I cannot tell (hymnal) – William Young Fullerton
I will Praise Him Still – Fernando Ortega
How Deep the Father’s love for Us – Stuart Townend
Give us Clean Hands – Charlie Hall
Special Music – Borne – by Not By Sight
Sounds like you have a good perspective on this. Some people will never be able to be lead somewhere, but most will happily go if they truly understand where you are leading them. It is not just about seeing and becoming physical about it For many it is about understanding in the mind before the heart can respond. I think you may have hit something great for your congregation.
Mandy, first of all… bless you for hanging in there.
Second, when someone has got up, be it the pastor, someone in the congregation, or the worship leader and introduced the worship with a verse or a short challenge to worship, things have always been better. People always seemed to make that little extra effort to connect with God.
At the same time if that happened every week I think it would loose it’s impact.
May God continue to use you to bring people into His presence.
Mandy-
Use of scripture throughout a service, I think, is appropriate and necessary. God’s Word is never void. We will even use His Words to us during the interlude of a song. We have found creative ways to share scripture so it does not seem “same old, same old” such as involving the congregation in responses or using people just throughout the congregation – lots of ways. I was reminded this week that a good leader must lead on 2 premises: 1 – shared values and 2 – a shared vision. And where should our values and vision come from ?- communion & communication with our Lord. The congregation will see that through you and your team as you bring them before His throne. And I love mixing the old with the new, especially in looking for common themes. As you choose the songs each week, ask the Lord for guidance, and pray for the congregation, that they will seek that communion and communication for themselves beyond the walls of the church.