How To Kill Worship

What a title, huh? But this is what happens so often in our churches week after week after week.

We just get so caught up in what WE want and what WE expect that no one thinks about the impact on those that we're trying to reach. How does THAT make sense?

Here's how to kill (or continue to kill) worship in your church (the short list):

1. Keep doing the same things today that you did 10-20 years ago. Jesus never changed, so we shouldn't either, right?
2. Put un-gifted leaders in front of the congregation. Hey, they have 'a heart to worship the Lord,' so we should let them lead. Hear it all the time - doesn't make it right!
3. Have the Senior Pastor lead all the worship music, including the practice time. Hey, he doesn't have enough on his plate. What are we paying him for?
4. DON'T spend money on hiring someone to lead the worship ministry team. We should spend that money on the youth director, because THAT'S our future!
   

Okay, now that the fun part is out of the way, let's get real.

1. You CANNOT effectively keep doing what you did 10-20 years ago and expect to attract the younger, upcoming generations. It was old and dreary then, and that will not draw people in to connect with God, no matter how good the preaching is. GET NEW MUSIC in your church TODAY! Jesus NEVER changed - but His methods to reach people DID!
   
2. Just because you have a gifted singer does not make them a gifted leader. And just because you have a gifted leader does not make them the leader for worship. The right HEART has to be connected with the right GIFTS and the ABILITY to lead others UNDER THE DIRECTION of a Senior Pastor - that's your fit! Yes, they are out there - be diligent!
3. This is how to kill not only the worship, but your Senior Pastor as well. Do you really think you know what he does, what his day looks like? If you do, stop lying to yourself and go ask him. You have NO IDEA what he has to endure as the leader in your church.
4. Help your Senior Pastor out by finding someone to take this leadership position in your church BEFORE you hire a youth or children's person. Stop and think about the flow to your church - where do people come FIRST when they visit? Youth department? Children's ministry? NO - they come to a worship service. Perhaps we should invest not only our finances but our BEST EFFORTS in this area first and then fill the others. If mom and dad can't enjoy worship, chances are they're not going to be bringing the kids back for anything - period.

If you like YOUR church the way it is now, then you need to have your greeters add a phrase to their morning greeting. "Welcome to (our church). We like it the way it is here now, so we're not letting anyone else in. Thanks for coming but you'll just have to go to hell. Have a nice day."
That is what we're saying when we WON'T change. We're slamming the door to heaven in their face and saying that we don't care.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be held accountable for that when I meet Jesus face to face. Change for KINGDOM sake is always the right change. What will it take for you?

Don't kill worship...