While I realise worship is more than just the music and singing part of a church service, in this article I am referring to the music and singing part. Here are five things that I believe will take your worship to another level at church:
1) Make your goal of worship to encounter God.
Imagine if the whole congregation had an encounter with God at church. If you did nothing else in the service but helped people have an encounter with God, it was a successful service. It’s impossible to truly encounter God and not be changed. When people encounter God many things get sorted out in their life – bad attitudes, unforgiveness, temptation, anger, wrong thinking, fear, despair and more. Also, when people encounter God they get filled with God’s love, peace, joy, kindness, faith, hope, wisdom, victory, strength, life and much more. I don’t know about you but if I don’t encounter God in worship, I just feel unsatisfied.
2) Choose the right songs.
If your goal is to encounter God then you need to choose songs that will facilitate this. It’s actually quite simple: choose songs that focus on God and are God centred not people focused and people centred. It’s hard to encounter God when you are mostly singing about yourself. Also, choose songs that sing directly to God more than songs that sing about God. King David wrote psalms about God but his most intimate songs were ones where he talks directly to God. Songs that sing to God will instantly connect people with God and help to lead them into an encounter. Just singing about God can be impersonal and keep people disconnected.
Don’t just sing songs because they’re the latest popular ones. Listen to the words and theology of a song and use the songs that build towards your purpose of helping people to encounter God. Even some of the anointed and timeless “golden oldies” can be very helpful in the right moments. Finally, if a song has passed its “use by date” then cut it, as it has probably lost its ability to move people and they may tune out when you sing it.
3) Be decisive and lead.
If you are seeking to lead the congregation into an encounter with God then those who are leading need to have a clear and decisive voice and direction. They need to engage people, meet them where they’re at and lead them deeper. If you hit an obstacle during worship and people are not going any further, don’t just keep singing through the song list. You need to discern what is happening in the room and in people’s hearts and then speak into it. In every meeting there are usually hindrances or ceilings stopping people going deeper and higher in worship. A good leader will identify those hindrances and address them decisively and effectively. Are people just tired, discouraged, distracted, or are they dealing with unbelief, condemnation, lies, fears? Is there some kind of spiritual opposition or demonic influence? Discern what is happening in the room/atmosphere and in people’s hearts, then meet people where they are at and lead them deeper. Worship leaders and pastors need to work together in this as a team and both be responsible for it.
4) Have appropriate energy.
If everything is just low energy and subdued, people will not engage but will tune out. Worship will just go through the motions and cease to be worship. People will leave with a sense of frustration and disappointment. I believe if many worship services were to just add a bit more energy they would improve dramatically and the congregation would engage more and worship would take off. Especially if the leader is engaging the congregation, dealing with hindrances, getting people focused on God and leading them into encounter. If a song requires passion, sing with passion. If you’re singing about making a joyful noise don’t make a sorrowful whisper. Have appropriate energy.
5) Pick up the flow of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit always wants to take people deeper in worship. If the leaders are in tune to the Holy Spirit they will pick up on what He is doing and be able to flow with Him to take people into encounter. Every service has keys that will unlock the congregations ability to go deeper and higher in worship and encounter. Sometimes, for example, the key may be a word of exhortation at the right moment that will lift faith and expectation in the room and focus people on going after God. Sometimes the key may be a prophetic word, a word of knowledge or simply another gift of the Spirit. It may be a scripture, a prayer, a particular song or it may even be a corporate prophetic action the whole congregation needs to participate in. The Holy Spirit will reveal these keys to those who are listening and discerning. Leaders are simply looking for the keys in each service and the people who may be carrying the next key.
Of course this is just my brief perspectives on developing effective worship services in the Church. You may or may not agree, and I know there is a lot more to say about the subject. Perhaps you have some other helpful suggestions you would like to add. We would love to hear from you in the comments below.
God bless
Ryan and Kylie Rufus.
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