Participating in a worship service can be confusing for the average attender. We’ve all asked some of these questions…

How loud should I sing?
What if I don’t know the song?
Should I lift my hands?
Will I look weird?
Will I draw attention to myself?
What if I’m uncomfortable?

I recently came across John Wesley’s directions for corporate worship written in 1761 – I’ve paraphrased them a bit.  Regardless of style or upbringing these serve as an excellent guide for the congregation. Apply these to your own corporate worship experience next Sunday (or whenever you gather.)

1. Learn the songs.
2. Sing along even if you’re tired or not feeling well – it will be a blessing to you.
3. Sing out. Beware of singing as if you were half-dead or half-asleep. Don’t be afraid of your own voice or ashamed of it any more than you were when you sang the songs of Satan.
4. Be modest. Strive to add to the unity of the corporate experience. You’re not a soloist but a part of the whole.
5. Follow the leader. Participate in the feel of the song. Don’t rush or drag. Don’t prove a point. Don’t be a spectator.
6. Above all sing spiritually. Have your eyes on God in every word. Know what you’re singing. Enjoy and use the music but don’t be carried away by it.

I would add just one thing to Wesley’s list. The congregation is a body. The hands need the eyes. We need each other. Your participation in corporate worship is a source of encouragement to those around you. Your worship tells others what you think about God. If you love Him, and believe that He has the power to redeem, let others know by the way you worship.

Notes: The United Methodist Hymnal (The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989), vii

This post is part information – part confession.

What’s the secret? How do we as worship leaders make the experience “awesome?”

There’s the obvious: cool lights, slick countdown clocks, built-in expectation via twitter, cool sermon graphics (bumpers makes great impressions), excellent music (with broad appeal as to not offend anyone), and a studio-like house mix. Then there are the intangibles: sharp wardrobe, progressive haircut, and we cannot underestimate the importance of modeling worship. By modeling we usually mean careful body language and facial contortions that clearly communicate… “I’m really into this!”

By now you’re pounding your fist and screaming “That’s not right! That’s so immature and shallow. I’m not like that. I know my Bible. Worship is a lifestyle!”

Right on worship leader! But let me ask – what occupies most of your time during the week? What occupies most of your thoughts? What do you practice? What upsets you most when it goes wrong on Sunday?

Why do I sound so condemning? Because I’m the culprit! I’m guilty! If you think I’m writing this because I’ve mastered true worship and risen above the fray – nothing could be further from the truth.

I have a BA in Music and Bible and a Masters in Worship. I’ve been exposed to the best teaching on the subject. So what does that make me? A more educated hypocrite!

There’s One essential component to great worship – and you’ve guessed it – God Himself! There’s only one way to be changed into a legit worshipper – obedience. He reveals Himself – we obey. We’re exposed to His word – we obey. We’re moved by the Spirit – we obey! There are no shortcuts here – no fad-diets – and no faking it. This comes as a result of intentional time with God and surrender.

Daily Scripture intake is non-negotiable (see my previous post). Practically I would recommend great podcasts (check out Mars Hill) and audiobooks. Redeem your time. Read great books on the subject like “How to Worship Jesus Christ” by Joseph S. Carrol and “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer. Also, get some exercise – and get outside – Jesus did. These are just recommendations. The point is to get time with God!

Now regarding the list I started with, you may say, “Somebody has to do it.” Agreed. In fact I often think my title ought to be Pastor of Production rather than Pastor of Worship. So I simply say this – do it! Do it well and with all your heart. Enjoy it! But as you’re doing it recognize that all the stuff is only a shadow – a mimic of the real thing – not the real thing itself.

Focus the majority of your energy and time on your own walk with God – it’s the most important thing you’ll ever have. Share it with others. Inspire those around you with the reality of God’s holiness as you’re exposed to it. This will inspire greater worship than a thousand moving lights.

I do.

In fact I’m an utter failure at maintaining the Super-Christian status I try to portray to others. Paul told us to “…think on these things…” (Phil 4:8) – but how can we if we’re not regularly exposed to God’s word? Exercise is beneficial with daily use, and so is exposure to scripture.

At this point we could launch into a guilt-trip and with new resolve rededicate ourselves to a daily “quiet time” (which may work for while). But I want to offer a solution – something that has worked for me consistently.

Listening to scripture.

That’s right. It’s easy – and it’s free. I listen to it every morning during a time we all share – getting ready for the day. I use YouVersion (the Bible app) on my iPhone. I created an account, chose a reading plan (Robert Roberts), chose a version (ESV), and YouVersion does the rest.

The first thing I do in the morning is open the app, and hit plans. Since I’m only on the Robert Roberts plan, it’s the only one I see – and it shows my progress (I like this plan because it takes me through the entire Bible in a year, and because it essentially divides the Bible into thirds giving me both the Old and New Testaments each day.)

From there it pulls up my reading/listening for the day (usually 3-5 chapters). I hit the first chapter. At the bottom you see the speaker. Pull it up, press play, and the narrator begins speaking – plus it automatically advances to the next chapter once it’s done. Note: not all translations have a listening option – but several do.

That’s it!

There’s another practical element to listening to Scripture. Most of it was written to be read aloud. It was written before mass printing. Many of its stories were passed on verbally. So it shouldn’t be surprising that neglected books like Leviticus seem to take on new life when listened to. Faith comes by hearing after all.

Give it a try – I hope it helps.

It’s a pleasure to serve a church that emphasizes missions. After all – FBC Murray is the birthplace of the Cooperative Program – the largest missions sending effort in the world. Several of our people go on various missions trips throughout the year – Brazil, Zimbabwe, Chicago, Boston – to name a few. And we’ve given away hundreds of thousands of dollars this year to local and international ministries.

What drives Missions?

If I may be transparent a moment, as a worship leader – it’s tempting to focus on missions in a way that’s man-centered. We can easily find images, videos, and tell stories of poverty, abuse, and starvation.

That’s a tragedy in itself. But it’s not really the dire need of man that drives missions. It is God Himself! It is the character of God that makes injustice intolerable – the generosity of God that makes starvation inexcusable – and the holiness of God that makes sin utterly sinful. Without a proper understanding of God, missions is nothing more than a humanitarian effort.