TACTIC # 3: ANTICIPATE MOMENTS
Too often, we think spontaneous moments of worship and response should just happen. But the reality is, the Holy Spirit who inspires you in the moment can prompt you three weeks before as you plan.
You can prayerfully get a sense of places in the set or service where people will likely be responsive and open. The key is leaving space. So even if you have room for six songs, only do four. Then, anticipate some moments during or in between those songs.( And bonus: your team will have fewer songs to practice.)
Speaking of in between songs...
TACTIC # 4: GO-TO TRANSITIONS
I wrote a book called Worship Flow: 28 Ways To Create Segues. I use about four of those. Early on in ministry, I spent time crafting creative transitions between every song. I finally realized that a few simple segues were all I needed. Now I have four or five“ go-to” transitions that I use, depending on the flow and feel that’ s required.
Now, if you need to find four“ go-to” transitions that work for you, there just might be a particular book on Amazon that could help.
TACTIC # 5: DEFAULT SONG FORMS
I used to put my teams through arrangement hell. I would literally make significant structural changes to the song every time I led it. Finally, a loving team member Chuck-Norris-throat- punched me, and I got the hint.
I now have a default form for every song in our rotation. That way, I’ m not spending extra time needlessly rearranging the song.( And my team doesn’ t hate me.)
EXTRAVAGANT PLANNING
Now, these tactics will help you plan a solid worship service in less time. But they can lull us into autopilot, too. So make sure you do break out of the box occasionally and spend extra time planning. And those creative times will give you ideas and inspiration for the weeks when you need to plan more expediently.
The bottom line: Don’ t be afraid of time-saving systems. But occasionally indulge in the luxury of extravagant planning to reward your heart.( An essential oil diffuser is optional.)
WANT TO GO DEEPER? And if you want to dig even deeper into building all your ministry systems, sign up for the 2018 Worship Leader’ s Boot Camp at the Christian Musician Summit. It’ s a full-day intensive where you’ ll get hands-on training and coaching in all eight of the essential systems your worship ministry needs. Learn more here.
Jon Nicol Jon is the founder of WorshipWorkshop. com and WorshipTeamCoach. com, two sites that help worship leaders build strong teams and lead engaging worship. He lives and serves in Lexington, Ohio with his wife Shannon and their four kids.
WorshipTeamCoach. com
“ THERE IS A ROAR” BY MICHAEL FARREN Continued from Page 104
We unwittingly assume that the crowd in front of us is there to help build our influence, instead of us helping build theirs. So as blunt as I can say it, if God has called you and gifted you to be an amazing artist, then please go be that … I’ ll probably be your biggest fan! But if God has marked you as a pastor, take it from someone who has fought it and lost, you will be miserable until you’ ve surrendered to it.
Let me wrap it up here by saying that this applies to anyone who stands as part of the team on the stage of the Church. If you’ ve been invited to help shepherd the sheep, then by all means embrace and pray for the valiant, people loving, lion heart of a pastor. Wield every note you play and every melody you sing as if it’ s a rod and staff that has the effect of 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.“ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
It’ s a high calling. It’ s a brave calling. It is a calling that when fully embraced, will radically transform both shepherd and sheep. And I promise you’ ll be absolutely amazed at the ways God will multiply the gifts and talents that you carry. He will always bless whatever is blessing His Church.
So to my fellow lion-hearted pastors out there, I say it’ s time to take back our proper places... the church needs to hear you roar!
Michael Farren Tennessee-based worship pastor and GRAMMY Award-nominated, Dove Award-winning songwriter and producer.
August 2018 WorshipMusician. com
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