Need to replace those five minutes? Add a Scripture reading. A quiet reflection moment. A corporate prayer. Maybe even a group haiku.( Just kidding. Sort of.)
4. JUST SAY NO TO NEW SONGS I get it. You found a new anthem that wrecked you in your car last week. The bridge gave you chills. You need to do it. No. You don’ t.
Put a freeze on new songs for summer. Teaching a new song in July is like trying to assemble IKEA furniture during a thunderstorm— with missing instructions. People are traveling. Volunteers are distracted. No one’ s paying attention.
Instead, rotate your church’ s current favorites. Give them a chance to actually learn what you’ ve already introduced this year.
Remember: When the band is sick of a song, the congregation is finally starting to sing it.
Use summer to solidify your current setlist— and maybe reclaim your sanity.
5. VISIT A CHURCH THAT’ S NOT YOURS No, not the celebrity megachurch with lasers and free espresso.( Unless that’ s just for research purposes.)
I’ m talking about a healthy church that’ s one step ahead of yours.
If you’ re leading worship at a church of 200, go check out a church with 400 – 500. Take notes on what they’ re doing that’ s actually transferable.( Spoiler: not their $ 40,000 LED wall.)
Next Level Move: Reach out to their worship leader and grab lunch or a Zoom call. Ask what changed when their church grew. What broke? What systems helped? What mistakes did they make so you don’ t have to?
You’ ll learn more from a real leader in a similarsized church than from YouTube highlights of Worshippalooza 2025.
6. FINALLY DO THAT THING YOU’ VE BEEN AVOIDING YOU KNOW WHAT I’ M TALKING ABOUT. That one system you were going to fix“ when things slow down.” That policy handbook you’ ve been rewriting since three presidential administrations ago. That audition process that’ s held together with duct tape and hope.
Summer is the time. Less chaos = more capacity. Pick one thing and make it better. Don’ t try to overhaul your whole ministry in a week. Just improve something that’ s been draining your soul since last fall.
Your future self( and your volunteers) will thank you.
7. HANG OUT WITH YOUR TEAM( ON PURPOSE) The most powerful ministry you do this summer might not happen on a platform. It might happen around a grill.
Throw a cookout. Start a bonfire. Hit up a taco truck. Just get your team together for some noagenda fun. No rehearsals. No chord charts. Just people connecting.
And here’ s a secret: you don’ t need the whole team there every time. In fact, your spouse would probably prefer you didn’ t host 18 musicians in your backyard at once.
Small gatherings build deep relationships. And deeper relationships build healthier teams.
ONE MORE THING: FALL IS COMING Summer’ s great. But don’ t forget what’ s around the corner.
For many churches, September is the new January— a time of re-engagement, new rhythms, and fresh momentum.
The work( and rest) you do now is what will launch you strong into fall. So yes, kick your feet up once in a while. But also get ready.
Lead with joy. Prepare with purpose. And whatever you do, don’ t schedule six Sundays in a row for yourself again.
Matt Miller Matt lives in Cincinnati, OH with his wife Kara and their daughter Melody. He’ s the Head Coach of WorshipTeamCoach. com and WorshipWorkshop. com, two platforms helping worship leaders make every Sunday exceptional. Interested in coaching or mentorship? Learn more at... WorshipTeamCoach. com WorshipWorkshop. com
30 June 2025 Subscribe for Free...