WORSHIP LEADERS
HOW TO NAIL JELLO TO A WALL: THE REAL WAY TO CHANGE YOUR WORSHIP TEAM’ S CULTURE | Matt Miller
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash
Let’ s just admit it: leading a worship team is 15 % musical training, 10 % spiritual discipleship, and 75 % trying not to lose your mind.
If you’ ve ever stood on the platform during a Sunday morning soundcheck wondering why your electric guitarist is tuning his strings while the drummer is discovering polyrhythms in his soul, you’ re not alone. And if you’ ve ever dreamed of a team that shows up on time, knows their parts, and doesn’ t act like they’ re being held hostage by a CCLI license— welcome home.
So, what’ s the secret to building a worship team that’ s excellent without being exhausting? Two words: Culture change.
Yeah, I know. That sounds about as fun as“ staff retreat” or“ budget meeting.” But stick with me. What Even Is Culture?
Culture is one of those fuzzy, squishy things that sounds impressive in leadership books but is harder to define than the Book of Revelation after two cups of coffee.
Here’ s the fancy business-school definition: Culture is the expectations, experiences, philosophy, values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits that shape behavior.
In other words: it’ s everything. So, good luck with that.
Trying to change culture is like trying to nail Jello to the wall.( Green Jello, preferably. Because lime is elite.) But before you stock up on thumbtacks and gelatin, let me offer you a simpler, saner way.
START WITH THIS:“ PEOPLE LIKE US DO THINGS LIKE THIS” Seth Godin says culture is just that:“ People like us do things like this.”
So, the big question is: what things should your worship team be doing? Besides not texting during rehearsal?
Here’ s the short version of a healthy culture:
• Look Better: Worship confidently. Express joy. Engage like you actually know someone’ s watching.
• Sound Better: Show up prepared. Play tight. Stop discovering the chord chart during the second verse.
• Love Better: Love God. Love your team. Love the congregation( even the one who claps on the one and the three).
But how do we get there? Three glorious handles:
Handle # 1: Clarify a Compelling Vision( Not a Catchy Poster Slogan) Vision is not a vague, goosebump-inducing phrase you paint on the green room wall.(“ We exist to unleash transcendent sonics in the pursuit of ecclesial synergy.” Cool. What?) A real vision is just this:
• Where you’ re going.
• Why you’ re going there.
• What it looks like when you arrive.
Want a practical example?“ I want a team that can lead consistently excellent worship every week, regardless of who’ s scheduled, and without setting anyone’ s hair on fire( figuratively or literally).”
30 May 2025 Subscribe for Free...