WORSHIP LEADERS
SIX MISTAKES THAT KEEP YOUR CHURCH FROM SINGING ( PART 3 ) | Matt Miller
Photo by John Price on Unsplash
As a worship leader , do you ever feel like you ’ re leading worship for a group of department store mannequins , statues , or maybe even a room full of zombies ? I call them screen zombies . They ’ re the people who stand there , staring at the screen with a blank , almost lifeless expression .
In many congregations , we see these lethargic faces on Sunday mornings — people who just stare at the screen . Sometimes you see their lips moving , sometimes you don ’ t . If you ’ re like me , you know exactly where the unengaged or grouchy-looking people sit , and it can mess with your focus while leading . Conversely , we also have those who encourage us with their active participation in worship , and we naturally gravitate toward them .
Now , we can ’ t judge what ’ s happening in the hearts of those who seem disengaged or grouchy . They might be deeply connecting with Jesus or hearing from God . We simply don ’ t know . But as worship team members and leaders , our job isn ’ t to force people to sing or worship . Instead , we aim to create an environment that encourages participation in musical worship .
THE PROBLEM : DISCOURAGING PARTICIPATION
The problem is that just as we can encourage participation , we can also discourage it . In this article , I ’ ll dig into some common mistakes we make as leaders and team members that might be keeping our churches from singing . These mistakes could be contributing to the abundance of screen zombies in your congregation .
I ’ ll outline each mistake , explain why it ’ s damaging to our church and its impact on congregational singing , and offer solutions to fix it . Chances are , you or your team members are committing at least one of these mistakes each week . The good news is that most of these mistakes are relatively simple to correct . So , let ’ s dig in .
( If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 from September or October click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2 )
MISTAKE # 5 : CAN WE PLEASE SIT DOWN NOW ?
One common mistake in worship planning is making people stand for too long . While some churches embrace 30 , 40 , or even 50 minutes
of musical worship as part of their culture , for many congregations , that ’ s simply too long . The reality is , that not everyone in your church is ready or even able to engage with extended periods of worship through singing .
It ’ s crucial to remember that music is not the primary worship language for many people . Some connect with God through nature , acts of service , or faith-based practices and rituals . Assuming that everyone wants to sing for 30 minutes or more can lead to disengagement and burnout .
So , how can we adjust ? Here are two key points to remember as you plan worship :
1 . The Pace and Length of Your Sets Matter : When our songs drag on too long , people mentally check out and stop singing . Keep an eye on the energy levels and adjust accordingly to maintain engagement .
2 . Weekend Worship Isn ’ t Meant to Be a Week ’ s Worth of Worship : Sunday gatherings are not intended to fill every person ’ s worship tank for the week . Instead , aim to create a worship experience that leaves people wanting more , encouraging them to
34 November 2024 Subscribe for Free ...