It All Starts with Us
Corporate culture doesn't just happen. Ultimately, someone is responsible for the cultural climate of the organization. Take Chick-fil-A, for example. There is a specific culture found within any Chick-fil-A restaurant you walk into. Who is responsible for this culture? It isn't the manager of the store or the person behind the counter taking your order. Corporate culture isn't the result of the workers but is always the result of the to leader. Often times top leaders blame others for the culture of the organization. "If only I had better leaders," or "If my staff really bought into the vision,” or "If only my team was more _______." And the list goes on and on.
Closing the Gap
Recently I gathered a group of worship leaders from Living Stones together on a Friday evening. My purpose in doing so was simple. I wanted our hearts to be united together and focus on what God has called us to do which is to lead others in worship. I've often said this and heard it repeated with different variations; yet, the theme is the same - "you can't lead someone to a place you've not gone to on your own." The principle is simple. As worship leaders, we must learn to enter and remain in His presence before we can lead others there.
As I prepared for everyone to gather at my house that evening, I viewed a video that impacted me in many ways. There were a lot of great stories, but the following message stuck out to me and is still impacting me. Often times in worship we experience a "space" in worship. We've all experienced it. There are times when we do everything humanly possible in order to experience the closeness of God. Yet, try as we may, there is a space. The revelation for me was that this space isn't created by God but is created by us. God hasn't grown distant even though we feel as though He has. We have stepped back because of our own sin. It was our stepping away that created the space. He didn't move. We did.
So, how do we close the gap? The answer is simple and is found in the amazing gift of repentance. The key to closing the space is our repentance. Repentance is simply saying that my sin has caused a space between God and me, and I desire Him to come near again. The cry of my heart right now in worship is for a Him to come closer. No matter how near or far He may seem to you or me right now, He longs to come closer. Why not ask Him as you worship, "Jesus, would you come a little closer?" And remember when you think He's moving, it's actually your repentance and brokenness that narrows that space just a little more.
Questions About Worship, Part 3
5. Please describe your theology/philosophy of worship.
My theology of worship has grown and developed over the years to the point that I believe that all my life is an expression of worship. I believe that we were created to worship, and everyone worships someone or something. Our culture worships the gods of self and stuff rather than the One that created self and stuff. If you ask anyone who knows me well, they would say that “worship as a lifestyle” is one of my life messages. (Beginning next week I’m actually teaching a four-week, 16-hour course, Lifestyle of Worship, that I have written, developed, and taught on a regular basis). As we live our lives throughout the week as true worshipers, our coming together in corporate worship will be a powerful expression and continuation of what God is doing through us daily.
6. What do you need from the pastor in order to create an effective corporate worship experience?
My thoughts on this overlap with a previous question about the relationship between a senior pastor and the worship leader. More than anything, I think I would like to know that the pastor trusts me and the congregation can feel that trust. I have seen the power of that in my current church. It brings such a settling affect.
The other thing that is important to me is that the senior pastor is actually the lead worshiper. I frequently refer to my pastor in this light. He is the main worship leader at our church. Where he goes, we all go. My job is to facilitate worship with him being the ultimate leader. Although the senior pastor never has to get on the stage, grab the microphone, or sing in public, everyone in the congregation can look to him by his demonstration of worship and know that he is leading the way.
Questions About Worship, Part 2
3. Describe a healthy relationship between a senior pastor and worship leader.
I think the biggest key to a healthy relationship between a senior pastor and worship leader is a strong sense of trust. I must say that my current situation with my pastor is amazing. I also know that many times this isn’t the case. What I enjoy the most about our relationship is that we both trust each other. How that relationship functions from there all flows from the element of trust. I also feel that it’s important that both truly know who they are and aren’t threatened or intimidated by one another. It’s obvious that the senior pastor and the worship leader have the most exposure with the congregation. If either individual is insecure or threatened by the other, I have seen it easily become a struggle for power. A truly healthy relationship is based upon both parities believing the best about one another and standing with them to see the goals of the ministry accomplished together.
4. What are your thoughts on intergenerational worship?
I absolutely love intergenerational worship and am a huge proponent for it. When I began leading worship at my current church, everyone there was older than me. Over time, this group has grown to range in age from a few in their upper 50’s, to most in their early 20’s, continuing all the way down to age 11. This is also very evident in our lifeGROUP. My wife and I have about 40 people at our house each Sunday evening. Half of my group is about 10 years older than me, and the other half are 15-20 years younger than me. The group dynamics with such an age range is incredible. I have seen the younger men ask honest, compelling questions of the older men. I’ve seen the older men challenged by the younger ones to go deeper and follow harder after God. This truly is one of my passions — to see multiple generations worshiping together in complete unity.
Questions About Worship, Part 1
Recently, I was asked some questions about worship, worship leading, ministry in the Church, etc. I spent some time answering those questions and thought that I would share my answers with you in the blogosphere. If you have any questions or comments throughout the journey, I would LOVE to hear them.
1. Describe your understanding of “team” or “collaboration” when it comes to worship teams.
More than most ministries in the church, the worship team requires collaboration and a team effort. None of us are capable of playing every instrument and singing every part simultaneously while mixing the sound, running the lights, and cueing the video. We must learn to work together as a team. This really goes without saying. Many times collaboration and cooperation are used interchangeably and are often confused. In my opinion, cooperation is everyone doing what they are supposed to be doing while working together to see it accomplished. However, I believe that collaboration is a different level of working together as a team. Collaboration happens when, as individuals, we are more concerned about seeing one another’s full potential being released. In a collaborative environment, as a member of the worship team, I am more concerned about everyone else than I am about myself. I am more interested in seeing others’ gifts released as opposed to my own.
2. What are your thoughts on Art in the context of the Church?
I believe that art is meant not only for the Church but also outside the Church. In my opinion, America has bought into the lie that there is a separation between the secular and the sacred. However, God’s intention is, that with the right heart, everything can be viewed as sacred. Therefore, art doesn’t have to be blatantly religious to be sacred. Nor does the absence of a cross or an angel on a painting make it secular. I feel that the Church, in general, has been very religious about their opinion of art. Those artists who truly feel called to art outside of the Church are often abandoned by the Church for their choices. Instead what the Church should do is release artists to be salt and light in a world that needs to see Jesus in the lives’ of artists not just in their art. With that in mind, I also believe that art is a powerful tool in worship to awaken people to experience God at a deeper level than if it is not used. If art is used in the context of the Church, I believe that as imitators of our Creator, we should strive to make sure that our art is just as excellent, if not more so, than that found in the world.
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