Preparation for Worship

Trying to remember lyrics, chords, and song flow is very difficult when you are up on stage -- as so many of us know. We have to learn music week to week and it's rarely ever the same, so we cram the information in and try to do a quick memorization every week. I know because I'm a pro at doing this. Not only do I have to learn lyrics, chords, and song flow, but I have to remember all three of them at the same time, whereas most of you only have to remember one or two at most. It becomes part of my weekly routine to memorize the lyrics, harmonies, specific parts of the band members, and song flow so that I can ensure everyone is doing their part in order for the team to sound its best.

Why am I posting about this? This is a completely normal thing for vocalists and band members to do throughout churches all across the nation and it happens on a regular basis. So, what's the big deal? You may be thinking, why am I even reading this?

Because it's not acceptable.

Our performance that we give every week is not enough. God doesn't ask for us to put on a show for him every single week with different repertoire so that he can be entertained. God asks for our hearts in worship. He wants us to be fully engaging him while we are on stage, and not just trying to sound good or look cool while we are up there. Every one on stage is a worship leader. It is every single member of the team's job to lead the congregation in worship. Until we focus our hearts on that mission, we are simply musicians on stage week to week doing nothing to further the Kingdom of God.

God's desire is for our focus to be on Him while we are on stage. Yes, we want to sound good. Yes, we do have an excellence standard at CCC that we do try to maintain every week. Yes, we might be cool (maybe just I think so.) But God has called us to lead his people in worship through music every single week... AND NOT JUST THEM, BUT US TOO! We are God's children just like the congregation, and sometimes it is so easy to forget that we are supposed to be engaging ourselves in worship while we lead others to do the same. I know this because I struggle with this just as much as the next person, if not more.

Now, I'm not saying that we have to be jumping around on the stage or singing louder than the vocalists (some of us should be seen and not heard... just kidding). But what I am saying is that your heart should be focused on God as you play that chord or as you sing that lyric or as you beat the drum. If our hearts are not focused on God, then we are guilty of being lukewarm Christians. And none of us want that.

If your personality is to jump or dance around on stage, then let God lead you to do so -- you know that Nathan and I can't control ourselves. If your personality is to be more controlled and worship through simply listening to the vocalists sing, then do so. All I am asking is for your heart to be focused on worshiping God and engaging the audience so that they will be worshiping Him as well. Engaging the audience = look out AT the audience... don't stare at the music in front of you. Engaging the audience = smiling at people as you catch their eye... not staring blank faced almost stalker-like and looking like you are too cool or too focused on the music to care about anyone.

I hope we can all grow in this area together. I'll be praying for myself and our team to grow, and I ask that you do the same.