Discussion: What Makes a Successful Worship Service?
Writing a Sunday Set List post has got me thinking about the criteria I use for gauging the “success” (or not) of a particular worship service. Of course, any evaluation is going to be subjective; but, why is it that on one occassion, I can say, “That was good, we met with God today” and on another, “It didn’t go well this week”? What measuring stick am I using? Against what am I comparing?
I then began to think about the perspectives of others, how they might differ. So, I thought I would ask the question; I’m curious. What does a successful worship service look like – for you? What specifically has to happen in order for you to meet together with a group of believers & come away knowing you’ve encountered God?
There is a whole raft of possible criteria. Is it conneted to the style of the service itself e.g. open & participatory, or led from the front? Does the tempo or the style of music have a bearing on your definition? Perhaps more or fewer songs, or liturgy… or is it something else entirely. You get the picture.
I’m also intrigued to discover whether there is any correlation between a person’s role or function during worship & their perception of its’ success or their criteria for measuring it.
So, when you leave a comment giving your definition of a successful worship service, please state what role or function you fulfill during worship (these will vary according to your style of service) i.e. whether you play/lead in the band, read scripture etc., or perhaps, you have no specific function.
Join the discussion!
therealworshipleader
I am a worship leader. I don’t typically take people’s comments too seriously when they respond with “Worship was good today.” I try to ask myself at the end of the service…”God, were you pleased with worship today?” It’s about God, right?
Hi Peter,
I totally agree. Worship is about God and it’s most definitely not about us! Worship that doesn’t touch His heart isn’t worship.
I wonder however, when you ask Him if He was pleased with the worship today & you get a a “yes” in response, are you able to say what it is about the worship that pleased Him?
I’ve also had some great discussion on the subject over at The Worship Community Forums.
Take a look…
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/leaders-teams/3651-discussion-what-makes-successful-worship-service.html
Not a question I would usually dream to try & answer, but for you my friend…
But how to even begin…?
We know worship must be in spirit and in truth – whether that’s on my own with God or with others too,
When I worship on my own, I don’t ask myself whether I’ve been successful – I just know whether or not I was real with God – whether or not I connected truthfully with Him or whether I was going through the motions… you just know! So how is it different when worshipping as a body?
Well, as a worship-leader, my main objective was always to facilitate (by which I mean get out of the way of) God moving among His people… ask Him which songs to sing etc etc & then while singing ask the Holy Spirit to lead… do we repeat this bit? sing contemplatively or declare it jubilantly? Generally to let the Holy Spirit take over… you see, I believe that God is not some egotist who feeds off the praise of his people… I think one of the reasons He loves worship is because when He sees the truth of who He is being revealed in our hearts, He knows we just got to know Him a bit better, & it is that relationship of two way communication that He delights in – & so in worship my main aim was to communicate love & truth to Him (& help others to do the same), while also acknowledging His desire that as we worship Him, we get blessed by encountering Him too. That’s why more often than not I would sing songs directed to God rather than about Him… it’s easier to detach from songs about Him… but singing to Him gives everyone a better chance of encountering Him, regardless of where they were at the start of the service.
As a non-leader I believe the success of a service is also down to me – it is not the leader’s responsibility to open my heart to encounter God – only I can do that – & the more people who choose to worship truthfully, the easier it is for the Holy Spirit to have His way.
Having said that, on a practical note, when I receive the blessing of others leading (& we have two highly anointed worship-leaders in our church), I find it easiest when they are also focused on God – I don’t really notice the music, but you can tell when they’ve prayed beforehand & connected with God, & then when they wait for the Holy Spirit to take over & show them the way He wants to go – & they just do their best to follow & communicate that same way to the rest of us.
Hope that made sense & answered your question a little bit – so much in my heart but words are a poor way to express it
Hi Rach,
Wow! I love the points you so eloquently made (a very comprehensive discourse).
For me, unless there is that genuine, authentic, vital connection where there is a divine interchange, two-way traffic between God & man – the reciprocal transfer of “life”, then I can leave the exchange feeling frustrated.
It’s a seemingly bizarre dichotomy that the best way to lead is to move out of the way – this too is my heart when “leading” worship.
Good call on the song choices – singing too God as opposed to singing about Him. After all, we are in a covenant relationship with God; and to use the analogy of mariage, it would be extremely strange if every time I met my wife, I only ever talked about her in the third person, “My wife is…” (it wouldn’t be long before she was no longer my wife)!
I agree with your comments about every person taking responsibility for their own heart connection with God. Worship leaders are most definitely not intermediaries, or witch doctors; we do not manipulate or control. There is only one mediator between God & man (1 Tim 2:5). We are all priests (Rev 1:6).
It’s really great to hear your heart on the subject. Thanks for taking the time to share!
I just want to say I always thank the Lord for our anointed worship leaders!
I always turn up in expectation of an awesome worship and have never felt let down! I accept that if I don’t connect with the Lord then that is my responsibility but it hasn’t happened yet!
My ideal worship time (which happens a lot) is when we start together as you lead, God turns up and then takes each of us on our individual worship adventure (only He can reach us individually and as a body at the same time).
I want you to be encouraged, because so many times words or dreams that I have had during the week are echoed both in the choice of songs and your own worship journeys on Sundays, which is such a blessing, so keep up the good work!!
Thank you Jackie – to God be all the glory!
I love to see the rich tapestry being unveiled as we gather together; each one adding a thread which, when joined together with the others, creates a beautiful, inspiring picture.
Surely, God is good!