Worship Gatherings
So I'm reading this book for one of my classes at school, and God is majorly showing me things, and placing new avenues of thinking in my mind, so I thought I would share just a few.
So that I don't get in trouble for plaigerism I am quoting from the book Emerging Worship - by Dan Kimball.
Many times in church, we as ministers are constantly thinking of how we can improve our worship services/gatherings. As time & technology progresses, we can easily get in a mindset that we must have the best sounds system, the best musicians, the best singers, the best, media, the best technology. We can sit around and try to impress everyone so much that we sink into the 'American Idol' approach. Dan says; "The American Idol approach to church reduces us to performers and reduces church attendees to mere judges." Wow, what a statement he made. It really makes me want to step back and view how I am valuing ministry, and what emphasis I am placing on all that I do. Everything I do must be for an audience of One, and I must encourage the fellowship to become engaged in worship, and have an encounter with their creator, not just an experience that they will soon forget about. They must encounter Jesus during worship and be "Transformed." "There is great danger if the focus of our worship getherings subtly shifts to our video backgrounds, prayer sttions, ancient creeds, candles, artwork, etc. If tht happens, we'll begin teaching people (without saying it) that the worship service is a service we provide for people."
"*What comments do you hear about your worship service? Do people say, 'I enjoyed that' or 'That was fun' or 'Good job today?' Or do they say, 'I encountered God here today' or 'I appreciated tht people prayed for me here' or 'I felt the presence of Jesus here?' There is a big -No Huge - difference between the two."
What a statement.... No longer do we need to be told that we did a good job... were not there to be told we did a good job. We are just there to lead the people, as the Holy Spirit leads us, in worship. In reading this I got a sick feeling in my stomach, many times people have said good job to me, and thinking back on that makes me sad and sick all at the same time, for I feel as if I have performed and not ministered effectively. Oh God help me to never perform, but to worship you, and lead others in worship together. Don't let me ever turn what I do into a performace.
"We must remember that the church is not about the worship service, preaching, or music. It also is not about any of the multisensory expressions of worship we create. The church is the peope of God on a mission together wherever they are - not just when they arein the meetings we design. We have a holy responsibility to shape people's view of the Christian experience. If we shape it on a faulty foundation, then woe to us."
God help help us a worship leaders, pastors, teachers... to raise up a generation of men and women hungry for the things of God. Never let us fall into the trap of coming to church because it is what we do, or because we were made too. Never let it be a show, or performance, but let it be heartfelt, true, holy, passionate, & intimate, life-changing worship to you Jesus.
I Love You!
So that I don't get in trouble for plaigerism I am quoting from the book Emerging Worship - by Dan Kimball.
Many times in church, we as ministers are constantly thinking of how we can improve our worship services/gatherings. As time & technology progresses, we can easily get in a mindset that we must have the best sounds system, the best musicians, the best singers, the best, media, the best technology. We can sit around and try to impress everyone so much that we sink into the 'American Idol' approach. Dan says; "The American Idol approach to church reduces us to performers and reduces church attendees to mere judges." Wow, what a statement he made. It really makes me want to step back and view how I am valuing ministry, and what emphasis I am placing on all that I do. Everything I do must be for an audience of One, and I must encourage the fellowship to become engaged in worship, and have an encounter with their creator, not just an experience that they will soon forget about. They must encounter Jesus during worship and be "Transformed." "There is great danger if the focus of our worship getherings subtly shifts to our video backgrounds, prayer sttions, ancient creeds, candles, artwork, etc. If tht happens, we'll begin teaching people (without saying it) that the worship service is a service we provide for people."
"*What comments do you hear about your worship service? Do people say, 'I enjoyed that' or 'That was fun' or 'Good job today?' Or do they say, 'I encountered God here today' or 'I appreciated tht people prayed for me here' or 'I felt the presence of Jesus here?' There is a big -No Huge - difference between the two."
What a statement.... No longer do we need to be told that we did a good job... were not there to be told we did a good job. We are just there to lead the people, as the Holy Spirit leads us, in worship. In reading this I got a sick feeling in my stomach, many times people have said good job to me, and thinking back on that makes me sad and sick all at the same time, for I feel as if I have performed and not ministered effectively. Oh God help me to never perform, but to worship you, and lead others in worship together. Don't let me ever turn what I do into a performace.
"We must remember that the church is not about the worship service, preaching, or music. It also is not about any of the multisensory expressions of worship we create. The church is the peope of God on a mission together wherever they are - not just when they arein the meetings we design. We have a holy responsibility to shape people's view of the Christian experience. If we shape it on a faulty foundation, then woe to us."
God help help us a worship leaders, pastors, teachers... to raise up a generation of men and women hungry for the things of God. Never let us fall into the trap of coming to church because it is what we do, or because we were made too. Never let it be a show, or performance, but let it be heartfelt, true, holy, passionate, & intimate, life-changing worship to you Jesus.
I Love You!
posted by Lindsey Lunsford at
3:01 PM
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