You want to teach your congregation to worship, but how does that happen while simultaneously worshipping? Here are some practical steps to help you get started.
- Lead Like People Don’t Know Anything – Because They Probably Don’t
Realizing that people don’t know the meaning of basic terms, can’t recognize when a song quotes the Bible, and really don’t know what they are supposed to be doing or experiencing will help direct your efforts so that they are not flying over the heads of your people.
- Don’t Preach
Nothing gets pastors upset faster than when a worship leader gives a mini-message. If you share more than three sentences at a time it’s probably too much.
- Make It Matter
Choose your words carefully and only talk when you have something important to say. Remove needless details from what you share. “You know the other day I was on my way to the grocery store when I started thinking about…” eats up valuable time, breaks the flow, and detracts from what you actually want to share. If when you talk, what you have to say matters, people will want to you to share more.
- Don’t Repeat Yourself
When you do talk don’t repeat yourself, don’t say the same thing twice, or become repetitious. Which is exactly what I did in the previous sentence. This very common habit makes everything you share take a lot longer than it needs to and diminishes the impact.
- Spread It Out
Like when you’re getting driving directions, most people can only remember the first two or three instructions, after that, it all starts to blend together. If you want to share about the chorus then follow that with the chorus, if it’s about the bridge then sing the bridge. Share shorter amounts when it’s most important rather than all at the beginning.
- Pre-Teach
In the bulletin or on a pre-service video roll talk about why each song is important, define uncommon words or give some practical tips on worshiping. Post teaching to social media or have resources available such as books or pamphlets in the foyer. The teaching doesn’t all have to happen in the service.
- Never Miss A Great Opportunity To Stop Talking
During each song and for the service as a whole, know when the people have heard enough instruction for the day and just worship.