Successful Corporate Worship

Ever wonder what the definition of a "successful " Sunday morning looks like for a worship leader?  Believe me, I think about it all the time.  Here is Bob Kauflin's definition as given to a group of band leaders and production staff at Mars Hill Church in Seattle:

I started by saying that only God ultimately knows what’s going on in people’s hearts. But we’re called to be faithful. So I shared that I begin by making sure I have a clear and biblical goal - to magnify the glory of God in Christ. It’s not to have a great musical experience, to pull off a flawless presentation, or to pump people up. We should want people to walk away with a clearer view of the Savior, with more love for him in their hearts, and with a greater desire to obey him in all of life. With a clear goal, I then plan to achieve that goal. So I pick songs that are filled with the gospel and biblical truth and appropriate expressions of response. I plan to say something that will help people understand why we’re singing. I arrange the songs so that the music is a servant to the words and not the main focus. During the meeting, I try to remain aware of how the congregation is engaging with what’s going on. If I sense that people aren’t involved or responding, I do what I can to direct their focus to the works and worthiness of God. If I do all those things, I think I’ve had a “successful” time of corporate worship.

So, when you leave Sunday morning (or afternoon, depending on which service you attend), what makes the morning a success or failure for you?  Are there Biblical passages that support your definition of a "success?"

Comments

[Seth Trotman]

We can, of course, put this back on you, as well. Do you strive to determine if people are involved & responding. And, if they're not, what can you do to direct their focus to the works and worthiness of God? ( to paraphrase Bob, of course )

Ultimately, worship is between the worshiper and Almighty God. We can use terms like 'corporate worship' all we want, but that doesn't change the fact that it is MY soul worshiping IT'S Creator.

But that's just MNTBHO.

[Yogi Taylor]

Amazing... this is a rare God-centered comment on success. Most people would come close to saying this but still measure it by results.

I am not sure that you stated it as I would have, but what you did say I agree with (i.e. success is not based on results but that at the end of the day we have fought to remain disciplined and faithful to our Lord and His ministry)!

God Bless.

Yogi

[Aaron Campbell]

Yogi,

Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. Again, I can't take credit for the description, but I whole-heartedly agree with Bob.

Seth,

I do strive to determine if people are involved and responding. Ultimately there is no tell-tale sign that "that guy is really worshiping the Lord." It is also not my place to say, "That is the fakest hand raising I've ever seen," or "Her face looks bored so her heart must be hard." That being said, physical responses can be a display of the responses of our hearts (anything from a furrowed brow to a smile, from tears to kneeling down).

Whether through a prepared remark, or a spontaneous one I do strive to remind people and undergird what we are singing about. As I've taught on and tried to model from week to week, Christ's work in saving us is going to be a main and recurring theme. Once again, as Bob said, the main issue to faithfulness to fulfilling what God has called me to carry out, and changing hearts is not on the list.

While we are gathered as individuals on Sunday morning, I want to be careful not to lose sight of the corporate nature of what we do. Christ died to save you, but He died to save the Church. That is significant. Sunday morning isn't merely a time for individuals, but for a family using their gifts to edify one another and draw their attention to the wonder and works of God. That is why Sunday morning (or whenever a church meets) is significant, and differs from a personal time of worship at home. Is that helpful or did I miss your point?