This past weekend I was able to enjoy a day-long worship seminar from Tom Kraeuter hosted by the Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary. It was highly beneficial for me (and hopefully many others there). What was interesting was that I came expecting a workshop on practicals and mechanics of worship ministry (namely – musical training) but was instead taught skillfully from God’s word about what worship is, developing worshipers, how to worship God in the hard times and more.
One thought that struck me deeply and has me thinking differently about a lot of things was this question that Tom asked:
Are you more interested in leading worship or in developing worshipers?
It is so easy for us to get caught up in the “importance” of leading worship and try to force fruit out of our congregation all the while forgetting that we must look at the root of where worship comes from. If our people don’t have a biblical understanding of worship in their hearts and minds (root), no evidence of worship (fruit; excitement, physical expressions, etc.) will even be possible.
No amount of musical technique, words of exhortation, or any other way to urge people to worship will work if they don’t understand who it is their worshiping, why they’re doing it, and how to do it.
Lord, help me be someone who is much more interested in developing worshipers than leading worship.
What are some ways you’ve taught people how to become worshipers instead of just church-attenders and spectators?
