Service

First Disciples

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When in doubt, I default to task management. Checking things off a to-do list can seem to justify our existence like few things can. But in ministry and in the life of faith, discipleship, relationships, and community are not tasks that can be checked off a list - because they are not tasks at all. They are postures of heart, the calling of every follower of Jesus, and inextricably tied to our discipleship and formation as Christians and leaders.

Serving on a team is a great launch pad for relationship but insufficient in cultivating the kind of depth required for ongoing transformation. As a worship leader, how are you working to grow relationship with those you lead and among your team outside of a shared common task? Are you carving out time for relationship throughout the week? Are you curious about the lives and longings of the people who serve on your team? Are you aware of your own heart and how you are showing up in rehearsal, services, and the moments in between?

While we are called to disciple our congregation as we lead sung corporate worship, our ‘first disciples’ (apart from ourselves and our families) are those who serve on the platform and in the booth.

More Than Sundays

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Sundays are important. I believe they are one of our greatest opportunities for the spiritual formation of the people of God. I believe that we should show up every week expecting that God will move in power, convict us of sin, comfort us, conform us to the image of Christ, grow our knowledge and affection for the person and work of God, and send us out on mission to live like the Gospel is true.

But I also believe that Sundays are insufficient for a whole life of formation for the followers of Jesus.

If our people commit weekly to the corporate gathering of the people of God, that represents one hour out of the 168 hours contained in each week. But the research shows that for many Christians, regular attendance at the Sunday gathering looks like attending a service twice a month - not once a week. That means out of 672 hours each month, many in our congregations give two hours to the corporate gathering. Is it any wonder then that we resort to gimmicks and ‘fire messages,’ and attempt to outdo the spectacle and production week after week in an attempt to get people to walk through the door?

Everything is formation, but ultimately, formation and entertainment are not playing the same game. Because formation is concerned about who we are becoming over months and years, not occupying our attention for minutes and moments. Yes, we should lead and serve with excellence - but not to entertain. We should lead and serve with excellence because the Gospel is true, God is worthy, and we care about making disciples of Jesus. Plan your set lists, choose your songs, lead your team, and speak with clarity and urgency, but never from a desire to outdo last Sunday or last Christmas - but continually put the truth in the hearts, minds, eyes, ears, and mouths of our people.

Learning To Lead In A Church Plant

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Every church and context is different. Whether an established church with large resources, and a deep bench of skilled musicians, or a church plant that is scrappy and industrious, every church and context has strengths and challenges.

As I have reflected on my experience serving in a number of church plants, here are a few things I wish I would have been able to learn sooner:

What Sustains You

Energy, momentum, adrenaline, and enthusiasm can take you farther than you would expect. But ultimately they are insufficient in their ability to sustain the long-term discipleship work of planning a church and making disciples. Once the energy is spent, moment wains, adrenaline empties and enthusiasm turns to routine - if love is not the undercurrent animating and motivating your service, you will be hollowed out.

The People

The chaotic, entrepreneurial nature of church planting is often attractive to people who enjoy starting something new. Many people who join you in the beginning will not be those who stay for the long haul. And that is okay. Some people will be with you for seasons. If and when people leave does not negate the very real investment they made in the church, or that you as a leader made in them.

Learning

As a worship leader, it takes time to learn your people. But this can be challenging when you do not even know the people who will be showing up at your church! Take time to learn about your church, your people, and the songs and liturgy that will resonate with your people. Be consistent - bordering on stale - as you plan your gatherings. There is enough uncertainty for people arriving at a church plant, keep songs familiar and regular as things take shape.

Encourage

Set up and tear down, evangelism and discipleship, learning on the job, building a team - planting a church is relentless and can be exhausting. If God in his kindness has provided one or two other people to serve on your team with sound, lyrics, musicians, or vocalists, thank him! And thank them. Notice, celebrate, and honor your people for the way they serve and sacrifice. I have been on the receiving and sending end of thank you notes, and I am always surprised how valuable these can be in feeling seen and appreciated. Buy a stack of cards, and write to your team regularly.

What would you add?

17 November: Liturgy & Set List

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  • CREATOR

    Call to Worship: Psalm 27

  • LAMB OF GOD

  • WE FALL DOWN

    Sermon: 1 Corinthians 13:4

    Scripture says, greater love has no one than this, that they would lay down their life for their friend. How do we know what love is? We look to the cross. But Scripture also tells us that when Christ died for us, we were not God’s friends, we were his enemies. And if you are here this morning as someone who has received the saving love of Christ through the cross, you have been called not just to love your family, friends, and the people you like, but your enemies. If God is able to reconcile sinners to himself as a holy God, what a small thing for him to reconcile one sinner to another. But that is not something that we can do in our own strength and ability, we need God’s help to love God, and love others. Let’s respond in song as we ask him to help us do that…

  • JESUS PAID IT ALL

  • YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME

    Benediction: Romans 5:8-11

Advent Preparation

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If I have not clarified before, I love the Church calendar. However, one of the ways I find it incredibly useful in the spiritual formation of the people of God is around the idea of longing and expectation. Advent and Lent give us as the people of a God a unique opportunity to grow the muscles of longing and expectation because we live in a world that is impatient and instantaneous. Almost anything can be delivered to our front door within 48 hours. But the seasons of Advent and Lent cannot be rushed - they can be hurried - but not rushed. The slow march to the arrival of Christ - the growing longing for His second coming. The slow setting of Christ’s face toward the cross - the slow longing for our own resurrection. These invitations we find in the Church calendar - but not in a calendar governed by national holidays and school schedules.

As you plan for yourself, your family, your team, and your church to enter the season of Advent, how will you invite them to slow their pace, set their gaze, and ponder in their hearts? These things will not naturally occur, they must be planned, cultivated, invited. This is part of our work as worship leaders, not to use our people to meet our needs and agenda but to bless our people with a clearer view of serving God and His people in the season ahead.

You might also like these other Advent resources:

Hierarchy

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What is the most important area of ministry within the local church? Is it the preaching ministry of the church? Maybe the worship experience? Perhaps children’s ministry? What about missions, outreach, justice, and mercy ministries? Or could it be hospitality and prayer? Or a host of other ministries that honor God, serve His people, and reach the lost?

Likely, your theological convictions have knowingly (or unknowingly) shaped how you, your pastor, and your congregation consider these questions. To that end, I contend that if every area of ministry has its central aim: to herald the Gospel, proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ, preach the Word in word and deed, and grow deep disciples of Jesus - there is no hierarchy of ministry. And if those things do not describe the work of ministry within the local church, perhaps the question is not - which area of ministry is most important and vital, rather, why is this not true of every area of ministry?

As worship leaders, this is why our song choices matter. This is why thoughtful liturgy matters. This is why growing as a communicator matters. This is why the local church matters, because everything we do is to: “…proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Regardless of your area of ministry and responsibility, there is no space for superiority or inferiority complexes within the body of Christ.

3 November: Liturgy & Set List

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  • COME THOU FOUNT

    Call to Worship: Psalm 94:16-22

    When the cares of my heart are many Your consolations cheer my soul… Whether it is the anxiety of an election, broken relationships, or the weight of sin - many of us are here this morning where the cares of our hearts feel many. But if you are here as a follower of Christ this morning, the consolation of Jesus is that He has come, and He is coming again. Your value, significance, and worth are not tied to what you can earn or achieve but rests in the completed work of Christ. And we are going to teach you a new song this morning that can help us rejoice - find consolation - in Christ even when the cares of our hearts feel many. We’ll teach you the chorus first:

  • MY WORTH IS NOT IN WHAT I OWN

  • THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

For the peace of the whole world, and for the well-being and unity of the people of God.

LEADER: Lord, in your mercy

ALL: Hear our prayer

For the work and witness of Life Church - our elders, staff, leaders, and members - that we would be people who increasingly Treasure Christ, Grow Together,  and Live on Mission

LEADER: Lord, in your mercy

ALL: Hear our prayer

For all those who proclaim the Gospel at home, 

and abroad, and for all who teach and disciple others - we especially remember our international missions partners: Matt Perez serving with Reach Global, and the work of Grace City Church in Cochin, India.

LEADER: Lord, in your mercy

ALL: Hear our prayer

For our brothers and sisters in Christ 

who are persecuted for their faith.

ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, WE REMEMBER OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD WHO GATHER IN HIDING, WHO FACE LOSS OF LIFE, RELATIONSHIP, COMMUNITY, AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THEIR FAITHFUL WITNESS TO JESUS CHRIST. GOD STRENGTHEN AND SUSTAIN THEM BY YOUR SPIRIT AND THROUGH OUR PRAYERS

LEADER: Lord, in your mercy

ALL: Hear our prayer

For our nation, all who are in authority- at the local, state, and federal level - as well as those who work to advance common good.

ON THIS EVE OF AN ELECTION, WE ASK GOD THAT YOUR WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH HUMAN LEADERS, THAT THEIR HEARTS WOULD TURN LIKE WATER IN YOUR HANDS. THAT WE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO PRAY FAITHFULLY FOR OUR LEADERS, THAT OUR SUBMISSION TO LEADERS WOULD GIVE EVIDENCE TO OUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU AS OUR RULER, KING, AND SHEPHERD. STILL OUR ANXIOUS HEARTS.

LEADER: Lord, in your mercy

ALL: Hear our prayer

For all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity.

LEADER: Lord, in your mercy

ALL: Hear our prayer

Father, on this Election Day, we as that Your will be accomplished through human leaders - that their hearts would turn like water in your hand. That we would be people who pray faithfully for our leaders. And that our submission to leaders would give evidence to our trust and confidence in You as our Ruler, King, and Shepherd. Still our anxious hearts, in Christ’s name, amen.

Sermon: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Hear God’s Word from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18… Part of living in this upside down kingdom of God is that as followers of Jesus, our suffering and persecution is not meaningless - it is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory. We are loved by God not because we are lovely, but because He has chosen to set his love upon us, and in response we love in return. Would you stand if you’re able and we’ll sing together:

  • MY JESUS I LOVE THEE

  • A MIGHTY FORTRESS

    Benediction

27 October: Liturgy + Set List

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  • A THOUSAND SHORES

    Child Dedications

  • HOLD HIM HIGH

  • ABIDE

    Sermon: 1 Peter 5:1-4

    We live in a time when every person is hostile toward any authority that is from outside of the self. But if you are here as a follower of Jesus, you serve a Savior who said to His Father, and our Father, ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’ When you live in joyful submission to authority in the Church, in the home, at work or school, even in the government, you give evidence to whom you belong. You give evidence that Your Chief Shepherd is your true Keeper, and He is good, and kind. Would you stand if you’re able lets sing about who Jesus is and what He has done.

  • ONLY A HOLY GOD

  • A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

    Benediction

6 October: Liturgy & Set List

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  • CREATOR

    Call to Worship: Psalm 61

    One of the functions of the modern world, especially the West, and maybe America in particular is that we can keep pain, suffering, sin, and death at a distance. Don’t like what is on the news? Turn off the TV. Don’t like what is on social media? Put down your phone. We can even keep the sin and suffering in our lives at arm’s length by avoiding it, numbing it, distracting ourselves, or ignoring it. And these strategies work until pain, suffering, and death move close. Until a hurricane rips across our state leaving significant devastation in its wake. But if you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus and your heart feels faint, you can have confidence that God hears your cry. You can cling to the Rock that is higher than I. Because He is good and does good…

  • WHAT YOU SAID

  • HOLY FOREVER

    Sermon: 1 Peter 4:1-6

    If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, you have a new heart. Your heart of stone has been replaced with a heart of flesh, and along with it, new desires and affections. You have also been given the Holy Spirit who indwells you and enables you to put sin to death and live with self-control. But you are also called to have your mind renewed daily through the Word of God. This is part of what we do when we sing, to put the Word of God in our minds, mouths, and hearts, and by it, our minds are renewed. Would you stand if you’re able and let’s sing…

  • ‘TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS

  • 10,000 REASONS (BLESS THE LORD)

    Benediction