Team

Learning To Lead In A Church Plant

in , ,

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?

Advent Preparation

in , , ,

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:

3 November: Liturgy & Set List

in , ,

  • 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

Songs or Laws

As we move toward Election Day in the United States, I came across this quote:

“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws” - Andrew Fletcher, 1655-1716

Laws matter, but songs can shape our affections and our thoughts. This is why we must care deeply about the songs we introduce to our people as worship leaders. Songs matter because words matter. Words matter because they evidence the power of life or death, they image a God who spoke the world into existence, has spoken by the prophets, and is speaking through His Word made flesh. Songs help to solidify the boundary lines of our theological convictions, by giving us language about who God is, what He has done, and who He has called us to be. Songs connect the head to the heart. And songs connect the people of God across the aisle and the ages.

27 October: Liturgy + Set List

in ,

  • 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

Contextual Choices

in , ,

I have been a different worship leader in every environment where I have led worship.

The longer I lead worship, the more I see the value of contextualization. Of course, there are best practices, and theological truths which anchor us regardless of time, place, country, or culture. But part of serving effectively is being aware of the needs, idols, and affections of the people you serve.

I believe that effective contextualization looks less like pandering, and more like carrying an awareness of the choices that will create more blockers and distractions for our people. And therefore, effective contextualization must have clear conviction, as well as an understanding of your congregation.

There is no one-size-fits-all version of this high calling we carry as worship leaders.

Do not be fooled by YouTube videos when everything looks formulaic and uniform.

Do not be lazy in serving the unique people God drawn to your church.

Clarify your convictions. Serve and challenge effectively. Love God, love His people.

6 October: Liturgy & Set List

in ,

  • 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

Corporate Readings

in , ,

There is no part of the corporate gathering that is passive. When someone is praying, we pray with them. When someone is preaching we lean in actively listening. When we sing we sing out for the sake of the Lord and our brothers and sisters - even when we don’t like the songs, even when we don’t know the songs. We show up ready to serve, love, and give - not simply prepared to receive or take.

Corporate readings are an easy way to increase active participation in the corporate gathering. Simply reading a passage of Scripture aloud together, reading something as a call and response, reciting a prayer, or reading from the Book of Common Prayer, the Worship Sourcebook, The Valley of Vision, or simply reading lyrics to a hymn.

Because we have been made in the image of a God who speaks, the ability to speak is a divine gift. God spoke the universe into existence and sustains it by the word of His power. Scripture says that there is the power of life and death in the tongue. Our words matter and are significant in the formation of our minds, hearts, and souls - as well as in the formation of the family of God.

Creating Culture Carriers

in ,

Culture matters. Every church has a culture, every team has a culture, and as leaders, we bear a responsibility to shift the culture toward one that resembles the Kingdom of God and the person of Christ more than it resembles our cities, churches, and leaders. But this work of culture is not - and cannot be - a solo endeavor. One of the ways I think of leaders on my team is carriers of the culture. What is true of us now, and where we are prayerfully aiming the direction of our lives, our team, and ultimately our church will be shaped by the carriers of our culture on our team.

How to identify culture carriers on your team:

Do you have culture carriers on your team? You will be able to recognize them because their voices, presence, and influence have an outsized impact on the team. On a worship team, the temptation might be to consider those with a microphone (choosing songs, leading the liturgy, running a rehearsal, etc) as the main carriers of culture - and this might be true. However, I have often found that the most consistent carriers of culture are not always the most obvious leaders. Who shows up early? Who is encouraging the team? Who is investing in relationship? Who is giving more of themselves (in time and talent) than is expected of the rest of your volunteers? Here are your culture carriers.

How to encourage culture carriers on your team:

  • Invite them in. Bring them into your thought process, and your planning.

  • Ask them to do intentionally what they are already doing naturally.

  • Entrust them with greater responsibility in leading the team, the congregation, and planning.

  • Ask them to weigh in on decisions about songs, events, services, and the overall direction of your team.

  • Make space for them to grow as leaders

  • Make investments in their leadership on your team as well as their growth as people.

Ultimately, this is the discipleship. And discipleship is the long game. This work will be slow, but it is the kind of self-giving we are called towards as disciples of Christ, as we make disciples.

Quotes

in ,

H.B. CHARLES, JR

May we never forget that we gather not to please ourselves or to please others. We worship to please the Lord. 

WILLIAM TEMPLE

To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.

JOHN STARKE

The way from a performative life to a life hidden in Christ is death. And it feels like death too.

LAMAR BOSCHMAN

When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4