Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Authentic worship is led by and found within God's Holy Spirit alone.  With that said, there are a lot of people involved on a Sunday morning that can either support this beautiful encounter, or get in the way.

Next time you're in church, take a quick glance at those on stage and in the tech booth.  In Christianese, this collective is called the "worship team" - the group entrusted with a measure of influence over a congregation's freedom to, or distraction from, worship.  Wait, it's not just the man or woman in the very very front?  Nope.

From the singing, to the screens, to the sound system, to the pedal boards, everything and everyone is connected and unified in an effort to invite and facilitate worship.  All are members of a group of co-laborers to help set up an atmosphere where God is sought.  A collection of members of one body (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27), with each member fulfilling its purpose as part of a whole.

Ask any church administrator: it can actually take a lot of work and preparation to "make Sunday happen".  Musicians need to rehearse and know their parts cold.  Slide techs need to know all of the song lyrics and flow.  Sound techs need to cultivate a vision for the overall sound, true to the original recording and the worship leader's intention.  This is what I call the "muscle work", the technical side of how team members prepare their skills and gifts.  It's about cultivating our gifts to be used for a holy purpose (see Matthew 25:14-30).

But I think there's another layer of work required to let Sunday happen.  Long before the service, musicians need to sing these songs in personal worship, and study the scripture that inspired each lyric.  Slide techs need to celebrate each song's underlying biblical truths that leap within their souls.  Sound techs need to blast the songs in their living rooms, dancing and shouting in worship.  This is what I call the "spiritual work", the holy side of how team members prepare for sincerity and authenticity.  It's about sanctifying our hearts to be used for a holy purpose (see 2 Chronicles 20:17-19, 2 Chronicles 12:14).

Then finally, when Sunday morning comes, everybody involved is physically and spiritually ready to worship, to lead worship, and let Sunday happen.  A team is only as effective as its weakest player and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  Let's keep our brothers and sisters accountable to this holy work, take ownership of our own responsibilities, and then step out of the way.