Reclaiming Performance in Worship: Inspiring Congregations to Connect with God
As a worship leader, I believe that one of the most important aspects of leading worship is creating an atmosphere where people can connect with God. This involves not only selecting the right songs but also leading them in a way that engages and inspires the congregation. One way to do this is by reclaiming performance in worship.
The word "performance" can be a controversial one in Christian circles. Some people view it as a negative thing, associating it with showy, insincere performances that prioritize entertainment over worship. However, I believe that performance can be a powerful tool in leading worship when it is done with the right heart and intention.
In this article, I want to explore how we as worship leaders can reclaim performance in worship, using it to create an environment where people can truly encounter God.
What is Performance in Worship?
To begin with, let's define what we mean by "performance" in worship. Essentially, performance is the act of presenting something to an audience. In the context of worship, this could include singing, playing an instrument, reciting a poem or scripture, or any other form of creative expression.
Some people view performance as something negative in worship because they believe it is insincere or showy. However, I believe that performance can actually be a powerful tool in leading worship when it is done with the right heart and intention.
Why Reclaim Performance in Worship?
So why should we reclaim performance in worship? Here are a few reasons:
1. It engages people's senses
When we use creative expression in worship, it engages people's senses in a way that simply speaking or reading scripture cannot. Music, for example, has the power to move us emotionally and spiritually in a way that words alone cannot. When we use performance in worship, we are engaging people's senses and creating an environment where they can truly connect with God.
2. It communicates the beauty of God
God is a creative God, and when we use creative expression in worship, we are reflecting that aspect of his nature. When we sing a beautiful song or recite a scripture in a creative way, we are communicating something about the beauty of God that words alone cannot express. Performance in worship can be a powerful way to communicate the beauty of God to our congregations.
3. It inspires people to worship
When we use performance in worship, we are not just presenting something to our audience; we are inviting them to participate in worship. When we sing a song with passion and conviction, it inspires others to do the same. When we recite a scripture in a creative way, it inspires others to engage with that scripture in a deeper way. Performance in worship can be a powerful tool for inspiring people to worship God.
How to Reclaim Performance in Worship
So how can we reclaim performance in worship? Here are a few practical tips:
1. Prioritize the heart over the skill
One of the dangers of performance in worship is that it can become all about the skill of the performer rather than the heart behind it. As worship leaders, we need to prioritize the heart behind our creative expression over the skill involved. It is better to have a worship team that is passionate about worship but not necessarily the most skilled musicians than to have a team that is highly skilled but lacks passion.
2. Emphasize the communal aspect of worship
Another danger of performance in worship is that it can create a spectator mentality among the congregation. As worship leaders, we need to emphasize the communal aspect of worship and invite our congregations to participate in what we are doing. This can involve things like encouraging people to sing along, inviting them to clap or dance, or asking them to recite a scripture with us.
3. Use creativity to enhance worship, not distract from it
Finally, we need to remember that the purpose of performance in worship is not to entertain but to enhance worship. Our creative expression should always be in service to the worship of God, not a distraction from it. We should use creativity in a way that draws people closer to God, not further away.
Biblical Examples of Performance in Worship
Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of performance in worship. Here are a few:
1. David dancing before the Lord
In 2 Samuel 6:14-16, we read about how David danced before the Lord with all his might when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem. David's dancing was a form of creative expression that was done in service to his worship of God.
2. The Psalms
The book of Psalms is essentially a collection of songs and poems that were used in worship. Many of these Psalms were meant to be sung or recited in a creative way, and they reflect the importance of creative expression in worship.
3. The book of Revelation
In the book of Revelation, there are many scenes of worship in heaven that involve creative expression. For example, in Revelation 5:8-14, we read about how the elders and angels sang a new song to the Lamb who was slain. This is a powerful example of how creative expression can be used in worship.
Conclusion
As worship leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility of creating an environment where people can connect with God. One way to do this is by reclaiming performance in worship. When we use creative expression in worship, we engage people's senses, communicate the beauty of God, and inspire them to worship. However, we need to use performance in a way that is in service to the worship of God, not a distraction from it. By prioritizing the heart over the skill, emphasizing the communal aspect of worship, and using creativity in a way that enhances worship, we can create an atmosphere where people can truly encounter God.
The word "performance" can be a controversial one in Christian circles. Some people view it as a negative thing, associating it with showy, insincere performances that prioritize entertainment over worship. However, I believe that performance can be a powerful tool in leading worship when it is done with the right heart and intention.
In this article, I want to explore how we as worship leaders can reclaim performance in worship, using it to create an environment where people can truly encounter God.
What is Performance in Worship?
To begin with, let's define what we mean by "performance" in worship. Essentially, performance is the act of presenting something to an audience. In the context of worship, this could include singing, playing an instrument, reciting a poem or scripture, or any other form of creative expression.
Some people view performance as something negative in worship because they believe it is insincere or showy. However, I believe that performance can actually be a powerful tool in leading worship when it is done with the right heart and intention.
Why Reclaim Performance in Worship?
So why should we reclaim performance in worship? Here are a few reasons:
1. It engages people's senses
When we use creative expression in worship, it engages people's senses in a way that simply speaking or reading scripture cannot. Music, for example, has the power to move us emotionally and spiritually in a way that words alone cannot. When we use performance in worship, we are engaging people's senses and creating an environment where they can truly connect with God.
2. It communicates the beauty of God
God is a creative God, and when we use creative expression in worship, we are reflecting that aspect of his nature. When we sing a beautiful song or recite a scripture in a creative way, we are communicating something about the beauty of God that words alone cannot express. Performance in worship can be a powerful way to communicate the beauty of God to our congregations.
3. It inspires people to worship
When we use performance in worship, we are not just presenting something to our audience; we are inviting them to participate in worship. When we sing a song with passion and conviction, it inspires others to do the same. When we recite a scripture in a creative way, it inspires others to engage with that scripture in a deeper way. Performance in worship can be a powerful tool for inspiring people to worship God.
How to Reclaim Performance in Worship
So how can we reclaim performance in worship? Here are a few practical tips:
1. Prioritize the heart over the skill
One of the dangers of performance in worship is that it can become all about the skill of the performer rather than the heart behind it. As worship leaders, we need to prioritize the heart behind our creative expression over the skill involved. It is better to have a worship team that is passionate about worship but not necessarily the most skilled musicians than to have a team that is highly skilled but lacks passion.
2. Emphasize the communal aspect of worship
Another danger of performance in worship is that it can create a spectator mentality among the congregation. As worship leaders, we need to emphasize the communal aspect of worship and invite our congregations to participate in what we are doing. This can involve things like encouraging people to sing along, inviting them to clap or dance, or asking them to recite a scripture with us.
3. Use creativity to enhance worship, not distract from it
Finally, we need to remember that the purpose of performance in worship is not to entertain but to enhance worship. Our creative expression should always be in service to the worship of God, not a distraction from it. We should use creativity in a way that draws people closer to God, not further away.
Biblical Examples of Performance in Worship
Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of performance in worship. Here are a few:
1. David dancing before the Lord
In 2 Samuel 6:14-16, we read about how David danced before the Lord with all his might when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem. David's dancing was a form of creative expression that was done in service to his worship of God.
2. The Psalms
The book of Psalms is essentially a collection of songs and poems that were used in worship. Many of these Psalms were meant to be sung or recited in a creative way, and they reflect the importance of creative expression in worship.
3. The book of Revelation
In the book of Revelation, there are many scenes of worship in heaven that involve creative expression. For example, in Revelation 5:8-14, we read about how the elders and angels sang a new song to the Lamb who was slain. This is a powerful example of how creative expression can be used in worship.
Conclusion
As worship leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility of creating an environment where people can connect with God. One way to do this is by reclaiming performance in worship. When we use creative expression in worship, we engage people's senses, communicate the beauty of God, and inspire them to worship. However, we need to use performance in a way that is in service to the worship of God, not a distraction from it. By prioritizing the heart over the skill, emphasizing the communal aspect of worship, and using creativity in a way that enhances worship, we can create an atmosphere where people can truly encounter God.
Follow and like our social media pages
