How To Increase Congregational Engagement
Today, I’m giving you an outline rather than paragraphs. That’s obvious.
But what’s not obvious is how much what you do impacts congregational engagement. I want to challenge us, as leaders, to grow in BEING:
A worshiper off-stage
You can’t take people where you haven’t been. Spend lots of time “on the hillside” because it changes your affect, your anointing, your ability, and your attitude!
Have a deep river you cultivated in private. Be able to worship at the drop of a hat.
A trust-builder, a bridge-builder
Relationships are always based on trust. Trust is so easily broken. What breaks trust?
Lack of honor or a lack of integrity.
Lack of care or interest.
Lack of flexibility.
Bridges are needed to go from one mountain to another without going down into the valley.
Connect old with new.
Initiate intergenerational conversations.
Be easy to work with.
Led by the Spirit
This doesn’t mean “be flaky, flighty, and unreliable.”
Be sensitive to His little nudges.
Expect the unexpected.
Be flexible (The plan is what we’re gonna do if we don’t do something else – Ryan Shenk.)
Walk in the gifts and fruits of the Spirit…against such things, there is no law: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Undistracted by logistics
My preparation – spiritual, musical, organizational
My skill.
My setup (stands, mic setup, position/angle on the platform, etc.).
Our sound system.
Have boundaries to keep “last minute requests” away (aka. “I’m sorry, but I can’t).
Create a good team culture so nothing distracts.
TRAIN the visual techs and audio techs and hold them to excellent standards.
Require rehearsals: a player may be able to jump in, but the team may not be able to handle the change it creates.
An activator of people
Constantly fight auto-pilot!
Do things differently.
Ask God for ideas and directions in the moment (and during planning).
Ask for their engagement.
Constantly fight consumerism.
Imagine if you always came to a potluck meal and didn’t bring anything. Once is okay, but every time? Worship, by definition, costs us something.
Constantly fight performance.
Do you have an audience or an Audience?
Don’t practice or promote “Performance-Based Acceptance” to yourself, your team, or toward God (you are already fully pleasing to the LORD!)
Assume they want to participate.
Leonard Sweet advocates EPIC services: Experiential, Participatory, Image-Driven, and Communal.
Psalm 42: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” This is the common cry of every heart. Give them an opportunity.
Secure in who you are, in who God says you are
Have nothing else “on the line” but serving well and worshiping God. You’re not proving yourself.
Given in your calling
You’re not a “volunteer,” you were called. Give yourself entirely to that.
How you practice, how much you practice.
How much of your heart gets involved when you lead.
A leader of a “leaned-in team”
Spread the load and get your team involved! Have them read scriptures, lead songs, pick songs, choose arrangements, pray, do the welcome, lead worship, and bring the snacks!
A fearless “asker”
Stop wondering if your team will do a good job. Just start asking and help them along the way, heaping confidence and encouragement.
Since you’re already in relationship with your congregation, just ask. They love you.
A great chooser of songs
What are your criteria for songs?
If your congregation doesn’t love them, pick different songs. (caveat: they may want songs that are different than they need. If that’s the case, shepherd them toward what they need)
Can your congregation sing them well/easily?
Do they resonate? Are they in the right key? Do they speak an understandable vernacular?
Great at teaching new songs
Don’t feel pressured like it’s a concert and you can’t stop and learn a song together.
Teach the chorus of a new song first, perhaps in a lower key, so it’s extra comfortable.
Repeat new songs on a weekly schedule: week 1, 2, x, 4, x, 6, so they become songs the congregation can sing from the heart.
Make sure to give the team enough time to “live with the songs” before teaching them to the congregation.
A teacher of biblical worship
Most of what we “know” about worship comes from what we were told (scolded) as children. Investigate what the scripture teaches.
There are seven Hebrew words our English Bibles translate as a single word: Praise (adlibmusic.com/worship-fertilizer/62)
Use mini-teachings, sermon series, Sunday school classes, small group studies, etc. to ground them in biblical worship.
Use heaven’s model of worship.
A reproducer of worshipers and worship leaders
Mentor and disciple formally and informally
Be the most worshipful person you know.
If you’re not reproducing worship leaders, you’re not walking in the fullness of your calling as a worship leader yet.
Historically broad
Church didn’t start the year Hillsong launched. It didn’t even start when the first hymns were written.
Know where we came from.
Know what our church’s sacraments, liturgies, traditions, and practices mean.
Know how we fit into the rest of church history.
-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)
How To Increase Congregational Engagement (Nº 41)
