In Search of the Spiritual

Worship Articles by Stephen M. Newman Pastor of Worship and Arts November 20, 2001

What do they get when they enter our doors? In most cases they receive music that is well-rehearsed. They may or may not get a message that is well-crafted to communicate a life topic. As church leaders, we have become good at programming our services to communicate simple truths of the Bible and Christian life. Most of us have become experts at presenting things well and in a professional manner. The area we fall short of often is in the area of spiritual preparation. We fail to present worship as more than good singing and performing. We fail to present our messages with power and prayer.

If the search for God is a valid, spiritual pursuit of the "visitor,” then as church leaders we need to become better at preparing and presenting things that will reveal God on this level. What do I mean? Is your singing a spiritual experience for those who attend your church? Is it a true worship experience that transcends the physical expression? Is the preaching spirit-filled and powerful? Or is it a well- written speech that is created to "wow" the people. When people sit through a worship service, do they walk away having been with God?

Non-believers take the time on Sunday mornings to get ready, get in their vehicles, drive miles to a nearby church, sit through an hour and fifteen minutes of programming, only to get back in their cars and drive back home….. unchanged and unaffected. Many leave our services feeling even more defeated because what they sought was not evident or presented in the church. One side note: This can also be said of the new believer who is searching for a place to grow and worship.

What do our churches need to be doing to help people return and hopefully come to Christ? If we planned our singing for the believer to truly worship, the lost would see the spiritual worship that flowed from God's people. If the preaching was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they would come to receive Christ because of the truths that were taught from a man or woman that operates and prepares through hours of prayer. If our services and programming were on a higher spiritual level, people will find what they seek. If we continue to operate in our own strength, they will continue to exit the back doors never to return. They will leave with no source of power in their lives that would help them to make it through their day. Most importantly, they will never come to know the life of knowing Jesus and spending eternity with Him. They will never know the life of one who has surrendered himself to God and the true joy that comes from it.

I pray that as we plan and prepare our worship services we will seek to lead our people in a spiritual experience. Plan singing that is true spiritual worship and not just singing. Plan sermons and teaching events that flow out of lives filled with Christ and His Spirit. People seek to connect with things that are spiritual. They are in a desperate search for it. What they don't need is more entertainment that takes place in a building that we call the church.

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inspired prophecy This article carries an anointing of truth and should be a wake up call to churches everywhere. I am sending this article to all of my friends and leaders in churches across the country. "Thank you Jesus for inspiring Steve and leading his heart to t...more Submitted by: Leon Sievers This is so true! Steve, this is one of your best articles, but I have enjoyed reading all of them. The truths in this one are "right on target!" I sense that you have been with Jesus after reading your articles and know that you are practicing what you are teaching u...more Submitted by: Ken

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