7. Implement an authority structure and accountability. Tim and Annette Gulick report that in South America, many worship leaders are seen as spiritual superstars and view themselves as being in total authority. Thus, in one conference, the band refused to honor the time limit given by the organizers, publicly announcing that the Spirit was leading them to continue in spite of the organizers' objections (implying the organizers were not let of the Spirit). To avoid these problems, first study what the Bible says about authority structure and qualifications for church leadership (e.g., I Timothy 3, Titus 1). A plurality of qualified elders provides oversight and accountability. Even in a worship setting, one person's appeal to "the Spirit's leading me to" shouldn't make the final decision. Others are led of God as well, and should be called upon to judge whether or not this person is right (I Corinthians 14:29-33).
8. Spiritually nurture the praise team. Pride can ruin the best of us when we step onto a stage before a crowd. Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen lamented that his singers suffered from L.S.D. - Lead Singer Disease. Sadly, it's often no different in the church. Paul David Cull (Brazil) says that Brazilian worship "usually focuses around personalities, often exalting the performers." He mentioned to a boy that he hoped one day to release a worship CD from their group. The boy responded, "Great! Each of us will do one song and we'll all have our photos on the cover!" To fight against this, he's teaching kids how to become true worshipers. His main qualification for leaders is that they must be true worshipers.
Tatiana Ostanina (Siberia) started her youth worship team with very raw talent. One guitarist knew about 4 chords. (He now plays bass regularly for the church) She began by building a strong spiritual foundation, praying at every practice, discussing spiritual values, building unity, developing their hearts rather than concentrating on professionalism. This separated the serious ones from the shallow ones. Her patience in building the spiritual foundation paid off. Band members have the maturity to participate in decision-making. Their seven instrumentalists and five to six singers lead youth worship, lead the entire church in worship once a month, and play at evangelistic events.
If we fail to invest spiritually in our teams, developing true worshipers, they will become obnoxious brats feeding their inflated egos. In the end, authentic worship is hindered for everyone.
Prepare Your Setting
9. Experiment with shades of light. If you've ever been to an outdoor music festival, you'll notice a dramatic change in atmosphere once the sun sets. The earlier bands may have been excellent, but the direct sunlight seriously works against them. Notice the lighting in your next meeting. Try dimming the house lights to keep kids from being so aware of their own presence. A well-lit stage and darkened room keeps the focus forward and makes the overheads or Power Point stand out. Use complete darkness for video clips.
10. Try creative lighting effects. Candles can occasionally make an awesome setting for serious worship. Occasionally try multiple candles scattered among the worshipers. Try a few candles up front regularly. Do a "catacombs" effect, seeking to identify with the early, persecuted church. Ask kids what they think.
Steve Miller wrote "The Contemporary Christian Music Debate," and collects youth ministry resources at www.reach-out.org . Copyright Steve Miller, August, 2002, Acworth, Georgia.
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Experiencing Worship, The Study