1. Focused Planning: A worship team provides an intentional focus on the planning of
worship services. A team is dedicated to providing a worship atmosphere that
glorifies God. This is the calling of the team. It is not a “task” but a “ministry”
to take seriously. Worship teams understand the vision and mission of the local
church and see their involvement as a way to move the church toward this
vision.
2. Increased Participation: Worship teams, by nature, increase the level of participation both
on the platform and for the entire congregation. When a “team” of people plan
and lead worship, the number of people involved goes up. Many worship teams
take on the challenge of bringing excellence to the service. That means utilizing
a number of gifted people to provide a smooth service. Worship teams can also
think of creatively connecting the congregation in worship through appropriate
responses throughout the service.
3. Modeling Interdependence: As more churches move toward a gift-based approach to ministry,
the desire to build “interdependent” teams is raised. Inter-dependence is the
concept that each member values each other member for their unique and diverse
contributions to the whole. In other words, “None of us is as smart as all of
us.” An effective worship team models for the rest of the congregation that
ministry is best done in groups.
4. Opening New Avenues: It is important to nudge people out of their ruts, to encourage
them to sit up and take notice. Worship teams can enhance the worship
experience by trying new methods to communicate the gospel. Ellen White
suggests, “Whatever may have been your former practice, it is not necessary to
repeat it again and again in the same way. God would have new and untried
methods to follow. Break in on the people—surprise them.” (Evangelism, page 125)
5. Musical Needs Met: How many churches are desperate for gifted musicians who can
communicate a message skillfully through voice or instrument? Worship teams
raise the level of music quality, for the glory of God, not any person.
Rehearsals and scheduled practices say to participants, “We want to give our
best to God.” A worship team may also provide opportunities to teach and mentor
budding musicians.
6. Shares the Burden: Many times a pastor’s well-planned Monday schedule is tossed into
a blender on Tuesday because of an unplanned church crisis. That’s the nature
of the work. Wednesday’s bulletin deadline produces a cute sermon title, a
quick choice of Scripture for reading, and a hymn or two picked out by the bulletin
secretary. What a blessing and relief a worship team can be to a pastor who is
open to working with others on planning Sabbath activities.
7. Greater Representation: A worship team that uses assessment tools and is composed of a
variety of gifted people from the congregation will raise the “connect” factor.
When a single person plans all services, the worship “lens” becomes quite
narrow. A team that is open to suggestions and plans a variety of elements in worship
can help more people connect with the worship experience. Some worship leaders
half-jokingly say, “We try to offend everyone equally!”
8. Raising the Excellence Factor: Sometimes we confuse “Just as I Am” theology with “Give of Your
Best to the Master” when it comes to worship. Worship teams raise the value of
humble service and excellent service. It is no honor to God to “throw something
together” at the last minute. A careful study of the sanctuary services in the
Old Testament teaches us of the care that went into preparations for worship.
9. Cost Effective: Many churches pay for the services of an organist. There are some churches
that go beyond this in providing a complete array of music services. By
utilizing and building a gifted team to lead music, churches may save costs
spent on outside help. Such a team may also work to train others in the
congregation, coaching and nurturing music talent for God’s glory. Instead of
paying money for someone to come and play at your church, invest that money in
lessons, instruments, or seminars for your worship team to develop their gifts.
What an affirmation that would be!
10. The Priesthood of All Believers: The 16th century Reformation reminded us that we have no need to
approach the throne of grace through an earthly priest. We are a “priesthood”
of believers (1 Peter 2),
and priests have a ministry. What better way to emphasize this important
Protestant doctrine than by modeling it on Sabbath morning. By involving a
variety of members of your congregation in leading worship, your church upholds
the belief that everyone is a minister in the body of Christ because everyone
has been given a spiritual gift.
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