Progress or Production?

How to effectively use the tools you’ve been given

The 3 Topics

1. How to get the most out of the team you are leading.

2. How to use technology as an enhancement to your worship and not a distraction.

3. How to best meet the needs of your congregation through worship.

1. Team-Building Techniques

• Get to know your team - Discover their musical styles and abilities, their personality types, and their strengths and weaknesses. Get to know your team beyond just music, the more interest and concern you show the more trust you will earn in return.

• Establish your Roles, Rules and Reasons - Lay down the rules for team rehearsals (i.e. being on time). Make sure everyone is aware of who is in charge and what roles they will be responsible of. Most importantly, “clarify the win,” what is your team’s ultimate goal (Why do you do what you do).

1. Team-Building Techniques

• Be a diligent leader - Be prepared and organized for rehearsals. Make sure you’re on time and that the practice room is set up and ready to go for the team when they arrive (i.e. chord charts, cables, set lists, etc…). - Have a positive attitude! Being negative will discourage the team and affect team unity.

• Show encouragement - Not all gatherings with the team have to be at practice, spend time enjoying each others company outside of the practice room. Invest your time into each individual person on your team by praying for them and giving them biblical council and advice.

1. Team-Building Techniques

7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:7-8

Effectively Using your Technology

"The time has come for a revival of public worship as the finest of the fine arts...While there is a call for strong preaching there is even a greater need for uplifting worship."

Andrew W. Blackwood

Understanding Technology in Worship

Leaders Should Be…

• Technologically well rounded - As leaders we should have a general knowledge about the equipment that makes up our worship sets. Familiarize yourself with common musical equipment terminology as well as lighting terminology. Know the purpose for the equipment and how to take proper care of the equipment.

• Seek the help of professionals - For the best possible installation and operation of your lighting, PowerPoint's, and other stage and sound equipment. Hire or seek the help of trained professionals. This will eliminate distractions and will ensure the equipment is being used properly.

Understanding Technology in Worship

A Leader should…

Think before they act - When filling up the room with fog or scanning lights over the crowd be sure that every cue has been thought through and tastefully placed. Remember, lights, fog, and displays are there to enhance the worship experience not deter from the message. Worship is about proclamations not productions.

Think practicality not commonality - Simply put, don’t move beyond your means. Don’t base the only reason for making an expensive purchase or a cool addition on the fact that the church up the street did it. Supplicate every decision you make as a leader with prayer, otherwise you will end up with new stuff that sits and is never used because it’s too much for what you need.

Meeting the Needs of Your Congregation

The people are your ministry - Above the needs of yourself and your team are the needs of the congregation. Your job is to provide them with biblically guided worship week in and week out. Just like with your team, be involved in the lives of the congregation. Keeping in touch with the congregation is a great resource for crafting your worship.

Choosing your style - Think of your target audience. What style can most effectively motivate them to worship. Their favorite style may not be you or your teams favorite but you can integrate different style techniques to make it unique. All in all, no matter what style you choose the condition of your heart and motives should be Christ Centered and be relevant to your congregation.

Meeting the Needs of Your Congregation

Keeping it fresh - Think baby steps when trying to move into a new worship style. - Just because you and your team are ready doesn’t mean your congregation is, a gradual change is usually necessary. - Always make it applicable, your music should have meaning and a biblically solid message. - Give it a shot, the only way to know if something works for your worship set is to try it. Learn from your mistakes.

Summing it Up23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the

true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

~John 4:23

"How quickly we forget what it's all about. We can get so strategic that we worship so our church will grow, not because He is worthy. But we're doing all this because God is worthy and we want to worship Him.”

~Tommy Walker