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Worship & Tech Series: Part 4
Instead of hunting for the next perfect worship song to deepen your modern worship service, consider adding extra intention through readings, responses, and reflections. Spoken and silent worship elements have a way of engaging minds and wills, in addition to our hearts. For some, the idea of responsive readings and other spoken forms of worship are limited to traditional worship settings, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Keep reading to learn:
- How to use spoken and silent worship elements effectively in modern worship as well as traditional settings
- Why authentically spoken worship elements can be more effective at engaging millennials than hip, new worship songs
- How reading elements can be the bridge between the team on the stage and the people in the seats
- Why personal response is a bigger indication of worship engagement than corporate volume
It’s Not All About The Music
We as humans have a reputation for throwing away some really great things in favor of the newest fad. However, sometimes getting rid of the old in favor of the new can cause some of the value to fade away. There is a bit of a trend happening in modern worship leading. If you’re in a modern worship setting that mostly equates worship to singing, I’d like to make a case for readings, responses, and times for reflection in modern worship. If you’re in a more traditional setting and already include elements like these, I hope to give you a few tips for deeper engagement as well!
Recently, people have begun equating worship with only music. However, there’s a lot more potential in worship leading that goes way beyond songs. As we’ve mentioned, this series is all about worship and tech. There are a lot of people on this planet who don’t like singing, and for them, worship time on Sundays is awkward at best. I’m so excited to broaden this definition, to talk about worship elements that have no connection to singing, and about spoken and silent worship elements that have greatly impacted my life. I hope you’ll consider them in your worship setting too.
Facilitating A Deeper Worship Journey In Modern Worship
Most would agree that we want to go deeper into modern worship during our church services. We want to engage more fully with the God of the universe, and we want to help others connect to the living God too. I know for me, I want to walk into worship one way and walk out changed, but the reality is, that doesn’t always happen. We can say that we get out of it what we put into it, and if you really want to worship you can worship anywhere.
We do have the personal responsibility to grow into this maturity of being able to worship God in any circumstance. However, leadership does matter and can make an incredible difference. While we can’t guarantee anyone’s connection with God on a particular Sunday, we can do a better job at facilitating the journey.
One way to facilitate this journey is by having a variety of connections, along with multiple ways of engaging people. It can be limiting when church leaders think that they need a new song, better songs, or even just the right songs to make worship better. This isn’t all bad. However, if you want to help people go deeper in worship, there are a few elements I’ll share with you today that don’t cost any money, you don’t need an app for, and that you already have the resources for.
None of them require special training in worship leading or require you to be proficient in certain musical instruments. It doesn’t take a ton of practice, and you can utilize other people to help quite easily!
Why Do We Need Authentic Spoken Worship Elements?
Before we jump into the details of different elements, I want to go over who loves them. For some, when I mention responsive readings, the words old and boring come to mind. If that’s you, please toss that thought out of your mind, because it isn’t true, or it doesn’t have to be.
A few years back, I introduced some responsive readings into our modern church setting. I immediately got some really positive comments from a few who had grown up in those settings. For them, it was not only nostalgic but meaningful. However, the surprising comments came from people in their early 20s’. They shared how much they appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it. They found that having a quieter space for reflection was refreshing, meaningful, and needed.
I read an article by Thom Rainer that was talking about millennials. Essentially, it explained that churches were wondering why all the hip, new music of the day wasn’t drawing in the millennials. Here’s the thing, millennials care less about the style of worship and more about depth, authenticity, and quality. They’re looking for the real thing, for people who care about the world and about them. They are looking for churches that are outward-focused and are making an impact on the community. This is the trend. This is what small churches can offer. If you’re trying to connect with younger generations, like Gen Z, they are looking for simplicity and focus. So, be real, authentic, kind, and outward-focused.
How To Use These Elements Effectively In All Settings
I want to go over the spoken and silent worship elements, and how to use them effectively in modern worship, as well as traditional settings. There are so many ways to put these into action. In regards to the public reading of Scripture, you can read a verse, passage, or even an entire chapter in pieces or as a whole. The passages can be read collectively and everyone reads them together, or they can be responsive where you read a line and the other people read the next two.
Try scattering a few readers throughout your local congregations rather than having them upfront. We’ve done some beautiful readings when a person was in a back room, not seen, and it sounded like a voice from heaven. You can do so many things to make these readings special.
In today’s society, with all of the pressure and noise, the constant interruptions and notifications, I believe that one of the biggest gifts we can give God’s people is a little bit of quiet in worship. When it comes to silence, this can be directed where you’re contemplating something specific, or undirected.
You can display art, a photograph, or even just an abstract representation of beauty. You could have someone deliver a poem, or even just display it on a screen. As much as God is in the worship, the instruments, and the shouting, God is also in the midst of the silence. If silence is a new thing for your church, you may want to take some baby steps into the quiet. Maybe start with 1 minute of silence, and work up to an extended silence.
Bridging The Gap Between The Stage And The Seats
The beautiful thing about adding elements like reading or silence, is that they don’t need to be led by the worship leader or someone on the worship team. This is a great way to involve others in worship leading, to elevate those in the congregation as worship leaders too. The more that others are involved in worship, the more people are engaging instead of merely watching.
As you involve others in this way, set them up to succeed. This matters. One of the first things to consider is choosing correctly. It’s important to consider their personality, volume, and passion. Their voice, tone, and spirit are also really important. The person you choose should be willing to practice ahead of time and follow instructions in order to fit into the flow of the service.
When setting them up for success, treat it like it means something, because it does. Ask them ahead of time so that they can prepare, and try to give them tips for success. Remember, people get nervous. Make it easier for them by training them, and telling them exactly when to walk up. Teach them the importance of talking slowly and practicing ahead of time. You could even have an extra copy of their reading there for them in case they forget their own. Try your best to limit the stress that they might have.
Worship Response Rather Than Volume
The last thing I want to mention is the importance of engaging people more with responses in modern worship. Here, I’m not talking about responsive readings, although that’s certainly a type of response. There are quite a few things that could fall under responses in modern worship, and the best way to think of it is just making it a habit or norm, of always calling people to a specific response. Apply the words to their hearts, the message to their lives, and the solutions to their unique situations. Do something creative and specific each Sunday.
In our society, we are so quick to spectate. People look at others’ walk with God in admiration and enjoy hearing stories of the ways God has worked in someone else’s life. Instead of translating that to God working in their unique situation or nudging them to action, people remain observers. This is what I’m talking about regarding the response. Instead of just singing loudly and enjoying worship, we should be moved to change and application.
Asking for a response in worship is a way to challenge people to apply something. Did you know that the quicker you apply something, the more likely it is to stick? Rather than talking about the importance of praying for our neighbors, take the time to pray in that moment. Instead of the worship leader sharing their own story and the importance of being thankful, ask everyone to identify one thing they’re thankful for and share it, write it, or speak it. Adding these responses to modern worship is simple, but impactful.
3 Categories Of Responses
1. Movement
If your local church culture has a tradition of bringing Bibles or journals, this could be as simple as writing down three things that you’re thankful for. You could even invite people, while you all take a minute to pray, to look at your hands. Think about the things you can create and the gift that God has given you to use those hands to glorify Him. Ask people who they’ll pray for or even what they want to change. Invite people to sit, stand, or even kneel. Be intentional about the posture you’re in, and invite others to do the same.
2. Imagination
Let’s say that you’re singing about sorrow and how God meets us in our sorrow. Rather than singing the song, perhaps there’s an invitation to imagine someone in your life who could use some support, someone who is suffering. Imagine them, and ask God what you can do to support them. I want to emphasize that imagination is a response. Our minds cannot tell the difference between what’s vividly imagined and what’s reality. Engaging our imagination is a response.
3. Decision Or Will
This type of response goes beyond inviting and imagining to actually deciding. The word reflection means serious thought or consideration. You can’t do that without space and time. While many songs are filled with incredible theology, do you ever give people time to reflect on the concepts you just sang about? One of the simplest ways to do this, is to take a minute after a song and simply ask, “What will you do?”
This Modern Church Shift Is Perfect For Small Churches
Keep in mind that, as we consider these responses, you don’t want to respond or apply every song or reading every Sunday. Instead, I would encourage you to do one each Sunday. Choose one exercise to engage people’s movement, imagination, or will. I believe that readings, responses, and reflections have such a beautiful place in small churches because of the intimacy we can enjoy in our spaces.
Everyone is seen, known, and hopefully feels loved. It’s in spaces like these where we’re more likely to apply things. We feel safe enough to be intimate with Jesus Christ, to soak in a piece of scripture to its core, and to enjoy silent reflection. This is where small churches have yet another opportunity to shine. We are capable of authentic worship and can truly focus on the living God.
Read More:
Different Ways To Worship God And Why They’re All Important
7 Ways To Build Community On Your Worship Team – Small Church Ministry
Come Thou Fount: A Creative Worship Response – Small Church Ministry
