The Week in Review

The Role of the Pastor in Church Administration
Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams
October 11, 2007

The pastor plays a vital role in church administration and he/she must lead the way for the church to see it’s vision, mission and value so that it can be effective. The church operational characteristics must change so that a church can grow both numerically as well as spiritually, which means there are changes a pastor must make to remain successful as well as effective. In this look at the church, I will examine first the mission of the church (in general and specifically). I will also analyze the congregation’s relating and functioning styles. Specific activities of the pastor will be addressed regarding administration. I will also try to identify what is needed for the success of the pastor in his role of guiding the church toward fulfilling the mission. Finally, I will develop a plan for the pastor’s changing administrative role as the church grows.

In the book, Death of the Church, the author Mike Regele with Mark Schulz state, “THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM in the church today is a fundamental lack of clear, heart-grabbing vision. The church in America has no vision. It has programs and institutions and property and ministers and politically correct hymnals, but no vision” (229). This is not a new problem with the church for the Bible states the same sentiment in Proverbs 29:18a “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. When the authors took a survey regarding the vision of the church this is what they found, “The church and what it stands for represents something qualitatively better than what this world on its own has to offer. They sense that in it there is a promise of something. What is that ‘something?’” (Regele & Schulz, p.230).

The question then is, what is that something that the church should be offering to the world? What is the church’s mission? The author Gailyn Van Rheenen explains the mission of the church in his book, Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies, where he states, “Mission does not originate with human sources, for ultimately it is not a human enterprise. Mission is rooted in the nature of God, who sends and saves…He continually seeks to initiate reconciliation between himself and his fallen creation” (14). This reminds the reader that God is the originator of the mission. That mission as future explained in a flow chart by the author shows that God originated the mission, Jesus Christ enacted the mission, the Holy Spirit gives power to the mission, the church carries the mission and the world hears the mission (Rheenen, p. 18).

The church’s mission is to be the avenue by which the Holy Spirit equips believers to tell the world about the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. While this is the general mission of the church, it is not always evident in our local church. We sometimes forget what our mission is and we become bogged down in our traditions and rituals. “Few Christians are able to describe vividly in biblical terms what God desires the church to be. Without biblical undergirdings, the church is swept along by the ebb and flow of culture and in various forms degenerates into a social fraternity. When this happens, the church more nearly reflects the world than the nature of God and has little that is distinctive to offer the world” (Rheenen, p. 28).

The local church sometimes has difficulty connecting what “should be” with “what is”. We some times believe we are a teaching church, a seeking church and we classify ourselves a loving church. What we truly are is not always in line with this vision of ourselves. So the work is, how do we line up the mission of the church with what we really are? The first thing is we need to have a clearer vision of who we are and what we need to become. “We will see again that God intends to close the gap between ‘what is’ and ‘what ought to be’ in our own lives and in the lives of all whom he sends us to serve…Such a grand vision calls us to mission. It gives us ultimate purpose. And what is that purpose? To close the gap between what is and what ought to be. In other words, everything we do in ministry together has validity only to the extent it helps us close the gap. It is this singularity of direction in response to our vision that is our mission” (Regele and Schulz, p.234).

With this understanding of mission how can the local church move from what is, to what ought to be? The pastor has the responsibility of helping the body to daily move so that it lines up with what God calls for the church to be. It first starts with us looking at our ideas about our selves. In the writing entitled, The Role of the Pastor in Church Administration – Lecture: Week One, written by Michael Toombs, where it is stated, “Every organization has espoused values, which are those things identified by mission and vision statements. They are neat and tidy statements. They are revealed in constitutions, bylaws and covenants. They are usually easily measured. Every congregation also has enacted values, which are unspoken. They may reveal more of the ‘family dynamics’ of a congregation…These unwritten expectations may be just as vital to a congregation’s sense of ‘self’ or well-being as the nifty statements we hammer home and publish. Ignoring them can be fatal to a pastor” (p. 7).

I go back to what the church believes about it self from before. Often local congregations believe its enacted values, is we are a loving church. This is true at times, but we can be very judgmental and harsh on others when they do not do as we think they should. We can be hurtful and instead of drawing people to come and fellowship with us, we push them away. The pastor then has a responsibility to help us line up to what is right.

I believe the pastor achieves this alignment with what ought to be through the teaching ministries within the local church. Correction is also accomplished by the preached word in the church. If the word of God goes forth with power, the Holy Spirit can convict the hearts of the people to change their attitudes and behavior. In the book, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically, the contributing author, John Mac Arthur writes, “Paul was content to sacrifice his reputation. A pastor’s goal is not to be popular with the world. Those who preach boldly against sin and live godly lives will sacrifice their public reputation and prestige. They will suffer rejection, face opposition, and endure slander…In the ministry, pressure to compromise, to mitigate the message, and to avoid offending sinners will always exist. However, the preacher’s job is to expose sin, to confront the lost with the hopelessness of their condition, and to offer the cure for their wretchedness in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ” (pp. 17-18). This is also true with the body of believers. The pastor must instruct us in holy living and to preach boldly against anything we do that is contrary to us living godly lives. Some will not want to hear and accept, but that does not negate the responsibility of the pastor to do it.

I believe many pastors follow that mandate. In doing so, a change can result in some of the believers desires to be more like Christ and to be about the mission of the church which is to reach the lost and to equip the saints for service. What can result is we will look more like what we think about ourselves. Sinners can come into the church, get saved and truly loved by those already in the fellowship (come back next week for the second installment).

The Week in Review

Being Thankful

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

What does it mean to be thankful? The dictionary defines it as, “being aware and appreciative of a benefit.” We tend to be thankful for our families, for our jobs, our money in the bank, our friendships and so many other things. We tend to be thankful for the blessings we have. And that is good, but are we as thankful when we don’t see these outward blessings?

Do we have a thankful attitude when things are not going as we wish? Being thankful in All things and in All seasons, sets the believer apart from the rest of the world. The believer should be aware of the benefit of the relationship we have with God and willing show our gratitude and appreciation, because Jesus died to give us access to his Fathers provisions. The reason why we should have an attitude of thankfulness is we have fellowship with God, who is the ultimate giver of all the benefits and blessings that we possess. How then are we thankful when we are in a state of lack?

We can be thankful because the God that is with us when we have a good job is the same God that is with us when we don’t have a job at all. The God that is with us when we have plenty money, is the same God that is with us when we are in lack. When we have good relationships and things are going well, God is there. When are relationships are not so good and we are in a state of want, God is there. When we are well in our body, God is there, and he is there when we are ailing. That is because God is the same today, yesterday and forever more. He does not change because of our circumstances. He never changes.

As the people of God we have so much more to be thankful for than the outward things we see, the cars, the money, and the stuff. We can show our gratitude for the spiritual benefits that we receive when we walk with the Lord. There is something that is most important for us to remember, when we begin to show forth our thanks and praise, it becomes the key, if you will that opens up the door to our provisions. When I am worried and cannot find rest, I can begin to thank God for being my way maker. I can thank him for being the light for my dark path, I can thank him for his abundant wisdom and understanding, I can thank him for being my high tower that sees far beyond what I can even image and as I begin to thank him, my attitude of thanksgiving opens up the door to his peace.

The peace that only he can give, the peace that passes all understanding. If I am filled with sorrow, I can thank him for his comfort, I can thank him for being my shelter in the storms of life that come against me. And as I begin to thank him, my thanksgiving opens up the door to his provision of joy. That joy that flows like a river in my soul, that joy, that is unspeakable and full of glory.

I simply come to remind you that while we should be thankful for the material things that God blesses us with, we have so much more to be thankful for as children of God. We have access to the abundance of his provisions. As his children he calls us to come to him. We enter his gates with praise, which simply is another way of saying thanksgiving. Let us give thanks always, and for all things. When I have much I will thank you, and when I have nothing I will praise you ever more.

Words of Encouragement

“HOLY” TO DO LIST

· Speak truthfully to others.

· No unwholesome talk, no obscenity, or course joking.

· Build others up.

· Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander.

· Show kindness, compassion, humility gentleness and patience.

· Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

· Be loving which binds everything in perfect unity.

· Be forgiving as the Lord was forgiving.

· Be imitators of God.

· No impurity or greed.

· Don’t be deceived by empty words.

· Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.

· Find out what pleases the Lord.

· Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds.

· Expose the darkness.

· Make the most of every opportunity.

· Sing music in your heart to the Lord.

· Give thanks to God for everything.

· Set your thinking on things above.

· Put to death those things which are earthly.

· Let the word dwell in you as you teach others.

· Mind your own business, and live so that your daily life will win respect of others.



*Colossians 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:1 - 5:21, I Thessalonians 4:9-12

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

The Week in Review

Theology of Worship

Written January 11, 2007

By Minister Jewel D. Williams (posted 11/09)

Why do we worship God? There are many ways that individuals may answer this question, but the best way to answer it is through biblical models. When one understands what the Bible says regarding worship, it can help in preparation of worship before the Lord within the church.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, also in Deut. 15:7). This scripture is normally used when individuals are referring to the giving of money, but I would like to show another application of this verse.

God calls all believers to be givers of all of their self; their time, their finances, their talents, and we are to do that with the right spirit. When we come to worship it should be done with a cheerful and ready heart. God does not want us to come out of obligation or with the wrong spirit. “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and will all your soul,” (Deuteronomy 11:13). Therefore, our worship of the Lord calls us to come giving cheerfully of our entire self, our hearts, mind and soul to the Lord, along with our talents and abilities. He also wants nothing else to be above him in our lives. We see that clearly when we look at the tabernacle.

I was able to obtain useful information from the website, www.the-tabernacle-place.com, from lesson 2: The Basic Layout of the Tabernacle and the Gate. In the study of the Tabernacle, we can glean some ideas of how we are to worship God. First, in the way the tabernacle was set up, we see where God wants to be in our relationship. The tabernacle was set in the midst of the camp and the Israelites’ tents all faced the tabernacle. When they came out of their tents in the morning, the first thing they saw was the tabernacle and the last thing they saw at night was the tabernacle. This reminds us that our Lord should be on our minds throughout our daily lives, not just on Sunday morning. He is the one we should seek in the morning as we begin our day and the one we should thank as the day sets. The tabernacle was also a reminder to the people of God’s presence was with them at all times. It is imperative that when we come together we are reminded of the importance of seeking God everyday of our lives. Worship within the church should also help us to understand this important fact, that we must worship God daily.

Another significant point we can glean from the tabernacle is the gate. The gate of the tabernacle was always in the east. This is important because as the people entered the gate they were always facing west, and the sun was always behind them. This was a direct opposition to the pagan sun worshippers of the day who always faced east (Ezekiel 8:16-18). God wants no other God before him, for he alone is worthy of all our praise. God then calls for worshippers to focus all on him when we come to worship. God does not want anything to take his place in the service of worship.

One of the last examples that will be used is the book of Psalms. From the book titled, Encountering the Old Testament, written by Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer vital information is given to help an individual understand the usage of the psalms. The word psalm comes from the Greek word psalmos, which means a song or a hymn. The Hebrew word for the book is tĕhillîm and it means praises. The book itself contains 150 songs used in the life and worship of the people of God. These were songs that were dear to the people’s hearts and reflective of their personal experiences (304).

The psalms were written in different classifications. For example, there were some that were hymns. These were written to praise God and offer him thanksgiving for who he was and what he had done in the lives of the people. An example of hymns would be psalms 8, 136 and 150. There were also penitential songs. These psalms expressed sorrow for sin (example psalm 38). The other types of psalms are wisdom (general observations on life, especially God and our relationship to him), royal (focus on the king), messianic (describe some aspect of the Messiah’s person or ministry), imprecatory (call for God’s judgment against God’s enemies) and lament (lament one’s condition) (307). This helps us today to understand that in worship music has many different roles it plays within the service. Music should help the worshipper be reflective of their experience with God. It should help us express praise to God, our life experience and our walk with God. This is a good example of how much music plays a part in the worship service of believers and we should be free to use different styles to help with the worship service, just as the people did in early biblical times.

Why do we worship? We worship because scripture shows us it is a part of what God requires of believers in order to have a healthy relationship. We worship because God deserves our devotion and our adoration. We worship because God calls us to come fellowship with him with all of who we are, our hearts, minds, spirits and soul. When one is able to glean this understanding from biblical background, it helps the worship leader better prepare the people to come and worship in spirit and in truth.

Work Cited

Alden, Robert L., et al. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995.

Arnold, Bill T., et al. Encountering The Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.

Lesson 2: The Basic Layout of the Tabernacle and the Gate. 2004. 05 March 2006. http://www.the-tabernacle-place.com.

The Week in Review

Educating Congregations- Part 2

Written 8/06 (Posted 11/09)

Some of the flaws in the church’s educational system as stated by the author are, (1) the loss of corporate memory, (2) the irrelevance of our teaching from the Bible, (3) the subversion of Christian educational goals, (4) the cultural captivity of church education and (5) the collapse of the church’s educational strategy.

This first flaw deals with the lack of information to participate effectively in the church life. This ignorance or lack of information has led to young people dropping away from the church. “Many young people do not find in the church a source of meaning for their deepest and most pervasive questions” (86). The author states, “in a poll taken in 1955, only 4 percent (or one person in twenty-five) left the faith traditions of their childhood. Some thirty years later, one out of every three persons had left the communal traditions of their childhood faith” (23).

The second flaw deals with how the Bible is seen as irrelevant to every day living. Foster states, “For many young and older people the Bible has become irrelevant to their quest for meaning and purpose. The problem, however, is not the irrelevance of the Bible. It is the irrelevance of the ways we teach from the Bible (25). “Today laity have the words but lack the methods of biblical interpretation and theological reflection possessed by scholars and clergy to discover how to read ancient texts from the standpoint of their lives at the edge of the twenty-first century” (26).

The change in Christian educational goals from salvation and sanctification to “needs” has been another flaw in the educational system of the Church. When the church becomes more concerned about the needs of individuals and not the biblical training the body suffers. Foster states, “the inability of congregations to sustain an educational ministry for the individual learning of children, youth, or adults has culminated in the subversion of most church education into learning activities designed to enrich student religious experience rather than to build up transformed and transformative communities of faith” (28).

Foster states that flaw number four is the most serious. “A clue to one of the most serious flaws in the church’s education has been it proclivity to sanction the cultural status quo rather than to embrace the transformational message of the gospel for the emancipation of people from their spiritual, social, political, or economic bondage” (31). The church must be aware as it tries to educate, to examine cultural bias. This bias limits the gospel message and keeps the transformational character of the message from being heard.

The last of the flaws, deals with that which happens outside of the church. “Clues to the changing systemic dynamics affecting church education are often heard in the complaints of church leaders about the lack of parental cooperation and support, the competition for time by schools and other community activities, the difficulty in recruiting volunteers willing to take the time to do a good job, and the lack of clergy involvement in the educational life of the congregation” (33). The pull on today’s families has increased and with it a decrease in the amount of time given to volunteer for church educational programs. The church also faces the fact that it is the only place that teaches Christian values. Schools, jobs nor communities promote Christian values that would help to support the teaching one receives at church.

Foster talks about this change when he states, “during the past fifty years, however, family and community involvement in the religious education of children and youth has diminished significantly. Few families read the Bible or engage in devotional practices in a disciplined or sustained fashion. Public schools no longer include prayer, religious celebrations, Bible reading, or explicitly Christian moral instruction in their daily schedules” (37). So the question is, what do we need to do to change this situation inside the church?

Foster gives some suggestions. One way he suggests is in the involvement with “events” of the church. “These events not only tell us who we are, but also to whom we belong” (39). The life of the church is shaped around the way it responds and remembers certain events. These events like, Christmas, Easter, Homecoming and Mother’s Day give the church an opportunity to prepare its total membership in the event (41). This allows the traditions and stories to be passed. Foster gives a list on how to prepare for events, which can help a congregation rethink why and how they prepare for these events. One of the vital questions I saw was, “what is the purpose of the event” (153). Sometimes churches become accustomed to doing something, without really knowing why they do it. If they take the time to understand how this event can be used as a teaching opportunity to pass on the traditions and the truth to the congregation, they very well may change how events are planned. This opens up the opportunity for churches to better prepare the congregation for these events. The Sunday school, Junior Churches, Adult Bible classes, and other areas within the church could all begin preparing the members by teaching the messages around the event (Christmas for example). The lessons would help the members understand the importance of the event as well as encourage outreach to share with others the importance of the event.

Another area that Foster suggests we examine is how we build communities. “Many strangers find their way to that worship service. They are a diverse group. Some are young adults. Some arrive in expensive cars and wear clothes of the latest fashion. Some are often seen in the homeless shelters of the city. When I asked the senior minister where they come from, he told me most of the unfamiliar faces are not member of the church. Most come only on Christmas Eve. Most prefer anonymity. When I asked why they come, his reply surprised me: ‘It is the only story they know’” (52). Foster suggest that congregations should prepare for these types of sacred events so they can be prepared to witness to those strangers that come within their doors. He also suggests that these sacred understandings should not simply be left to only these times. If the congregation hears these messages again and again, they will be better able to tell it to others. Foster states, “ignorance prevents us from discovering who we are and to whom we belong” (54). If we as the body do not fully understand these sacred times, we cannot help others to learn more “stories” from the Word.

It is important that as the body, we understand what needs to happen so that we can learn. If the body is to learn what God’s Word means we must begin with intentional listening into the creating Word for redemptive, graceful, judging word speaking to our conditions. It continues as we listen to the thoughts of the words we use to address God. We must then respond to the content of our hearing. (58). Another important thing is in the building up of the community of believers through the nurturing of partnerships (64). The church must purposely teach so that its believers understand they are in need of each other to grow. It is also important to build community through the building of the church education, which links strangers as neighbors. (66). The church must convey to the believers the importance of going outside the doors of the church to reach those around them. When the church does this, the believers begin to understand the importance of the Word that commissions us to reach the world. Yet, none of these things will happen until the body is taught its importance.

Finally, Foster proposes that churches reevaluate how they teach. “Much of our learning does not take place in classrooms, workshops, retreats, or conferences. We learn from television and radio. We learn from reading. We learn by observing what is going on around us. We learn in conversations. We learn from people who would never describe themselves as teachers” (137). Even though all ones learning is not done this way, intentional settings are still important. The church must teach certain behaviors and values that will help members feel a spirit of freedom in worship and community. The church also must teach systematic processes. “These efforts are crucial if people are to make sense or meaning from their experience and relationships, their encounters with the stories and vision of Christian faith, their consciousness of human pain and suffering and their participation in the worship and mission of the congregation” (138). This must be sustained over time so that the body can continue to grow. Foster’s book is a sobering one, yet I am not discouraged. I believe he wants the reader to take serious the task of preparing those that come behind.

If the church is to continue to educate and equip believers for service, we must internalize Fosters thesis, which states, “the congregation is the context, and its mission – to praise God and serve neighbors – the impetus for Christian religious education” (13). We must never take the educating of a community for granted. It is important that churches come together to find where they are lacking and with the help of the Holy Spirit; they can again become educators of its members. We can then do as scripture commands us, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” Matthew 28:19-20a

Work Cited

Foster, Charles R. The future of Christian education: Educating Congregations. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1994.

Thompson, Frank Charles, D.D., PH.D. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, 5th ed. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbridge Bible Co., Inc., 1988.

Words of Encouragement

The Spiritual Quest - Part 4

We now turn to a question we need to ask ourselves, how should you begin this process if you have not already done so?



The Gospels are a good place to begin – but you can always ask the Lord to direct you where to begin. You can start with the Psalms and Proverbs they are also a good place to start. Another important place is in church every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., Sunday school. We need to bring our children and begin this process for them as well. Now I understand if something is preventing you that is different, but everyone doesn’t have situations that are keeping them from being in Sunday school class.

Simply reading the Bible – You don’t have to start in some specific place, just start reading it. Reading it is better than not reading at all, don’t give yourself any excuse. If there is something you don’t understand, get someone that you trust and call them and discuss what you have questions about. That’s what I do for the different people; I let them know if you don’t understand something, call, e-mail, send notes whatever and I will answer your questions. No excuses!


Learn the Church doctrine – Let me just say this quickly, our Bible is our source, period. However, it is helpful to learn what we believe as a body and it also helps you to understand better the things you hear going forth from the pulpit. Many want to get rid of words such as Holiness, sanctification, repentance, glorification, etc. because they feel they are too hard for you to understand. I think this is wrong; instead we need to explain them, teach them and help build stronger disciples for the mission. Many do not know that early believers penned the very songs we sing in our hymns and they carry our doctrinal belief about God, Jesus, sin, sanctification, Jesus’ returning, and so much more. Learn people so that you will not be lost because of lack of knowledge.


Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16

As we take the Spiritual process we are in fact allowing ourselves to be led by God’s Spirit and to learn from him so that we can grow and mature. We take the first step, of seeking, having a spiritual quest and then when God has shown us, then we must allow him to move us into action so that the process can begin to result in things changing. And once we know what to do, we must then take the next step. The next step is to have a discipline life to carry out this process.

So let’s review. Ask yourself some really deep questions to find where you are in the Lord. And until we take this quest and begin to question where we stand, we will not find true peace or rest in the Lord.

We also want to make sure that we understand this quest is a “daily” seeking to find. We never arrive on this journey, we simply allow God to help us discover more about him and about ourselves so that we can be changed to look more like him. God’s Spirit sanctifies us, and helps us to experience both an outward thrust or movement of his Spirit and an inward growth or realignment within our spirits.

When we take this quest, this searching ourselves or taking an inventory of our lives, we allow God to grow us and in doing so, God will then help us to face our circumstances in our lives. We can face them because of the connection we have with God and we are assured of his presence within our situations and us.

When also then have access to God. We can pray to him to change us, search our hearts and create a right spirit within us, so that we can grasp this promise, that when we pray in our inner room to the Father in secret he will answer us. May prayer for us today is that we allow God to have his way completely in our lives, much success to you on your spiritual quest, that turns into a life journey.

The Week in Review

Theology of Worship

Written 11/07 (posted 11/9/09)

The greatest challenge for today’s worship leader in a postmodern world is how to help individuals feel and think within the worship experience. These challenges cause trouble for the worship leader because they must try to blend different worlds together. In the book Experiencing God in Worship, Leonard Sweet, the author of the piece titled, A New Reformation: Re-Creating Worship for a Postmodern World, states “Here’s the point: In postmodern culture, the experience is the message. Postmoderns literally ‘feel’ their way through life. If postmodern worship can’t make people furiously feel and think (in the old ‘modern’ word, we would have said only ‘think’), it can’t show them how God’s Word transform the way we ‘feel’”(177).


With this understanding, it is vital for the worship leader to seek God’s direction for the Spirit to guide the worship process as stated here, “worship is not about style; it’s about spirit. If the ‘spirit’ isn’t right, presentation means little – no matter how contemporary or high-tech. Ten times zero is still zero. And, if the Spirit is there, presentation also means little – no matter how traditional or bookish” (Sweet, 181).


The worship leader’s job, with the help of God is to help the congregation address some of the problems facing worship today. First, the congregation needs to be given an understanding about the purpose of worship. In the book Experiencing God in Worship, George Barna in his piece titled, Worship in the Third Millennium, states, “Most adults will contend that a Christian has a responsibility to worship God. However, when asked to define what worship means, two out of three are unable to offer an appropriate definition or description of worship…For most Americans worship is to satisfy or please them, not to honor or please God” (15).


A worship leader must allow God to work through them to create a worship service that will grasp the attention of the worshipers and call them to interact with God. The worship leader must create an atmosphere that calls for individuals to thirst for God, and that can be difficult when trying to blend different music and artistic styles. It is important then for the leader to introduce changes, such as music, dance, video or other artistic mediums in the service in a gradual way, with much prayer and leading by the Spirit of God. Some will complain and that is unfortunately due to the fact that individuals think worship is more about them and their likes or dislikes. “The problem is that American Christians do not have a heart that is thirsting for an experience with God, eager to express gratitude and praise to him, and open to his response to their efforts to convey humility, appreciation, acknowledgement of his love and character, and joy in knowing and serving him” (Barna, 16).

A worship leader may also face difficulties because of the age and cultural differences within the worship services, along with the difference in music preferences. The step that can be taken to help is to teach the importance of worship. “Teaching individuals how to worship by helping them achieve a sense of God’s holiness, understand the meaning of worship, and commit to worshipping God is often necessary if more than just a scattered handful of attendees are to be engaged in real worship” (Barna, 25).

The greatest help the worship leader can give is to help individuals experience God in worship through the flow and choices made using different styles of music and artistic blends. The individual can then begin to move from the idea that worship is about one’s self and understand that it is more about giving to God. There is no one way of doing it, so each worship leader must seek to present what is needed for their congregation remembering that the most important factors are the leading of the Holy Spirit and prayer. Alas, with all changes, both good and bad, there will be individuals that will resist. The leader must not give up, but patiently help others see that the changes are not to move the church away from God, but to move his people closer to experiencing his presence.

Work Cited

Barna, George, et. al. Experience God in Worship. Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, Inc., 2000.