Some days I think Chris Tomlin has the easiest job in the world.
“wait, don’t you have the same job as he does?”
…well yes
and no
You see, in my experience, it’s different
What I mean is this. There is a big difference between leading worship at your church on Sundays and leading worship at a huge event like Passion 2012. The church crowd is a lot of people who want to be there. And some who don’t. And some who have never been there before. And some who come every week because that’s just what you do. Some of them like to sing. And some of them shoot laser beams at you when you ask them to stand. I see it every week.
At the huge worship concerts you’ve got tens of thousands of people who PAID to come and worship through singing. They are ready to cut loose. They’re ready to throw hands in the air. They want the decibels. They love the drawn out instrumentals. And they will be happy to stand the whole time. Pretty much what every worship leader would love to have on Sundays, right?
yup, it’s different
Now let me be clear. I don’t actually think Chris Tomlin has the easiest job in the world. In fact, I’m not even sure I would trade him for his job. I think he’s tired a lot. I think he has nights where he doesn’t ‘feel’ it just like I have Sundays where I don’t ‘feel’ it.
But you know what I love about Sundays? When God breaks through it’s all Him. It wasn’t an emotional high. When God breaks through you get to see the journey unfold. When God breaks through he receives all the glory.
So here’s what I’ve learned.
Be content. Don’t waste your ministry time wishing for drawn out instrumentals, hands in the air, worship dance parties. Lead your congregation the way they need you to lead them.
Be humble. Don’t assume you can control what’s going on in the room. Not a chance. Let the Holy Spirit do His thing. Pray for the Holy Spirit to do His thing.
Be thankful. God has entrusted you with an amazing responsibility. Your opening song could be the very first time a non-christian here’s about grace. Your closing song could be the exact way God chooses to remind a single mom that she is not alone in her struggle. What an amazing gift to creatively and beautifully be able to point people to Jesus.
Yes, it’s different
and I love it
Wow, I love this.
Talk about keeping things the proper
perspective.
Awesome. Great insight K
Very encouraging! I’m with you completely.
I’ve always struggled to understand the meaning of music, even though I love music myself, lol. But yes, that ‘single mom reminded of her not being alone in her struggle’ has been more real to me recently, and there have been songs that seem to cut through my darkest thoughts to give me hope for my mom. Music is so powerful, and God uses it continually to draw everyone from every position in life to Him.