well, our very first poll question has closed...and we find out from our blog readers that music is the #1 element of choice when making a decision about a church.
what does that tell us? well, music is the big area of church where emotion and experience are created...this tells me that most people are wanting their emotions to be stirred and they want to have an experience not just be a spectator...
sounds like we really need to put some thought and creative effort into our music element at adventure life church...sounds like a lot of fun to me...i love music!
please give any thoughts you have on how we can make the music element really stand out and become distinguished from what everyone else is doing...thanks.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
Music is so very important to set the tone of the entire service. We have the ability to reach the unchurched through music. Selection of songs is critical...the lyrics must be relevant (to coin a phrase :D), they must challenge us, and they must encourage us. I think we took a step in the right direction last night...
If the October 21 service was a step in the right direction...just interested to know what made the former services not necessarily directed toward the proper bearings???
well...don't know what happened to my initial comment...i must have hit delete vs. post...sorry....
sunday was just a good time all the way around...we had a discussion rather than me just speaking...about the church being relevant to the culture...and part of the discussion was geared to music, so folks were able to express their desires about the style and the purpose of music...it was good...scary for me because you never know what folks might say...out loud....you know?
anyway...i don't think it is that anything has not been geared to the proper bearings...it is just that sunday night was another step in the right direction...allowing people to express their opinions on what they view as relevant...we just had a good time sunday night...missed you.
It felt as though the congregation was just more engaged...maybe it was tempo, maybe it was song selection, maybe it was style. Who knows for sure? I am, by no means, an expert on music, but just making an observation.
That's really awesome! Glad worship was right on Sunday...we'll have to sit and discuss. Later guys!
Oh, BTW - since statistical significance is sort of my expertise, we might want to consider our sample size of these surveys before we drive a certain point based on the survey results (just a suggestion).
not really trying to drive any point home necessarily...just offering some food for thought and opening the door for people to talk about it...
you are right that it is a very small sample size...i wish it were larger...and one day it will be...but for now i'm just responding to the people that are reading this and to their votes...i could have made those same comments without the poll...music is a big influencer in the decision making process... that's all. thanks.
Music is HUGE to me.
I can invite friends (most times) to my church only because of some special music thing thats going on.( Christmas, Easter)
AND since the sample size of your survey was apparently too small to take seriously. Does that mean that music in church is not as important as previously mentioned.
It sounds like the discussion about it was the cool part. I think its cool that you got to talk about what you like.
We just get what ever the leader likes.
he seems to have a favorite song if you know what i mean.
In all fairness to a worship leader - there are some issues to consider. One - many times music selection is dictated by the talent available to work with - you start with a foundation and work up - not to mention if you have a group of musicians not used to each other, it takes a while to "gel". Secondly, and most importantly, song selection has much to do (or should have much to do) with the heart of the shepherd, not the worship leader. Is the flock more traditional oriented, which takes the lead of the shepherd - not the WL. Is the flock more urban, folky (like vineyard), gospel, evangelical, modern contemporary, etc. If you want things to get a bit more complicated, consider if you have a mix of a flock - where there is urban and modern contemporary. Many of the traditional churches are now mixing traditional with some moderate, modern contemporary to stay in the "safe zone". Let's look at 1 Chronicles 25 where King David actually separated those from the army into the musicians. Each of the three groups were under the direction of their fathers and each of the three fathers under the direction of the King. If we consider 2 Chronicles 20:18 - the flock takes its lead in the act of worship from the shepherd..."And Jehosephat bowed his head...(then)...all the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord." And in vs 21 - "And when (Jehosephat) had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord...". And when the worship team was in one accord - God worked his miracles, and they were actually on the front line of the battle! Sooo all in all the worship is the ultimate responsibility of the head or the pastor and the pastor appoints a "helper" coined the worship leader in most instances. Under the worship leader are the musicians - each taking the lead from the other. If each does not take the lead of the other there is discord, and as also demonstrated in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, if the worship team does not come together "...as one..." the end result will not take place, that is "...the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud...for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God." So look much deeper when passing criticism on those who have been called or appointed - your judgements may be passed to a much higher level than you intended.
Digdug
Music is a large part of any establishment that hosts it..That is what draws the attention to the venue. Just look at any ampatheatre or any venue with a "house band"..The better the band the more people and more money. I don't think the motive would be the same for churches but why has this become such a factor in church. Well of course with the change of generations becomes the desire of a new taste but it also could easily become an entertainment slot to fill in the chruch time. The truth is, whatever you sing or play, no matter what style, if we don't humble ourselves to allow the holy spirit to manipulate us and flow out of us, we are all just entertainers and spectators. It is by manipulation of the holy spirit that the experience and creativity are created in the atmosphre of worship, not the song selection, style or beats. This is also a time of preparing the hearts present to recieve God's word that is brought forth. If we get caught up in the "moment" instead of laying it all down to God, then what good is music in church. If I am just a attendee and I walk in the door not expecting anything more than a couple of songs, preaching and some food then that's all I will get. If I come in hungry and expecting something from God, then I am going to get something and it will be from God. I remember a time when I used to be scared to death of going because I was'nt sure what God was going to do that Sunday.WOW! I've become immune(spoiled) as a christian by the God's gracious presence. I think I remeber someone saying that in this room of approx. 30, there is enough faith and power to change the world. Now think if we walked into church with that same attitude and expected God to meet us there and to do a NEW thing in us. That is what will blow the doors off any church and turn the typical praise and worship time into a outpouring of the holy spirit. This, I believe, wiil be the magnet that draws not the just the unchurched, but the"churched"
Post a Comment