Band, Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Players, Songwriting, Worship Leading, WTTU Special Public Post
Cookie Cutter Worship (Show #124) 5-23-17
#CookieCutterWorship
2 min read | 30m Show
Breaking The Mold
As a worship leader or worship team members, it is easy to get discouraged by comparing your team to others. It seems like performance driven services/churches are popping up everywhere on social media.People stream their favorite worship leader/singers in the spot light. Churches rave and market their worship services like a concert. There seems to be this rush to “come to our church to worship.”
“Has the performance driven cookie-cutter model got the Church into trouble? Do you also feel judged when you don’t fit or make the mold?”
5-23-17 WATCH SHOW #124!
The Problem?
No matter how people title their services with catchy names, or trendy phrases, we don’t have to go to a particular place to “worship.” Who says their church is the only place to worship or that we need to be in their place because that’s where real worship exists?
Does it?
Where in Scripture do you find in church advertisements where God says: “You must come to the “_____” Services at 6a, 8a, 10a, 11.30a, 1p, Bonus Encores at 4p and 6.30p ?? What we do find is #Psalms5.7 “But I by your great mercy will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.”
David cared less about the place of worship, but more about the Who we worship.
It’s not knocking the number of services we have; it’s about the driving of the numbers churches feel they need to have to be successful. In the end, is this really the worship of God or the worship of man?
It’s Time to Get Real
It’s time to stop the show and get real. There is a call to go back to the basics of worship. This is no different from the point Jesus was making with the woman at the well in #John4.It went like this: “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” #John4.19-21
[ctt template=”10″ link=”57W7B” via=”no” ]The woman could not get past the place of worship, when the One to worship was standing right in-front of her.[/ctt]
When we put our services together, are we more focused on who draws attention, or how to be drawn to the attention of God?
Worship Doesn’t Need A Fog Machine
Worship doesn’t need laser lights. Worship doesn’t need a catchy name for a service. Worship also doesn’t need a rockstar or talk-show host.[ctt template=”10″ link=”d0gnd” via=”no” ]Worship needs to respond authentically from a contrite heart to God according to Who He is.[/ctt] If the “Show” in you church were to stop, would people really know how to worship? The power goes out, no lights and no sound. What would your people do?
Would they demand their tithe back? Would the leadership run around frantic? What would happen if things just stopped? #Psalm5.11-12 says: But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.
For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
There is no mention of anything to help captivate or allure the worshiper other than God Himself. We don’t need any other device to draw us closer to God. It’s the Holy Spirit working within us as we follow Jesus and walk in fellowship with the Father daily.
You don’t need a par can or line arrays to achieve this. Yes, there is a way to make our services and place of worship conducive to worship. We want the worshiper to explore and nurture a heart of worship in an environment that ushers praise, pause, energy and reverence.
But if this becomes our only focus, it will be the only thing we have. [ctt template=”6″ link=”7Pl1I” via=”no” ] “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34[/ctt]
Are We Really Treasuring the Worship of God?
Are we serving Him, or are we treasuring the worship as a service that serves man? God wants our hearts. He desires worship that is pure, unhindered and free.“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” #Psalm73.25 “Go now, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you desire.” #Ex10.11 “So shall the king greatly desire your beauty: since he is your Lord, worship him.” #Psalm45.11 “In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God” #1Tim2.8 Above all, I think Joshua said it best, when it comes to man and the worshiping house of God: “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” #Josh24.15
Ask Yourself:
do you want to be a show stopper? One who stops the show of worship, and actually begins worshiping God alone. [ctt template=”10″ link=”c4X5d” via=”no” ]A Church cannot captivate, nor can a type of service allure people to worship God any better than the Lord drawing them Himself.[/ctt]
You cannot lead people in worship if you are not following God first. Being led by the worship of Christ is how people will follow you in worship. God doesn’t want cookie cutter worship; He’d rather just cut it. What He wants is honest worship that can never be copied, curated or confined.
Reflection Are you in a cookie-cutter worship church? What can you do to make sure the focus is on Jesus Christ? Are you preparing your heart as much as you are practicing your groove, setting lights, and choosing the latte of the day? What are the “basics of worship” for you and your congregation? Emphasize those items this week.
@BranonDempsey @worshiptt @WorshipTTU
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