And here is some good news. It is easier than it has ever been for small group worship together. Used to be, you had to have musicians–someone who could play the piano or guitar or something. Although that is still the preferred approach–nothing like live musicians–we have good alternatives that we can use in the absence of good live musicians.
A simple and easy way is just to bring in a boom box and crank it up. Let me say a word about volume. Volume matters, and more is generally better than less. Having said that, it can be over done. Unless you are teaching youth, you probably don’t want it rock-concert loud. But you do want it piano-and-organ-and-full-orchestra-and-choir-and-full-auditorium-singing-loudly-loud. You want it loud enough that people can’t hear themselves. If people can hear themselves sing, they won’t sing.
I have experienced this quite commonly in my seminars. We generally start with one worship song. Occasionally I have brought my guitar, but honestly, although I enjoy playing, it is more worshipful if I leave it home. A good live musician is better than canned music, but in my case, canned music is better.
I use some wonderful DVDs from IWorship. (Technically, I use the MPEG version. This way, you load them all up on your hard drive, and you can play any songs in any order, and you don’t have to lug DVDs around. See http://www.worshipmusic.com/30310.html ) Often, I am not in control of the volume–the sound guy is. Usually, they have someone with some musical sense, and he or she will get it about right. But sometimes, it is too soft, and people just don’t sing. Or some young guy is back there and cranks that baby up and…whoa! It is not worshipful; it is just irritating. More irritating to the older people in the crowd than for me. I have seen them hold their fingers to their ears to block the sound. Not a good sign. A time or two, I have had them walk out. REALLY not a good sign.
Still, let me emphasize, nine times out of ten if the volume is wrong, it is wrong on the side of too quiet, not too loud. Let me say one last time: volume matters. It matters a lot.
Musical style matters, too. One musical style is no better or worse than any other musical style. It is a rather egotistical thing when someone refers to a particular style of music as, “church music,” “spiritual music,” or “God’s music.” To suggest a particular style of music enjoyed by a particular group of people located in a particular geographical location at a particular time in history is special to God and better than music in Africa or South America or music enjoyed five hundred years ago or five hundred years from now is the height of egotism. The music I like is God’s music, and the music you like is suspect. Please!
Musical style matters. Some music tunes my heart to sing His praise. Other music makes me laugh. Other music makes me cry. Some music bores me. Some music angers me. Some music makes me want to scream. Style matters.
Style is not the point. The question is not, “What style is best?” But, “How can we lead these people to worship God? What style will help us get these people to God?” Whatever style will do that is a good style.
Quality matters. It is easier to worship God with a piano that is in tune than it is to worship God when the piano is out of tune. It is easier to worship God when the musician knows what they are doing. Look it up; the Bible speaks of skilled musicians. Not just musicians with a good heart; skilled musicians. This is why, in my case, I play a video rather than play my guitar and sing.
The worship is going to go a little better with a big, bright, projector, and a beefy sound system than it will on a nineteen-inch TV with a three-inch speaker. I understand there are limits to the quality we can provide. Do the best you can do. Quality matters.
Of course, one thing matters more than all issues of quality: heart. I have a friend, David Delgado, who is a fantastic worship leader. Here is how I would grade his skills:
- Singing B+
- Guitar playing B+
- Piano A-
- Worship leadership A+++
It is all about heart. I know a hundred guys who can sing better and play better, but they can’t bring a crowd to God like David can. It is a gift-a gift that is nurtured and cultivated, but a gift. www.daviddelgado.com
One more thing. Don’t limit your worship to group time. Encourage people to live a lifestyle. Encourage them to do what I do sometimes on Sunday mornings. Get up an hour early, pop in an IWorship DVD. Crank it up loud. Spend an hour with God worshipping before the worship service. Encourage people to listen to worship music as they drive. Invite them to get a guitar and learn to play it. Lead people to love worshipping God.
We will spend all eternity in worship. Let’s get to practicing.
