What Katy Perry and Taylor Swift Can Teach Church Worship Leaders
The truth is, the vast majority of church “worship leaders” aren’t worship leaders at all. They’re simply musicians playing what are called “worship songs” from popular artists who write that sort of thing. The music is fine, and I have no argument with that, but a real worship service should be much more than just a concert. Watch for yourself: If your church still has both a “traditional” and a “contemporary” service, I encourage you to attend each and observe the audience.
You may not care for traditional hymns, but guess what – the congregation in a traditional service sings along. They know the words and are participating. But in most contemporary services, it’s simply a concert. The audience isn’t really participating; they’re just watching a performer on the stage.
Worse yet – the supposed worship leader isn’t “leading” anything. He or she isn’t encouraging, and hardly says anything to the congregation between songs.
So what do artists like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift know that your worship leader doesn’t?
They know how to engage the audience. They encourage the audience to join in and maintain a constant conversation with the people. In between songs, they’re talking and setting up the next song. They’re creating a mood that allows the audience to participate and enjoy, whether they know how to sing or not.
Bottom line? Everyone is engaged and has fun. They leave pumped up and excited. They’ve had a powerful emotional experience.
Obviously, Christian worship isn’t about shallow emotion or getting anyone pumped up. But the truth is, most people walking into your church could use a little encouragement and inspiration. They want to participate, but chances are, your worship leader isn’t making it happen.
Leading worship is about bringing people into the presence of God. It’s about creating an atmosphere where they can be open and vulnerable. It’s about encouragement. It’s about preparing people’s hearts and minds to hear a message from the God of the universe.
This Sunday, forget the concert. Invite people in. Create a way for them to participate and bring them into an experience with God they’ll never forget.
Phil Cooke, PhD. has been called “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation.” As a media producer, writer, speaker, and consultant, his client list includes major film studios and TV networks as well as major Christian organizations like Voice of the Martyrs, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, and others. He’s also coached and consulted with many of the most influential churches and nonprofit organizations in the world, helping them use media to tell their story. You can hear his podcast here.
