There’s a dangerous thing that I see happening among worship leaders and teams in the American Church. This danger isn’t “too many Bethel songs” or “too much focus on lights and fog machines”. It’s much more simple. The problem I see is the form of leadership that teams are taking in leading their congregations. And while this isn’t typically found in a mantra or written down statement, it’s found in the physical interactions. Well, actually, it’s usually found in the lack of interactions.
We’ve stopped having meaningful interactions with the people we’re called to serve.
I don’t believe we did this intentionally. While there may be some specific instances of shying away after negative encounters (I’m looking straight at all the complainers here), I think we’ve created this lack of meaningful connection with two (beneficial) steps:
- Ensuring that teams are on-time and prepared for services
- Prioritizing team building and cross-team engagement
Both of these are critically important in leading a healthy team, but I think we’re falling out of balance. When we don’t prioritize meaningful conversation with the people we’re serving, we take on an un-Christlike form of leadership. Jesus’ main medium of ministry was conversation. He created open spaces to ask questions and gain new understanding of the nature of God.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.
– Philippians 2:5-8 (BSB)
Most of us would probably say that our ministry happens both on and off the platform, but in reality, if we’re not connecting with, hearing the stories of, and being in the lives of those we’re serving, then our ministry is only on the platform. So my challenge this week is to take the steps with your team to lead more like Jesus.
Lead by emptying yourselves — emptying yourself of any pride, of the need to have authority, of the need to be right, of the need to be special…
Lead by taking the form of a servant and relating to your humanity — have conversations with the people we’re leading, be in their lives, relate to them, be honest and vulnerable, and create real connections.
Lead by laying your life down for others — allow yourself to be inconvenienced by people, embrace awkward conversations, and help those you’re serving feel seen by God through you.