Creating Moments in Worship

What separates a good worship set from a great one? You might be surprised by the answer.

A number of years ago, my old band had the opportunity to play in front of thousands and open for Delirious.  It was incredibly exciting and unbelievably intimidating.  Besides the fact we were playing before a group we truly loved and respected, we had to take our usually long and somewhat meandering worship set and pare it down to 30 minutes.  We tried a number of things that didn’t work, but then we learned about creating moments and it not only worked, but it changed the way we led worship forever.

Making Moments

Good set building is important, but in order to get that you have to understand the concept of a moment.  A worship set list shouldn’t be just a string of songs; it should be a string of moments.  You sing a song, but you remember a moment.  It’s what you take with you long after you’ve left the building.  Ever notice that it’s easier to respond in worship at the end of a service rather than the beginning?  Is it because the pastor just laid down the most mind-blowing message you’ve ever heard, or is it because the gathering, the community, the songs, and the message have all led to and created a moment? 

A few weeks ago, I asked you on Facebook where you found the most engagement in your worship set.  Some of you answered with beautiful examples of spontaneous moments like our friend Clay Brooks who wrote “When a member of the congregation stood, unprompted, during one of the quieter, contemplative songs. You could tell the words were speaking to him, and it sparked the rest of the congregation to follow, a few at a time.”  Others like Eric Schlange responded with moments that may not have been as spontaneous, but were no less beautiful.  He offered, “Singing the chorus of "How Great Thou Art" accapella. Why? Because it's a singable tune with a powerful message and everyone knows the song!”  What a great example of a worship leader knowing his congregation and creating a moment with them.

Conclusion

When we create sets built around moments, we create more opportunities to teach and more space for God to work.  That serves everyone.  So what about you?  What are some of your most memorable moments in worship?