Talent Management (Uncomfortable Truths from Matt. 25)

 

Matthew 25 is filled with parables about how we are to live as followers of Jesus in the “between time” from Jesus ascension to heaven and his return at the final judgement. He talked about servants entrusted with an orchard, virgins waiting for the wedding procession, servants with investing and the separation of sheep and goats. These parables illustrated that the followers of Jesus are to be responsible, ready, productive and accountable.

In the business realm there is a term called talent management. It refers to the practice of not only recruiting qualified and capable people but helping them continue to develop, grow and thrive. I think Matthew 25 and in particular verses 14 through 30 speaks some profound truths into what it means for those in worship ministry about being good stewards of our own God given talents and those in our ministries. Even though the parable uses finances as an illustration, it goes deeper to the responsible and productive use of everything that God has given us to be used for his kingdom.

So here are a couple thoughts that I had and I hope they might help God speak in a new way through a familiar passage.

Worship Design Team (Role #6: The Producer/ Worship Curator) Part 1

You walk into a church and from the moment you pass through the doors something just feels right. The room was comfortable, friendly and enjoyable to be in. The service started on time and you were greeted warmly, given a brief scripture to help you focus on God’s attributes and the lights dim down to where you don’t feel like everyone is looking at you. The band and vocal team lead the congregation in singing and played with passion, sincerity and excellence. The lyrics were powerful and worked together to help express awe and wonder as well as facilitating prayer and confession. The video that came right before the sermon was funny, well done and helped set up a strong message based on God’s word. After the teaching time there was an opportunity to respond in obedience to God’s truth by going to one of four stations around the room. The instructions were clear on how to respond, where to go and why you might want to do so as well as making it comfortable for everyone to participate. Afterwords, communion was set up and explained in a fresh way that reminded people of what that ancient practice means for people today. From then on, every part of the service seemed very well thought out, planned and executed.

Beyond Songs and Themes: Part 1 (Responding to The Story Together Every Sunday)

I was sitting in a Thai food restaurant discussing the various things that people expect out of a worship service like songs, volume, scripture readings and other things with a friend of mine when he asked the question that brought on the last couple of years of clarifying the “why and how” of worship design.

He simply asked, “what are you trying to accomplish when you plan worship services?”

You Callin’ Me A Bad Worshiper? (Expressive Worship Leaders)

I’m not up there to put on a show. It’s just not the way I worship. I don’t want to be a distraction. God’s more concerned with my heart than whether I clap or raise my hands.

Over the years I’ve heard phrases just like this from people in worship ministry. They’re usually made in response to talking about expressiveness in worship. In this particular area of worship leadership it’s difficult to know how to approach coaching people on your team to grow. I’ve found that often peoples initial response is really not the main issue.

Worship Design Team (Role# 3: Band Leader/ The Maestro)

Five songs, four chords and the truth. Throw in some skinny jeans, a scarf and a guitar and make sure they’re in their 20’s and you’ve got the perfect guy to lead your worship band. Okay, these are cliches and not real qualifications, however more often than not these tend to be characteristics of what you’ll see in contemporary churches. None of these things should necessarily disqualify anyone from leading a worship band but it’s important to make a list of the things that are non-negotiables, important capabilities and nice perks if they’re available.

Creativity: Finding The Right Ideas (Scratching 201)

So in my post about killing bad creative team meetings one of the major parts of designing worship services is about gathering various elements that will be pieces in the puzzle called scratching. Scratching is the process of intentionally looking through any resources and compiling elements for a worship service. One of the hardest things about scratching is knowing where to start. Creativity is not about finding ideas, it’s about finding the right ones.

Worship Design Team (Role #1: Writer/Word Ninja)

God spoke creation into being with words. Christ is referred to as the “Word” made flesh. Hebrews says that the Word of God is living and active and functions like a sword. Words are powerful and we should treat them with respect and seek to handle our swords with ninja like proficiency.

As worship leaders it’s important that we ourselves handle words carefully as well. However planning is best done in a team and that’s where finding a gifted writer comes in. Part of our job is the equip the saints for works of service and God has probably placed some very capable writers in your midst who are waiting to use their gifts but don’t realize what they can contribute to your services.

Worship Warfare Pt. 2 (How We Fight)

Read Part 1 Worship Warfare (Enemies in Worship)

WORSHIP IS WARFARE

In warfare there is always a victory to be won and an enemy that will either surrender or be destroyed. We will either surrender to God and he will give us victory and destroy our enemies or we surrender to ourselves and Satan and we will both be destroyed.  In worship we are picking sides and fighting either for or against God.

Worship Warfare Pt. 1 (Enemies in Worship)

A few years ago I was with my team backstage praying before we went out to lead worship for our Church family and a brother in Christ named Mike Wallace said something very powerful to us. He said that we were about to engage in an act of warfare. I’ll admit, I grew up in a Church environment where raising your hands was suspect and it’s taken me a while to grow past that unbiblical attitude. So when someone talks about spiritual warfare, lookout, there’s some serious crazy bout to go down! I love my brother though and respect him a ton so I heard him out. What was a quick statement and some real scriptural knowledge has lead to a couple of years really digging in and appreciating that truth.

Win the war before the fighting even begins

Guitar or no guitar? Drums or no drums? Acoustic or Electric? Old Music or New Music? Traditional, contemporary, modern or blended (whatever that means today)? The Worship Wars have gone on for years, long before the transition that started with “contemporary” worship in the 70′. The argument hasn’t always been about music either. Some of the past worship wars were about the role of visual art or the correct language that worship services should be in.

There has always been a tension that we must continually navigate between what I call TIMELY AND TIMELESS principals of worship.