This post is the seventh post in a series on the core values of worship ministry. These core values were selected by David Loftis, worship pastor at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church, NC. These posts are taken from a series of devotions he asked me to write to accompany a training series he did on these core values. Click here to read the entire series.
There is a story about a woman who was facing a knee replacement surgery. During the final medical checkup prior to the surgery, she nervously asked the doctor, “Doc, will I be able to play the piano after the surgery?” The confused doctor replied, “Well, yes ma’am. We will only be operating on your knee, so I see no reason why you won’t be able to play the piano afterwards.” “Great!” the woman responded, “I’ve always wanted to play the piano but never knew how!”
That’s a silly story, of course, but there are many people who dive into different ministries without ever considering whether God has gifted them for that particular service. Now, I will take one of those folks over 20 people who never get involved in ministry at all because they don’t think they are “good at anything,” but all of us should consider how God has uniquely put us together and what service we might be best suited for. Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Church calls this SHAPE (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Ability, Personality, and Experiences) and there are many more assessments available out there to help you determine where you might most effectively be used by God.
But wait – that’s not to say at all that you have to be a musical superstar or have “golden ears” to serve in the worship ministry. A big part of participating in this ministry is learning, practicing, and improving. So long as the singer, instrumentalist, or AVL member has reached a minimal level of competency, the plan is to progressively build those skills through individual practice and group rehearsal. In order to grow, however, we have to be able to receive honest feedback with grace and strive to grow and improve. Our worship ministry should encourage a spirit of constant evaluation while at the same time ensuring that the feedback we give is truth spoken in grace – to honor and build up rather than tear down.
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