A Raw Acidness

In worship planning approaches, there are two extremes:

1) The Hard-core-down-to-the-millisecond-controlled Approach

2) The Zero-planning-let-the-Holy-Spirit-lead Approach

As in most areas of life, we should be seeking to find the balance between these extremes - or as my friend, Dr. Ernie, calls it, "The Radical Center."

There are risks involved with these extreme approaches. In the controlled approach, we run the risk of eliminating the leading of the Holy Spirit and leaving no room for God to move as He pleases. I've attended worship services where the worship pastor had the elements of worship planned down to the minute. Literally. Like, "Amazing Grace: from 9:18-9:22. Scripture reading: from 9:22-9:23." On the other hand, in the unplanned approach, we can end up crashing and burning from lack of organization and leadership. I've sat in meetings where the leader deliberately did not plan because he wanted the Holy Spirit to lead. We ended up sitting around looking at each other until someone with a strong personality started talking and proceeded to dominate the meeting.

The end result in both cases is that God is not able to move freely in the meeting - either from lack of time or from lack of leadership. But we want God to be active in our gatherings, right? The best meetings I can remember were times when God seemed to show up in a powerful way and take us somewhere. And as best as I can remember, these times were always the result of planned spontaneity - times when there was strong, clear leadership and also intentional time/space left for God to speak.

So how do we achieve this balance!?

I think as worship planners, we need to plan ahead for "spontaneous" moments during our worship time. It may seem strange (or scary) to plan out empty space in the worship time, but I believe it is the key to allowing God free rein to move in our meetings. It doesn't have to be forced. Just be intentional as a leader - communicate to the congregation that this is a time for God to speak, and then be quiet for a moment. If it seems like there's nothing really happening, then move on! The point is that we pause and give God permission to mess up our schedule!

Last Sunday morning, as I prayed in my truck before opening up the church, I felt a strong leading from the Lord to leave some space toward the end of the worship set for people to respond. I knew I wanted to invite people to come to the front and respond to God in some way, but I wasn't even entirely sure what I was going to say. So I told the worship team that I was planning for something to happen after the third song. Then I told the senior pastor that I was planning for something to happen after the third song.

When the third song ended, I simply shared what was on my heart. But God really hit me, and I got choked up and could hardly even say what I wanted to say. The funny thing is, my emotional response was probably more powerful than what I was even saying. I asked people to come up to the front as we played the next song, and many responded. It was a precious time of repentance and seeking God.

I want to be committed to planning these moments more often - carved out spaces where we let God do what He wants to do.