Allen Kleine Deters

We definitely need to do a whole lot more sackclothing in our churches.  Besides our denomination not having evangelism in it's original DNA we have made discipleship into going to church, sending your kids to Sunday school and Christian School,  actually isolating ourselves from the real world and in so doing raising generations that haven't a clue how to really engage it with the Gospel.  But that's not discipleship -- just being a good churchy Christian.

People wonder why I'm out there networking with non-Christians and having a great time playing music and being available to students or participating in the Chamber of Commerce and the local homeless shelter.  Simple, it's what Jesus expects of us as disciples.  If we're going to be true disciples of Jesus he expects us to "SELL OUT"  for him.  And I'm trying to lead our church in that same direction.  There should be no such thing as the comfortable pew unless you've just spent your time reaching out to the lost and those in need and just need a little rest for your bones.  Bring on the sackcloth, we've got a lot of repenting to do.

Kudos Joyce for attempting to ask the tough questions.

For many years I struggled with this question as a worship pastor.  And I still struggle with it now as an ordained pastor.

When I was a youth pastor/worship pastor, I led youth worship teams that was more a training ground than anything else although I saw God use it in powerful ways to transform the lives of those youth.  Some are worship leaders now in their own churches.  And at first there were some who were not believers just excited-to-learn musicians and vocalists and, don't forget the sound people.  It drew closet guitarists, drummers, keyboard players....et al, out of the wood work.  A number of them came to know Christ through their participation.

Having said that, I was often at war in myself in regard to the levitical calling of people in worship.  Here's what I came up with eventually:

1. Anyone who is a worship leader (organizing, speaking, giving direction during the service) must be at least a regular committed attender or member who is a committed Christian and willing to be under the authority of the church. There's built in accountability then.
2. Other musicians should at least be attenders or connected to attenders and committed to the focus of the worship ministry.  This is the tough part in checking attitudes cause we all know how musicians can often be tempermental. I deal with this as soon as it rears its ugly head.  I have no trouble guarding the worship and letting someone go if necessary.  That hasn't been too much trouble.  I have had just as much trouble with this from Christians as with pre-Christians.
3. Everyone on the team participates in our "small group" component whether or not they are believers.
4. Everyone shares their expertise and ideas to put together the best possible worship service.

Common grace plays a part in this too.  I believe that God can use even non-believers for his purposes and touch their lives in the process.

Seriously, my experience has been that the pre-Christians who want to be involved are usually just that "pre" and are seeking and desiring more of God in some way.

That's my take.

I think many of us look at the forms as guidelines that point you to the key components that should be included.

Since they are not that personal in nature and somewhat generic, I think it's important to add some creativity to the mix.
I've often told Sunday School teachers that the curriculum are guidelines not scripture that must be molded to their setting and their students. And a teacher knows their students better than the people who developed the curriculum.

Be pragmatic in your approach, but keep the central points.
I too like the Worship Source book to help with the creative process.

Walt, 

This certainly is something to think about.  I have also consulted with churches along these same lines.  Many elders in churches that use primarily small groups as you've described only visit those folks not involved in a small group.  Even if there is a crisis, if the person(s) is in a small group, the pastor and elders work in conjunction with the group to meet that need. 

Having said that, both the pastors and council should be involved in small groups and be their champions in order for the church to fully buy in to their potential for discipleship.

Make sure you send them our way when they're looking at healthy ways to develop small group ministry that isn't just another "program" in the church, but a way of life and ministry to develop and grow disciples.

Thanks Mavis,

I know that running sound and tech can be a very thankless job.  The sad thing is that people have no clue what it takes to do that ministry well.  As a worship pastor I trained our sound techs thoroughly so they had less of those head turns at them and could really help make the worship band sound good.  As a musician, I'm at the mercy of the sound people to help create excellent sound.  As a preaching pastor I am counting on the projection volunteers to make sure the screen is projecting what it's supposed to at the right time.  Both ministries require focused attention to details -- not something just anyone can do.  The sound people especially need to know what to listen for in order to tweak the sound just right -- what knob and slider does what and how to use it.

Kudos to all the techies out there who love what they do and seek to do it better!!  And strength to those who have been battered from insensitive parishoners.

Go thank your tech people after church this Sunday  :-)