Comments on: Worship Leaders - How Do You Approach Planning for Easter? http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/03/worship-leaders-how-do-you-approach-planning-for-easter/ Resources for Leading Worship from Bob Kauflin Fri, 16 May 2008 11:16:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Nathan Irby http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/03/worship-leaders-how-do-you-approach-planning-for-easter/#comment-6528 Nathan Irby Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:21:19 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=271#comment-6528 I so agree with showing the meaning of the bible and its terms for Easter than an "Amazing Laser light show" or "Amazing worhsip band". I thinks that great but like you said tell it plainly, bibically, and passionately. We were talking about Easter in my chapel class. And we were throwing out all kinds of ideas....ideas that we thought were cool. But maybe not so cool to God. We were trying to be "creative" maybe. But not in the righ sense. And I agree totally on letting things be simple not so complex. We started to get ideas for our "after easter" chapel and I thought that was an awesome idea. I honestly didn't think about praying for ideas a day after or anything. Thats a really good idea! thanks! I so agree with showing the meaning of the bible and its terms for Easter than an “Amazing Laser light show” or “Amazing worhsip band”. I thinks that great but like you said tell it plainly, bibically, and passionately. We were talking about Easter in my chapel class. And we were throwing out all kinds of ideas….ideas that we thought were cool. But maybe not so cool to God. We were trying to be “creative” maybe. But not in the righ sense. And I agree totally on letting things be simple not so complex. We started to get ideas for our “after easter” chapel and I thought that was an awesome idea. I honestly didn’t think about praying for ideas a day after or anything. Thats a really good idea! thanks!

]]> By: Bruce http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/03/worship-leaders-how-do-you-approach-planning-for-easter/#comment-1192 Bruce Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:44:01 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=271#comment-1192 If Jesus never rose from the dead, then ours would be a dead religion. I thank God that Jesus did rise from the dead and that he offers the "abundant life." I'm looking forward to: Resurrection Sunday If Jesus never rose from the dead, then ours would be a dead religion. I thank God that Jesus did rise from the dead and that he offers the “abundant life.” I’m looking forward to: Resurrection Sunday

]]> By: jordan fowler http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/03/worship-leaders-how-do-you-approach-planning-for-easter/#comment-1191 jordan fowler Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:46:52 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=271#comment-1191 First, bridge them to God and glorify HIm ...obviously. Second, we make sure it is authentically us. We might do something "wow" but we ask, "Is this NorthWood?" We have consulted with guys who have a base "rock" sound but decided for Easter they were going to rent in a horn line and go all R&B (we advised against it, we'll see what they do). People who return the next week who will be expecting a consistency of some sorts between weeks are going to be confused. Yes, do it. Just not on Easter. (Even if we have a guest musician etc., we always make sure our worship team kicks off with at least one song so that if someone is a guest, they feel like they know what to expect if they return.) PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS, but always be who you really are. Interestingly, we keep very good data (perhaps because I score a 99% Beaver on the Ministry Insights test). Our data shows that for the last 7 years, though our attendance spikes radically on Easter (3,000+) and our visitor count jumps, there is same residual gain of these new folks regardless of whether we stay simple or "go nuts" on Easter. We have simplified Easter and spent the extra energy on a powerful <a href="http://www.worshiptrench.com/?p=30" rel="nofollow">Good Friday</a> Experience each year (an example is posted, more to come).. First, bridge them to God and glorify HIm …obviously. Second, we make sure it is authentically us. We might do something “wow” but we ask, “Is this NorthWood?” We have consulted with guys who have a base “rock” sound but decided for Easter they were going to rent in a horn line and go all R&B (we advised against it, we’ll see what they do). People who return the next week who will be expecting a consistency of some sorts between weeks are going to be confused. Yes, do it. Just not on Easter. (Even if we have a guest musician etc., we always make sure our worship team kicks off with at least one song so that if someone is a guest, they feel like they know what to expect if they return.) PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS, but always be who you really are.

Interestingly, we keep very good data (perhaps because I score a 99% Beaver on the Ministry Insights test). Our data shows that for the last 7 years, though our attendance spikes radically on Easter (3,000+) and our visitor count jumps, there is same residual gain of these new folks regardless of whether we stay simple or “go nuts” on Easter. We have simplified Easter and spent the extra energy on a powerful Good Friday Experience each year (an example is posted, more to come)..

]]> By: Cass http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/03/worship-leaders-how-do-you-approach-planning-for-easter/#comment-1190 Cass Mon, 12 Mar 2007 06:27:28 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=271#comment-1190 Hey Bob, Amen, Amen, Amen. I have been in many small villages in Alaska these past 3 years and it is hard to reach "everyone." And especially hard to let God work when I and the other leaders have NO CLUE what God's doing next. The thing is, with what you mentioned - examining the motive - knowing that our hearts are pure before the Lord before we take another step to reach another.... we have no right to under estimate the power of God. It doesn't matter what your service is like. (As long as it is Biblical!) It could be a flop, in your eyes, but if we set out to make God known and to make sure these people saw the Love that they're so foreign to... but we make sure God's the captain, not us, what more is there? Sounds crazy, especially coming from me. But I think sometimes we live inside a box, putting God in that same box... forgetting He doesn't belong there, and forgetting our mission is never going to be achieved if we don't let him work. okay, I'm off my soapbox now Cass Hey Bob,

Amen, Amen, Amen. I have been in many small villages in Alaska these past 3 years and it is hard to reach “everyone.” And especially hard to let God work when I and the other leaders have NO CLUE what God’s doing next.
The thing is, with what you mentioned - examining the motive - knowing that our hearts are pure before the Lord before we take another step to reach another…. we have no right to under estimate the power of God. It doesn’t matter what your service is like. (As long as it is Biblical!) It could be a flop, in your eyes, but if we set out to make God known and to make sure these people saw the Love that they’re so foreign to… but we make sure God’s the captain, not us, what more is there?
Sounds crazy, especially coming from me. But I think sometimes we live inside a box, putting God in that same box… forgetting He doesn’t belong there, and forgetting our mission is never going to be achieved if we don’t let him work.
okay, I’m off my soapbox now
Cass

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