Comments on: How Do I Lead My Church Through Change? http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/ Resources for Leading Worship from Bob Kauflin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:41:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Katie Crum http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-8099 Katie Crum Tue, 06 May 2008 04:25:54 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-8099 Mr. Kauflin, I really enjoyed your thoughts and perspective on this. It is so important that the entire leadership team at the church is in agreement. It does no good for everyone to be working against each other, after all we are all working for the common goal. I also really like how you stated that it is so important that we lead theologically. Our culture often gets so wrapped up in numbers and making things a huge production that we loose purpose and vision. We need to be worshiping God as we are called to. Worship is something that is to encompass our entire lives, and many Christians do not know what that even means. I think it is a great idea to have a lesson on worship. It seems so basic but is something that I have never really seen before. Mr. Kauflin,
I really enjoyed your thoughts and perspective on this. It is so important that the entire leadership team at the church is in agreement. It does no good for everyone to be working against each other, after all we are all working for the common goal. I also really like how you stated that it is so important that we lead theologically. Our culture often gets so wrapped up in numbers and making things a huge production that we loose purpose and vision. We need to be worshiping God as we are called to. Worship is something that is to encompass our entire lives, and many Christians do not know what that even means. I think it is a great idea to have a lesson on worship. It seems so basic but is something that I have never really seen before.

]]> By: Chip Carter http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1779 Chip Carter Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:55:47 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1779 Mr. Kauflin: It is always refreshing to hear and receive, via the miracle of the world wide web, such wise and cogent counsel regarding authentic worship and an unwavering commitment to scriptural integrity. Your last main point pertaining to leading in confidence and humility particularly struck a chord (no pun intended) with me - - as "lead worshippers" we have a Christ ordained duty and honor to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Mr. Kauflin:

It is always refreshing to hear and receive, via the miracle of the world wide web, such wise and cogent counsel regarding authentic worship and an unwavering commitment to scriptural integrity. Your last main point pertaining to leading in confidence and humility particularly struck a chord (no pun intended) with me - - as “lead worshippers” we have a Christ ordained duty and honor to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.

]]> By: Won http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1776 Won Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:17:55 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1776 bob... great stuff. thanks for being so thorough and meaty and yet so concise. and thanks for the chordsheet for "God Over All". we had a great time of worship in song at friday's caregroup. bob… great stuff. thanks for being so thorough and meaty and yet so concise. and thanks for the chordsheet for “God Over All”. we had a great time of worship in song at friday’s caregroup.

]]> By: Jeremy Killian http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1774 Jeremy Killian Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:56:54 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1774 Our church has just come through a two-year process of adjusting our musical approach from a traditional style to a contemporary one. It has been difficult, especially with some of our veteran members, to get everyone to see the necessity of this re-adjustment. The only thing that has kept all of this going is the unwavering and constant support for the pastor. About twice a month, the pastor would spend some time on Sunday evenings reminding everyone why this shift was being made. Now, we are finally starting to see positive results, and it is really exciting! Not everyone is thrilled with this style of music, but they are, by and large, committed to the change, and it is thrilling. For those of you out there who feel that this is a losing battle with your church, know that if God is behind your change in styles, He will provide the congregational maturity necessary to make the shift. Our church has just come through a two-year process of adjusting our musical approach from a traditional style to a contemporary one. It has been difficult, especially with some of our veteran members, to get everyone to see the necessity of this re-adjustment. The only thing that has kept all of this going is the unwavering and constant support for the pastor. About twice a month, the pastor would spend some time on Sunday evenings reminding everyone why this shift was being made.

Now, we are finally starting to see positive results, and it is really exciting! Not everyone is thrilled with this style of music, but they are, by and large, committed to the change, and it is thrilling. For those of you out there who feel that this is a losing battle with your church, know that if God is behind your change in styles, He will provide the congregational maturity necessary to make the shift.

]]> By: Mark Peiffer http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1770 Mark Peiffer Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:59:00 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1770 Mr. Kauflin, Thank you for speaking on the topic of worship at RYE and then leading worship at the end. I benefited greatly from your second sermon especially on how our whole life is an act of worship to God. I loved it when you went through the Gospel, tearfully and passionately. It shows your love for and devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Again thanks for setting aside the time and effort to help parents and teens of Sovereign Grace Ministries worship God and love His glorious Gospel more. Grace to you, Mark Peiffer Mr. Kauflin,

Thank you for speaking on the topic of worship at RYE and then leading worship at the end. I benefited greatly from your second sermon especially on how our whole life is an act of worship to God. I loved it when you went through the Gospel, tearfully and passionately. It shows your love for and devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Again thanks for setting aside the time and effort to help parents and teens of Sovereign Grace Ministries worship God and love His glorious Gospel more.

Grace to you,
Mark Peiffer

]]> By: David S. Spaggiari http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1769 David S. Spaggiari Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:36:43 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1769 Bob Great response to Chris' question. I especially appreciate your paragraph "Teach and re-teach the church what biblical worship is". I routinely incorporate the reading of God's Word and exhorting on biblical worship as part of our corporate worship. I have found on many occasions that the congregation is deeply engaged in worshiping together before a guitar is ever strummed. We engage in full-blown contemporary worship using electric guitar, electric bass, synth, piano, and drums. We must be careful to remember that we are worshiping, not performing. I would much rather make some musical mistakes while keeping the congregation on track in our expression of biblical worship than to have a mistake-free "set" but lose even part of our sense of where we are with the Lord. Thanks, Bob David S. Spaggiari Bob

Great response to Chris’ question. I especially appreciate your paragraph “Teach and re-teach the church what biblical worship is”. I routinely incorporate the reading of God’s Word and exhorting on biblical worship as part of our corporate worship. I have found on many occasions that the congregation is deeply engaged in worshiping together before a guitar is ever strummed.

We engage in full-blown contemporary worship using electric guitar, electric bass, synth, piano, and drums. We must be careful to remember that we are worshiping, not performing. I would much rather make some musical mistakes while keeping the congregation on track in our expression of biblical worship than to have a mistake-free “set” but lose even part of our sense of where we are with the Lord.

Thanks, Bob

David S. Spaggiari

]]> By: Trent Broussard http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1766 Trent Broussard Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:55:56 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1766 Working through musical changes has been a slow process for our church. The first step was to build a strong relationship and trust with those who really did not want a change. Being upfront about where we want to go and bringing them along as part of the process is sometimes not the easiest path to follow but for our church family, it has allowed a major shift in musical style with losing any families who before had "convictions" about musical styles. Shepherding a church through change takes time, patience, and an incredible amount of love. Trent Broussard Holland, Michigan Working through musical changes has been a slow process for our church. The first step was to build a strong relationship and trust with those who really did not want a change. Being upfront about where we want to go and bringing them along as part of the process is sometimes not the easiest path to follow but for our church family, it has allowed a major shift in musical style with losing any families who before had “convictions” about musical styles. Shepherding a church through change takes time, patience, and an incredible amount of love.

Trent Broussard
Holland, Michigan

]]> By: Kendall http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1765 Kendall Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:02:30 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1765 When we decided to expand our worship to include a variety of styles within each of our services, we then spent a very long time trying to keep everyone happy. The Holy Spirit revealed to us that we had become enmeshed in idolatry on two fronts: many of our people had made an idol of their musical preferences, and leadership had succumbed to the idol of trying to please the people. It was only as we began to stress what worship was and wasn't from a Biblical perspective that things began to turn around. When we decided to expand our worship to include a variety of styles within each of our services, we then spent a very long time trying to keep everyone happy. The Holy Spirit revealed to us that we had become enmeshed in idolatry on two fronts: many of our people had made an idol of their musical preferences, and leadership had succumbed to the idol of trying to please the people. It was only as we began to stress what worship was and wasn’t from a Biblical perspective that things began to turn around.

]]> By: Sean http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1761 Sean Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:25:57 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1761 In our church, we've already dealt with the huge issue of traditional versus contemporary in musical worship, but our pastors and elders are in the beginning stages of leading our people to embrace a different paradigm for ministry. Most of our people currently operate in a traditional, institutional paradigm of "successful church is more people in the seats and than we had last month." However, our leadership is embracing the goal of making better disciples while eliminating busyness in our peoples' lives. One primary resource I'm using to teach our people is through our monthly newsletter. Rather than use that space to 'chat' about all the happenings in our church, I'm attempting to cast a vision toward a biblical view of church. It is a slow process, but I'm hopeful that God will plant seeds in the hearts of our people that will allow them to think differently about who they are as the Church. I always think the written word is a good means to communicate and challenge people in their thinking, primarily because the author can fully think through what he desires to communicate, and the reader can read the author's thoughts over and over until he fully understands what is written. In oral communication, this luxury is not true for the hearer. In our church, we’ve already dealt with the huge issue of traditional versus contemporary in musical worship, but our pastors and elders are in the beginning stages of leading our people to embrace a different paradigm for ministry. Most of our people currently operate in a traditional, institutional paradigm of “successful church is more people in the seats and than we had last month.” However, our leadership is embracing the goal of making better disciples while eliminating busyness in our peoples’ lives.

One primary resource I’m using to teach our people is through our monthly newsletter. Rather than use that space to ‘chat’ about all the happenings in our church, I’m attempting to cast a vision toward a biblical view of church. It is a slow process, but I’m hopeful that God will plant seeds in the hearts of our people that will allow them to think differently about who they are as the Church.

I always think the written word is a good means to communicate and challenge people in their thinking, primarily because the author can fully think through what he desires to communicate, and the reader can read the author’s thoughts over and over until he fully understands what is written. In oral communication, this luxury is not true for the hearer.

]]> By: Peter Park http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1755 Peter Park Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:53:20 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007/09/how-do-i-lead-my-church-through-change/#comment-1755 It's so important for the leaders to be in unity. There are going to be some people who don't agree with the other leaders but that's what submitting to our leaders is all about. They bear the responsibility. If they are not being biblical, then that's an issue that needs to be brought up. It’s so important for the leaders to be in unity. There are going to be some people who don’t agree with the other leaders but that’s what submitting to our leaders is all about. They bear the responsibility. If they are not being biblical, then that’s an issue that needs to be brought up.

]]>