This is a continuation of a 4 part series I’m doing on Serving in Worship.
We looked last week at Serving the Song and how we can be sure we are putting on display the right things musically in a worship setting. This week, we’ll look at how we can serve each other on the same team!
I don’t know about you, but I’m really competitive. I’ve grown a lot in this area over the years, but to this day, I find it hard to not become really intense even in the simplest of board games with my own children. One of our teams values is that we are “Kin Not Competition”. But there is actually one area where I think our teams can be competitive.
As a 5th grader, Mr. Coyle, one of my favorite teachers ever, had our class memorize Romans 12. Romans 12:10 in the ESV says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Just a few years ago someone pointed out to me that we can channel our competitiveness in how we show honor to each other! Now, to be clear, let’s not look to keep score and think we’re better than anyone else at doing this, but if you want to stand out in a particular area, let it be in honoring those around you.
Gary Smalley has a study on marriage and relationships called “Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships”. In the first session of the series he calls honor “the most important ingredient”. But the way he described honor has always stuck with me. Imagine walking through the door when you get home, and one of your young children came up to the door and they were just so excited to see you and ran to give you a hug all the while yelling “Daddy/Mommy!”. I live this experience so often and every time I feel so special! This is what it looks like to show honor. Honor says, “Oh, I am so glad you’re here now and I just want you to know how special you are to me. Is there anything I can do for you!”
So, that helps us with what the starting posture needs to be in serving each other on the team, but what are some other tangible ways we can serve each other?
Here’s a few that might help us:
Punctuality
Little says “I value myself and my time more than I value you and your time” like being habitually late for responsibilities. When we show up on time, or even better, ahead of time, it tells those we are on a team with that we care about them and don’t want to waste their time.
Encouragement
I almost chose the word “cheerleading” just because that is largely what I mean by this. Cheerleaders don’t only cheer when things are going great. They don’t solely stay positive in the good parts of the game. Encouragement is so more than just saying a nice thing when someone does something nice. In reality, it should be more about reminding each other of the hope we have in Christ regardless of how things are going. This is what brings lasting joy.
Accountability
Holding ourselves to a high standard of preparation and excellence allows the team to trust one another on a higher level. When we can count on each other to be faithful in our musical and spiritual preparation, there is a musical and spiritual synergy that can be created. If you can look at me and I can look at you and we both intuitively know that each other is about to bring their best, it helps us all to connect to God and to the congregation more readily.
Communication
More than just responding to things in a timely manner, though that is important, communication is also about attitude and posture. We can communicate so much about how we feel to each other before even saying anything. How we communicate on a technical level is valuable, so learning the language and workflows of the team is necessary. However, what our body language says about how we feel about what we’re doing or who we are with is a consideration when we think about how we are serving each other on the team.
Expectations
It’s so easy for me to project my expectations onto everyone else and not even realize I’m doing it. While we do hold each other accountable and ask for the best out of each other, we also can only control what we can control. When our expectations of each other leads to harsh words or animosity, we need to ask ourselves, “am I bringing my best in musicianship and attitude.” If so, my job is to encourage and not project. We can only control our own attitudes and behaviors. While we expect each other to give our best efforts, we can’t allow our unmet expectations to result in disunity.
How are you serving your teammates both on the stage and in the booth? Are you bringing your best in these areas? Part of serving well in worship ministry is how we are mindful in how we are serving each other well.
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