[Regal]

[FONT=Arial]
Hey there. I am a high school student at a Christian school and we have a chapel every week and I am the worship leader. I try to open up every chapel with an upbeat, fun song so that the other students will get excited, but it doesn't work. How do I get them to participate?

Michelle

[georgeo]

is this a chapel the students are made to attend? i've always found that among people who don't have a solid, moment to moment relationship with God, if they are forced into a situation of worship, they'll often reject it, just because.

solution? i couldn't give you a quick one. heres a couple ideas that used together and individually, might help.

1) pray. pray for God to make you an example of worship. pray that God will prepare the hearts of those who are there to worship Him. pray that God will let them see not you but Him and His glory.

2) try something different. maybe start off with a slow song. while playing an intro, challange them to focus on God for just a few minutes, or ask them to take a minute to prepare their hearts for worship. start the first verse quiet, and build it up to the chorus. then go into a faster second song, if you'd like.

3) remember that your job as a worship leader isn't to make people like the music, or to make people look like they're having fun. your job is not to create a worship buzz. your job is to guide them into worship. make sure you, and others on your team, are ready to do that. (is it just you, or are there other kids? if you are alone, you may want to find other people who have a heart for worship, so it doesn't look like you're making an exclusive little worship club)

4) pray more.

5) ask people what they like and dislike about worship. dont' ask everyone, you don't want them to think they can change whatever they like and dislike about worship at chapel, and prayerfully consider making changes.

6) don't think that worship is just music. use scriptures, prayer, drama, or whatever else you can think of.

7) one last thing: pray.


notice a common theme in there?

i'm am completely convinced all our efforts as worship leaders are futile without God. after all, we are worshiping Him, and He makes all possible.

in Christ,

David

[georgeo]

oh yeah. wooooooooosh

[Sean]

....throw a bunch of beach balls into the crowd and get a light rig....


The thing is that you can't force worship and you can't fake worship. Even if you play upbeat songs and get them singing, that doesn't make it worship. They must be singing to God othewise the words are said in vain. The problem is much deeper than just song selection. You have to stir up passion for God in the group.

[Jay Tea]

Originally Posted by Sean

You have to stir up passion for God in the group.

Or God has to stir up passion for himself.

But the principle is the same--what they do during your worship time will be a reflection of how they feel about God. Maybe their version of participation is different than yours. If you tell me to wave my hands and jump around, I'm probably not going to do it. I'm probably going to think you're a little silly.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Jay Tea

Or God has to stir up passion for himself.

Yes, this is very true

[georgeo]

Originally Posted by Sean

....throw a bunch of beach balls into the crowd and get a light rig....

i wish that were funny. but i've seen it happen.

[Sean]

Exactly. Thats why its funny to me. People actually do that sort of thing. Light rigs are very common and beach balls.....ughhhh

[georgeo]

Originally Posted by Sean

Exactly. Thats why its funny to me. People actually do that sort of thing. Light rigs are very common and beach balls.....ughhhh

but its all ok, as long as you're singing "undignified". Right?

[Jay Tea]

Na nana na nanana hey!....hey hey hey....good bye!

Are you opposed to light rigs in general, or just flashing spotlights all over the places to get people jacked up?