If worship is more than a song...

You know that worship is more than just a song. So, what’s the role of a worship song? We spend hours rehearsing, leading, watching and listening to songs… do we know why? Or has executing songs slowly become the job description?

Songs are important as they unite the congregation, help us focus, and give us language to express what’s going on in our hearts. They engage and move us. But songs are not the goal; they are just the means to an end.

Songs are the economic unit of the music industry. They generate revenue for songwriters and publishers. So that’s what gets pumped out, dressed up, consumed with views and streams. Songs are what we as worship teams learn and reproduce to help our congregations worship.

But in worship, songs serve a different purpose. They are NOT an end unto themselves. The song is not the point. Like a dance song makes us dance, a good worship song helps us worship. However, our efforts often focus on executing songs well rather than on the act of worship itself.

Maybe songs are like elevators, taking us from the ground floor to the top floor emotionally and mentally. Once we reach the top floor, we leave the elevator to see the one we came for.

Songs can also be like highway on-ramps, helping us accelerate toward our destination. They are just tools to help us get where we want to go.

Songs are also like dinner plates, holding the meal we came to enjoy. We don't go to a restaurant for their beautiful plates; we go for the satisfying meal on those plates. If the plates are dirty or distracting, it can take away from our experience. But if we're hungry enough, even plastic plates won't matter.

Imagine songs as footstools that a child uses to climb up and kiss their father. They help us reach that connection with our heavenly Father. We should make solid footstools but remember their purpose and give more attention to expressing our love.

What makes a song a worship song? The heart that sings it.

Let's bring more than a song

Songs help us express our hearts' offerings, but remember their purpose: they are like elevators, on-ramps, dinner plates, and footstools.

A good elevator is smooth and unnoticeable;

An on-ramp is free of potholes and helps us accelerate safely.

A dinner plate holds the meal without distracting us,

A footstool helps us reach our goal.

Songs help us sing together and encounter the Lord. Let's become experts at facilitating these encounters, using songs well but always going beyond the song because that's the reason why we sing.