It’s kind of a tired discussion – setlists, songs, and how many new songs to lead. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just that my world revolves around picking setlists and finding songs. If I’m honest, I look forward to days I don’t have to pick out a setlist. It feels like vacation.

But this one activity we do day in and day out is something we can’t lose interest in or give up on.

Here’s why:

Songs are important. Church aside, consider the prominence that songs have in our culture. Movies wouldn’t make sense without them. Sporting events would lack energy without them. Moments rarely pass without hearing some type of music. From department store background music, to wedding ceremonies and concert halls. From iPhones to elevators, dance clubs to churches, songs are the single most important vehicle of communication and connection in the world.

All of a sudden, “What songs are we singing on Sunday” carries more weight, doesn’t it?

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When you worship Jesus, how emotional do you get?

Do you cry? Do you raise your hands? Do you dance? Do you kneel? Do you sing?

This is an important conversation to be having because let’s face it – some of us are more naturally emotional than others. For some of you, it doesn’t take much for you to cry. But some of you struggle – bigtime – in corporate worship because you’ve hardly every cried in your life. You’re more dignified, reserved. It’s not that you don’t love Jesus. You’re just not expressive.

But is this an issue where we say, “To each his own?” Or is there a biblical, God-directed way for all the people of God to worship?

Is our worship too emotional?

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What is it that really constitutes a great worship experience?

To me, the word “experience” doesn’t do justice to our gatherings.

When I think of experience, I think of my family’s recent trip to Disney World. Man, that was an experience. It was an experience lugging two toddlers around the enchanted streets. It was an experience buying a $10 turkey leg. It was quite the experience seeing the castle lit up at night with fireworks all around. It was memorable. It was fun. Was it life changing? Hardly.

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