[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

Worship leaders seem to function in one extreme or the other: the prophetic or the planned.

As with all these worship tensions we’re talking about, it’s difficult to pin one better than the other. Is it possible to be musically excellent with tightly constructed arrangements AND flow in the prophetic?

It’s like you have Kevin Prosch, Jason Upton, and ihop boxing with Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, and Desperation Band.

Who wins?

Which is better?

Which should we pursue?

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[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

How far is too far?

When does worship slowly become about performance?

When does it become more about the stage than about the cross?

When does it become more about a killer band than a risen Savior?

Are we in danger of “emptying the cross of its power?”

Is our worship an echo of the Apostle Paul’s concern in Corinthians that we speak wise words but have no demonstration of the Spirit’s power?

How can we know if we’re performing too much?

How can we know if we’re not performing enough?

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[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

I’ve been to many churches throughout the years and have seen both sides of this.

At one church you have robust, theological songs and hymns, sung by people who look like they’re being tortured.

In other churches you have intimate love songs sung by people who are falling all over the place.

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Worship has become a big deal these days.

Albums.

Songs.

Tours.

Resources.

Books.

It’s an industry.

I love it. But I also wonder if the hype has stolen the heart?

Check out this brief video from Brian McLaren. I’m not a huge Brian McLaren fan, but I think he raises some interesting questions here.

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I’ve been thinking about the nature of worship. God doesn’t need our worship in order to feel better about Himself. That could be one reason we worship. We could also worship simply because it’s fun. We like songs and music and being with other people.

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Or are there other reasons?

I think Louie Giglio will inspire you here. I’m not sure I’ve heard anyone describe worship quite like him.

So what’s your answer? Why do you worship? Why is worship so important to you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.