Photo Credit: S I G U R via Flickr
Leading a worship service is no easy task. Even when a worship service goes off without a hitch, there are few experiences as uncomfortable as speaking in public.
Fortunately, pastors stand up because they have found a cause bigger than their fear. But do you ever wonder what goes through a pastor's mind?
1. You do not gain temporary invisibility when you yawn.
Sorry, but when the pastor is looking in your direction, he can see you having a conversation with your friend, flipping through pictures on your phone, or yes, even when you're in the back pew and you grab the opportunity for a little shut eye.
Now don't get me wrong, pastors would rather you come to the church yawning then stay at home and miss out on worship. Worship services are valuable because they give us all a chance to glorify God and to deepen meaningful community. God takes you as you are.
But if you're going to do something distracting during service, please try to wait until the pastor is looking in a different direction or down at his notes. There is nothing that saps a speaker's energy faster than hitting the crescendo of their story and looking up to a sleeper.
2. The Style of Music isn't a Big Deal.
Pastors attend all the worship services so they enjoy the full range of worship styles that your church offers. As a result, most pastors learn to express their heart in each of these styles. Even if a pastor grew up in a non-traditional environment, it doesn't take long for the pastor to fall in love with the depth of certain hymns and their ability to showcase our praise.
If the pastor is caught up in some kind of 'worship war' between different styles, chances are high that it has little to do with the actual music. Someone has probably approached the pastor during the week and shared, "Everyone hates you for your recent song choice."
Give the pastor, and give yourself, a break. Go along with the music style even if it isn't the first thing you would dial to on your car radio. The music is for your enjoyment, yes, but it is also a gift we offer to God, and a way we show support to one another. If you're still having trouble enjoying the music, find joy in the fact that the music is helping others in the congregation to praise.
3. You can disagree!
Good pastors want you to wrestle with the sermon. Have a different perspective on a point the pastor shared? Great! Have serious doubts about a certain aspect of Christianity? Fantastic!
For some reason it is often kept secret that doubts and dialogue are a healthy and necessary aspect of our spiritual growth. Thoughts we have during the sermon can be shared open and respectfully in a small group environment. And disagreements can only hurt you if you keep them bottled up.
4. Pastors are Morons!
That's wording it strongly. Maybe I should tone it down slightly: pastors are... human. Which means that pastors make mistakes, they change opinions, and some sermons are going to be better than others.
The good news is that your pastor is fully aware of this. When he prepares for a sermon, he feels overwhelmed by the breadth of knowledge that is beyond him. Reminders of his shortcomings come in the form of biblical commentaries, famous pastors online, and the church down the street.
This is actually quite exciting. Ignorance is an opportunity to learn and there is nothing more fun than making new discoveries about the God of the universe.
5. Worship Services are a Tiny Part of your Pastor's Job
Every pastor has an anecdote of being approached by someone who thought his only job was to prepare a weekly sermon. Some well-intentioned person will ask, "Yes, but what is your real job? Like, where do you go to work during the week?" >-<
In Seminary, pastors are taught to prepare an hour for every minute of the sermon. The reality is that most pastors are lucky to find 10 hours during their work week to research, draft, and write their sermon. The rest of the time is spent in meetings, serving needs in the community, and orchestrating other ministries of the church.
May our churches never put all their focus on "The Big Show" of Sunday. Following Jesus is an all-week thing; It is not part of our schedule, it IS our schedule. If your pastor could express one thing to you about worship services, it would probably be this -- that worship can continue in your workplace, as you hang out with friends, and as you grab dinner at a local restaurant. God's desire is to draw you deeper into that vibrant, joy-filled, Christ-centered life.
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