!0 Days in Matty 10: Day 1

So here we are. Day one of “Ten Days in Matty Ten.” You can click here to find out more about “Ten Days in Matty Ten.”

“Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel…” –Matthew 10:6

The first thing Jesus tells his disciples to do is go to the lost. He says it himself. He says the sick need a doctor not the healthy. He tells his disciples to live this out too. He tells them to go to the lost sheep, not to the ones that have been found. We are obviously to do the same. But how does that work in worship ministry?

I think the first way that we can live this out in worship is in the things we create for a worship experience. Things like graphics, videos, dramas should be done with the same excellence that anything else out there is. We shouldn’t slack one bit. We should strive for the best. They should also be relatable. People should be able to see a drama and see themselves in the same situation. Dramas about a little boy being in trouble at school and his dad sitting down and talking to him, then the little boy says, “You’re right Daddy, I’m sorry,” aren’t relatable. Everyone knows that’s not how it works. The boy comes home and starts arguing with his parents about it, and the parents just don’t know what to do. That’s real. That’s what our videos and dramas need to portray.

Another way is in the words we use during a worship service. This can really go for talking period. People who didn’t grow up in church don’t know words and phrases like “redeemed,” “consecrated for God’s will,” or even what “salvation” means. I can replace those words with others they do know like “forgiven,” “set apart,” and saved by grace.” Using words people understand will help them understand God’s sacrifice and forgiveness for their own lives. If they don’t understand our words, they won’t understand God’s plans for them.

A third way to “go to the lost” is in songwriting. I love songwriting. It’s something God has given me the ability to do. The hard part is writing songs that non-Christians can understand. This is a lot like using words they understand, but it’s just a step further. When I write a song, I try to write it in a way that sounds like the music people listen to, and also has something that matters to their life. Like feeling helpless but finding hope. Too many hymns are confusing for non-Christians today. Don’t get me wrong; they’re amazing songs with amazing truth. But so many people just don’t get them. They feel like they can’t connect with hymns. So writing songs people can understand and relate to is extremely important.

So these are just a couple of things we can do to help our worship ministry “go to the lost.” Tomorrow we will see how to preach the message, “The Kingdom of God is near” in our worship.