Written by Brandon Ryan, pastor of The River Church in River Falls, Wisconsin
If you’re like me, you’ve had Sundays when the worship service ended and you wondered, Did I worship the Lord at all today? I used to think that if I didn’t have a powerful moment of connection with God during the service, I’d failed to worship. I felt like a hypocrite. I’d head home on Sunday with feelings of shame and disappointment because I was leading others to experience God in worship but somehow failing to do so myself.
The problem, I’ve come to understand, was with my narrow understanding of what worship is. In corporate worship, we join the company of God’s people in lifting our adoration and praise to the Lord.
Congregation members do this when they sing from the pews. Worship pastors do this when they prayerfully and skillfully lead God’s people in praise. Teaching pastors do this from the pulpit. Your planning, rehearsal, and faithful use of your gifts—whether through exposition or musicianship—is a vital service to your local church.
I wrote recently to encourage worship pastors in this truth: Leading worship is worship. As long as your service is for God’s glory, your service is worship.
—Brandon
