The ministry of Jesus was oozed discipleship. At every turn, on every mountain top and valley low, Jesus spent time teaching everyone He met. In His parting statement in Matt. 28:19-20, Jesus instructed His disciples to, 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Jesus instructed His disciples to go, to make disciples, and to teach. Discipleship was so important to Jesus that He made this His succession plan for His ministry in tandem with the power of the Holy Spirit. Worship leaders, God did not command us to go and make musicians but to make disciples. Upon reading the gospels, there are three key principles present in Jesus’ model of discipleship that can be transferred into our worship ministries.
Worship leaders, God did not command us to go and make musicians but to make disciples.
The “70+” Principle
In Luke 10:1 we learn that Jesus invested in a multitude of over 70 disciples and sent them out in pairs to prepare the way for His ministry. Just as Jesus chose 12 disciples from among the multitude of the 70+, we must choose to invest in a select few beyond that of the whole. This means that worship leaders should identify future ministry leaders to begin investing in at a deeper level.
Yet another striking aspect of this principle is that Jesus sent the 70+ to select towns to prepare the way for His arrival. Jesus grew the Kingdom by sending out His core leaders. The worship ministry of the Kingdom of God is best built when we send our worship leaders to other locations to enhance the start of something new. One of the best ways a worship leader can impact the Kingdom of God is by becoming a footnote in another worship leader’s story.
One of the best ways a worship leader can impact the Kingdom of God is by becoming a footnote in another worship leader’s story.
D Up D Down
It’s no secret that the Kingdom of God was built through multiplication. Just as Jesus sent the 70+ out, ministry leaders should prepare individuals to be sent out to prepare others for the work of the ministry. The essence of D up D down is to always challenge those within your worship ministry to be both disciples and disciple-makers. This discipleship should be both theologically and musically-based.
So how does this work? First, you must identify both your most talented disciple-makers and musicians within your worship ministry. Second, place other musicians and newer believers in their company on a regular basis. Weekly rehearsals can be a good place for this to begin. But how do you know when you have succeeded in creating a discipleship culture? The evidence that you have successfully created a culture of discipleship is when the culture moves past you. Too many worship leaders operate ministries predicated on themselves. Worship leaders must create space for others to thrive in their relationship with Christ as His disciples.
The evidence that you have successfully created a culture of discipleship is when the culture moves past you.
The Bus Book Principle
Ask yourself this question… “If I were hit by a bus on Saturday, would Sunday morning function any differently?” If you answered yes, then you may be creating a ministry predicated on your presence. If this is the case, you are likely the greatest limiting factor of your worship team.
If you answered yes… you are likely the greatest limiting factor of your worship team.
So how can one create a ministry not limited by their own vision, skill, and presence? By first, identifying your spheres of ministry and second, putting together a tangible succession plan for your ministry. A ministry “bus book” is a list of detailed instructions on how to carry out the day-to-day operations of the ministry. In this resource, I include a step-by-step list of instructions for how to turn on the sound system, lights, and projectors with pictures for those less technologically inclined. A contact list should also be included of all church staff and volunteers who can assist in the case of the inevitable.
As a worship consultant, it is my greatest joy to see ministry leaders replicate through the process of discipleship. The church of tomorrow will be led by the ministry leaders we cultivate within our churches today. Not sure where to begin or how to foster a culture of discipleship within your worship ministry? At WorshipConsulting.com, we stand ready to help. We exist to help worship leaders replicate!
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Dr. Ron Skinner is a Worship Consultant with WorshipConsulting.com. He has a passion for equipping local church leaders with the tools necessary to have their best Sunday, every Sunday. Ron brings 20 years of worship ministry leadership and 10 years of worship consultation experience to the team. Ron holds a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University where he focused on Intercultural Studies and a Doctor of Ministry in Worship from Liberty University. This educational journey afforded Ron the opportunity to marry his passions of worship and mission. For those of you serving bi-vocationally, Ron has a passion for helping you worship the LORD through every aspect of the job, disciple those within your ministry and produce musical excellence; even when you only have a few hours each week to devote to the task. |
