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Setting the Bar Higher: Student Worship

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By Bobby Williams
9/24/2007

Within our student ministry (Fusion) we set the bar high when it comes to worship. We don't pull anything out that seems "too deep." We believe that if the bar is set high when it comes to worship, it may take some time, but the students will rise to that, thus learning how to better express themselves in worship. Here are some ways you can raise the bar in your student ministry and/or your congregation when it comes to outward expression in worship.

* Sing more songs that are TO God vs songs about what God will do for us
* Don't be afraid to simply worship and have your musicians and singers pour themselves out when worshipping on stage.
* You'll get the results that you charter, so raise the bar high and watch students rise to it
* Don't give up when someone inevitably says, "this is too deep for the non-Christians."
* Dump the top 40 hits or what's on Billboard's top 100 list unless the song has something to do with the topic, and by all means, don't play one every week.
* Challenge students and worship band members to worship with their hearts and not just their lips

We set the bar high when it comes to worship. We don't pull anything out that seems "too deep." We believe that if the bar is set high when it comes to worship, it may take some time, but the students will rise to that, thus learning how to better express themselves in worship.

(Isaiah 29:13)
* Don't skimp on the worship backgrounds. First of all, dump the scenery scenes. Go with more abstract backgrounds or at times, even use a simple black with white letters background.
* Encourage and disciple the worship leader, who in turn, encourages and disciples the band.
* Don't be afraid to use worship stations at times, allowing students to respond to God in a way they never have before.
* Encourage crowd participation in EVERY song.

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We are finding that the biggest area of response in our church is with youth, from the outside. We have more youth than adults. They are the responsive group in our community. So, we are radically re-thinking our church as a whole and praying about turning our entire church into a ministry focused on reaching and teaching young people. I agree with a lot of what you are saying and I think we are already doing what you are doing and it's working. We are ready to take the next step and believe that God would have us move where He is moving. I think that the cell phones and clapping, etc are minor issues. The heart of the issue is the heart. Are their lives being impacted for Christ and are they worshipping in heart response?

Jan 6:10:13pm on 10/19/2009

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This is great. It really helps me a lot. ahm can you give me songs that are TO GOD and songs that God will do for us. Thanks

kaiii 11:02:17pm on 2/27/2009

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This is good. We have struggled for the last year on what to do about worship. Our kids are not from church families, and don't know the 'rules.' The talk and play on cell phones. We struggle with whether or not our song service is even effective, to the point of having given up on music for a while. We have tried everything we know of to get them to participate - they just don't want to. But the reality is that their unparticipation takes us out of the worship mindset and we don't set an example anymore. Thanks for the reminder.

Emily 12:08:41pm on 8/02/2008

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I like the ideas like more songs sung to God, to set the bar high, and to encourage depth, but I don't understand why you are opposed to nature backgrounds on power point. Also: What specific worship stations do you use?

Hannah Smith 9:10:51am on 10/05/2007

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I agree with alot of what you said, especially the part about modelling true worship to your teens. My husband and I started a youth ministry 9 months ago and the first service, we had a hard time getting the youth to clap along to the songs. But we persevered with extravagant praise and worship and model it for them on the platform each week. We are leading the Sunday morning service this week and I guarantee the youth will be teaching the adults a thing or two about worship! Thanks for your article!

Wendy 8:10:40am on 10/04/2007

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