How do I make them engage in worship?

[Smitty]

The "self check" is really something we all need to do...probably more often than we think we need to! For the most part, I find that I experience more authenticity FROM others AFTER I model the behavior TO others.

Smitty

[efrisch]

Originally Posted by Smitty

The "self check" is really something we all need to do...probably more often than we think we need to! For the most part, I find that I experience more authenticity FROM others AFTER I model the behavior TO others.

Smitty

Smitty, that's a great way to sum it up, and worth repeating!

[russhutto]

I would suggest taking your kids to "worship" outside the four walls.

Take them to a food bank or a homeless shelter. Let them get their hands dirty while worshiping. TEACH them by giving them an opportunity to serve.

We could have the most expressive kids in the world inside the four walls when it comes to music time, but if w never show them anything outside of that, than what have we really accomplished? If a kid raises his hands but never serves anyone outside of himself is he really worshiping authentically? If a kid sings along with all her heart during a service but never serves a higher cause than personal expression of worship is it really a pure offering?

I'm not saying it is or it isn't. Genuinely tossing this out for food for thought. I wonder if they were encouraged (challenged) to "worship" through service they'd respond better?

I think if somehow you could connect in their minds (and hearts) that sometimes worship flows from a place deeper than just a song, you might hit something. Kids these days are VERY social justice motivated. Which is a good thing!

Back in my youth days we were very intimate music "worship" oriented...which I'm thankful for. But in retrospect, I wish some of my leaders would have SHOWN us how to worship collectively in more ways than just singing/lifting hands.

Praying with you!

[hisfirewithin]

It sounds like you need to get some of the kids "on board" with where you're wanting to go. I'd single out 5-10% of them to become leaders and bear weight. I'd begin closely discipling them and trying to get THEM to engage and respond. As they grow in this area, their influence will gradually spread with the whole group. Eventually, you'll get where you're trying to go.

Secondly, do the platform team model what you want to see? The "crowd" take a lot of their visual cues from the people on the platform. If the people on the platform are not engaged physically, and not pouring out their hearts to God, the people in most cases won't either. I know we talk a lot about "it's NOT A PERFORMANCE" but in actuality, if we're leading and modeling worship from the platform, there is what I call AUTHENTIC PERFORMANCE, which is authentically conveying your heart for the things of God through the songs you're singing, and physically demonstrating that passion. This is within bounds, as far as I'm concerned.

[gtrobee]

great thoughts here as usual, I'd like to throw in a "big picture" thought.

A meaningful corporate worship experience is the fruit of healthy ministry and relationships throughout the week.

Certainly focus on teaching the worship team to engage the congregation and actively lead them. Our job is not to worship in front of people but to take them where we have already been.

Outside of that pray about how to facilitate relationship and community Monday through Saturday.

[AllearRebecca]

I am the adult leader of a youth worship team comprised completely of teens (other than myself). I, too, have been frustrated in the past by the tendency of the youth kids to not engage in worship. In my experience, the more the team is able to worship, the more likely the other kids are to let go and worship...and the more prepared the musicians on the team are, the more they are able to let go and actually worship instead of worrying about playing the correct chords, etc. I've also noticed that the kids are less likely to be self-conscious about raising their hands, etc. when there are leaders sitting with the kids who are freely worshipping. This is especially true with the boys, for some reason.

[Maggievt]

I stopped 'worrying' about this a couple of months ago and decided to just make sure I was surrenduring myself to God as I lead worship (I am from a small church in New England - transitioned a few years ago to a more contemporary worship style) - I was lucky if people raised hands, ect. So I stopped even paying attention to what they were doing and just started doing. I knew most of this congregation has not been to a concert or more 'animated' church, but that I could still 'act as if' I am at a concert or at a conference or just in my own worship time at home. (and I am an overweight 52 year old woman!). Well, darned if there hasn't been more of the congregation just getting on with letting go and letting the worship lead them to whatever floats their boat, as well as the team being more open to movement, prayer, ect. I leave the keys when I feel called and move up with the singers and JUST GO THERE with worshipping as I sing (we have a neat little band that is good enough and a wireless headmic so that I have that freedom); I will raise my hands at the keys, I will exhort some passage of the song and repeat the chorus........
On the other hand, as a public school teacher for a LONG time - I would not think a high school kiddo would EVER let their hair down with an adult that they know around, and if that happens, I would be amazed.........HA! This is just my experience, and who knows if it would work anywhere else -I continue to follow this thread for things to learn!

[iwpodcast]

Luis,
Youth can sometimes be so self-conscious that it's hard for them to allow themselves to make a personal connection and "let go" in front of their peers. And, remember that...many times they (and adults) are subconsciously/consciously observing your own level of freedom and calculating it as a barometer of how free they should be. Perhaps try some of the following ideas:
- At the beginning of the song service, have them write down at least one thing that they've been thinking about during the last week-- something that is either really great and they're grateful for, or something that's been quietly troubling them. Once they write it down, during the song service remind them to focus on that thing they wrote down while singing the song. Sometimes this simple "focusing" exercise helps them dial in to the voice of worship within them.
- You could also ask them to do that for homework, bring it to the next service. At the next service ask someone (or more) to share what they wrote down. Usually when someone begins to rehearse what they've written down, an act of worship (such as adoration, earnest crying, etc.) inevitably happens. When it happens for the person sharing, it will also often happen for those listening. And, without singing a song, their hearts begin to soften, melt, and break, opening up the way for the song service to more effectively connect with their hearts/spirits.
- Talk to them about your own process of growth in corporate worship. I don't know if you started out being hesitant or self-conscious, but if you did-- it will certainly hit home with them. Tell them how you became less self-conscious and more free to express yourself to God openly. It's a growth process, and they need to know that it's okay if it doesn't happen like they want or expect the first times they go for it. Teach them what it means to "will" yourself to worship. Explain that sometimes we're not necessarily inspired by God to do an act of worship, but we simply choose to step into an act such as lifting up the hands while singing, or jumping up and down, or getting on our knees, etc. And, most times we take the first step, God's spirit comes and embraces that act and inspires us to express more. And, finally it gets to the place where he is completely inspiring what we do-- and that's the place we all love to be.

Basically, I believe that deep down everyone wants to experience the personal touch of the Lord. So, we have to love and teach them into the presence and open worship of God. And, I strongly believe that the best way to teach is to demonstrate through your own act of worship. And, remember that sometimes, they will learn how to express worship not just during song service, but in those one-on-one conversations you have after/before church, or in the parking lot, etc.

And, if you want, you can point them to listen to podcasts that can help them hear examples of freely expressive, sung conversations with God... ...check out: The Intimate Worship Podcast www.iwpdocast.libsyn.com (mine), Daily Live Worship (Bryan Clift), or Priests of Praise (teachings by Clift's father) to provide different examples and teachings that can enhance their understanding and fan the flame of desire.

May you keep loving them like God loves us...tenderly with patience.

[El Ben]

I'm of the opinion that most people aren't who they think they are. They're not who other people think they are, either. I think most people are who they THINK other people THINK they are. They sort of project their self-image on others and use it as a barometer to conduct themselves.

In that same vein, I think most people don't respond to God out of how he thinks of them, they respond to God out of how THEY think he thinks of them.

That's a complicated way of saying that most people don't really understand the emotions of God toward them, and consequently find it difficult to relate to him on an emotional level.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that an emotional connect to God is the be-all and end-all of worship, but to ignore it or exclude it, prevents an encounter with God on that level.

Basically, if you never engage with God on an emotional level, then you shouldn't expect an encounter with God on an emotional level.

That's what we're talking about, really. People don't lift their hands, sing out, weep, kneel, or react passionately unless there's an emotional stimulus involved. Am I saying that worship is an emotional act?

Not completely.

But to say that it is completely not is both ignorant and unwise.

In short, engage with God on an emotional level and He'll engage with you.

In other words: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.