Lip Syncing

I came across an interesting thought this morning from a sermon that Mark Batterson wrote a few weeks ago.  We're all creatures of habit.  I'm probabaly not the only one who's having a tough time remembering to write 2006 on my checks. 

Habituation can be used positively, but it also carries an inherent danger spiritually.  Mark says it can cause us to learn how and forget why.  He cites one study that discovered that after we sing a song 30 times we no longer think about the words.  Think about that in the context of a worship service.  Every week in our church we take time to express worship vocally through music.  I wonder how many times as creatures of habit we go through those motions without ever thinking about what we're singing, or worse, who we're singing to.  What if our worship services our turning into lip syncing services?

I finished the Engage series Sunday.  We've got a new series starting February 5th that's got me really excited.  That means that this Sunday is kind of a buffer week.  I'm thinking about laying out a refresher course on the art of worship with a focus on our musical expression of that art.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, mind, and strength.  That means that 1/3 of worship demands the engagement of our minds. 

Comments

[Sheryl]

Great idea for this Sunday's service!

[Matt Weiland]

Sounds good. I have been reading Crowder's book and have been challenged to think about such things the past 8 months or so.

This is my question: how do we address such things in the church without getting skeptical of the practices we have been a staple for so long?

[Brad]

I just picked up David Crowder's book yesterday. Looking forward to getting into it. I think questioning the routine can be healthy, especially in the context of conversation with like-minded worshippers. We stretch each other's viewpoints. That stretching creates balance and keeps the spiritual disciplines fresh.