Spiritual Hunger and Passion

Last, but certainly not least — this is the heart of our ministry.

Worship ministry has never been about making music; it’s about making disciples. Music is the tool — the excuse to be in your team members’ lives week to week and help them grow in the things of God. God doesn’t look at outward appearances but at the heart; He’d rather a ministry be tiny and full of hunger for Him than musically excellent and full of pride, ego, and gossip. As the leader, you are responsible to cultivate that hunger.

Action items

Nine quick ways to grow your team’s spiritual hunger:

1. Cultivate it in yourself first — consistent private worship, prayer, and time in the Word.
2. Cultivate a praying team — prayer is the foundation of worship; learn to pray together with no music.
3. Do Bible studies between services — e.g. read and discuss a psalm each week.
4. Run discipleship groups in your home.
5. Encourage young people toward a holy life — talk about what they watch, read, and laugh about; don’t just accept cultural norms.
6. Plug the team into the wider church body — don’t let them hide in the green room.
7. Have them sit under the pastor’s sermons and pay attention.
8. Try a team reading plan — get everyone on the Bible app reading through a plan together.
9. Hold a night of worship — just the team, a guitar, and someone’s living room.

Wrapping up

Those are the eight essential areas of a thriving worship ministry. Which one or two do you need to work on first — and where are you already doing well? Pick a maximum of one to three areas and go full steam on those before moving to the next. Do that, and you’ll soon see amazing fruit in your ministry.