The Worship Service Wasn't Good Today.

There's nothing worse than feeling that all your efforts in leading worship didn't achieve the results you were hoping for. 

"Why wasn't it good? What happened?"

You hear the same thing from us and many other worship ministry leaders:

• "Lead with excellence."

• "Offer your best for the Lord."

It's implied that in doing this, you're almost guaranteed that the service will be "good."

But how do we actually evaluate it–especially if we did everything we were supposed to but came up short?

(FWIW, this post primarily deals with technical stuff—the spiritual implications are that your heart is aligned, prepared, etc.)

Defining "Good"

When it comes to determining what is "good" or how "well" a service goes, it's hard to say. What is "good" to one person might be "not good" or even "bad" to another. 

But there's a common thread that connects what most folks agree: distractions generally detract from the experience, along with lack of clarity and flow. 

So, "good" could be summed up as an experience that is clear, focused, flowing, and free from distractions. 

Seeing the "Good"

Doing what makes something "good" doesn't automatically make it received as "good." 

You can't only tell if something is "good" by merely checking off boxes and executing a performance well. You have to actually observe the execution in real-time to gauge the response. 

For example, I could deliver a flawless vocal line, full of technical decorations that showcase a mastery of musicianship. But if the congregation stands there, silent (or tries to mumble along to my melismas cringe), then the overall experience wasn't as "good" as it could have been. After all, we're all there to sing with each other! In favoring technical showcasing, I would've eliminated accessibility for the congregation, which is one of the highest priorities in worship, second only to glorifying God. 

So as you deliver a worship set, observe how the congregation responds in the moment. Are they actually moving their mouths in sync with the lyrics? Is their body language comfortable, relaxed, and engaged with everyone else? Or, do they simply stand in silence, arms crossed, fidgety, and turning their attention to other things?

Preparing the "Good"

Even though "good" is largely defined by how it's received, there are measures you can take to eliminate distractions and create a clear, flowing experience that allows for fuller engagement. 

• Songs are presented well. This means minimal mistakes, although the occasional blip is OK—people will extend grace, if they manage to even hear it at all. The big issues are wrong vocal melodies, incorrect bass notes, misplaced chords, rhythmic phasing, etc. Vocals and instruments are also in tune. 

• Lyrics are shown accurately. This means ZERO wrong words and always following the right form. For some groups, this means creating a presentation that has the exact sequence mapped from start to finish, or else the "slides guy" also knows the arrangement as good as the musicians, allowing for toggling back and forth between slides.

• Lighting is balanced, both on stage and for the congregation's seats. Can you see the band clearly? Can you see your neighbor clearly in the main seating area? Is the lighting stark and harsh? All of these questions should be addressed to create an atmosphere that balances clarity and warmth. Erring too far on either side creates a disorienting experience. 

• The sound is shaped for everyone. This is probably the biggest category of complaints. "I couldn't hear the guitar." "The drums are TOO LOUD!" (You get the picture.) Make sure decibel levels are at recommended levels per official health guidelines, and then structure your sound according to the "sound pyramid". (Link to that post here.)

• Spoken words are clear. This is where some folks have a hard time; they either ramble or stammer, which makes the situation awkward. Prepare yourself what you need to say aside from your singing, and pretty soon, you'll say exactly what needs to be said—no more, no less. (If you need additional guidance, click on this post.)

• Dead time is kept to a minimum. Sometimes, silence can accentuate a moment in a good way, but at other times, it's the result of poor timing between parts in a service. Have your speaking people primed and ready to move in when it's their turn to go. Or, cue up the click track for the next song immediately, and use a fermata/vamp from the previous song to blend the transition. Have your charts positioned for minimal page turns. 

As you meet these criteria, again, observe how the congregation receives them to see where you need to make changes. After all, you're in a position of serving others, and committing to honest observation and feedback is the key to delivering a consistent "good."

Be blessed 👊✌️