How to Lead a Congregation Into Gospel Worship

Leading a congregation into gospel worship requires knowledge of the congregation's culture.

Gospel worship is a type of music that expresses one's commitment to Jesus Christ. It is performed for many reasons which include personal pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes as well as public entertainment. While the creation, performance and significance of gospel music may vary from congregation to congregation, the common theme still centers around praising God and worshiping the Holy Spirit. Methods of leading the congregation into gospel worship will depend largely on the culture of the congregation, budgetary limitations and personal preferences.

Instructions

1. Ask your congregation for ideas. Perform some market research and get in touch with your congregation to see which methods they feel comfortable with. You can do this by jotting down some ideas of transitioning the congregation into gospel worship and having the congregation vote on the method that most appeals to them or by trying out one method for a few weeks before switching to another. They can place their votes in the offering bucket or vote online. There is no one correct way to lead a congregation into gospel worship. It is best to try several methods and see which one works for you.

2. Instruct the choir to begin with softer gospel music to get the congregation's attention before leading into more upbeat gospel music. This will allow the congregation some time of adjustment and to prepare for worship.

3. Turn the church lights off and the stage lights on as a cue that gospel worship is about to begin. This also adds to the ambience and may make some individuals feel more in tune with the gospel and more enthusiastic in praising God. Depending on the church budget and its culture, you may also add technical effects to the gospel worship such as having a screen in the background with the song lyrics, flashing lights and cameras.

4. Advise the gospel choir enter the church last. Allowing them to walk down the aisle in a single or double line after the guests have been seated will draw attention to them, raise anticipation and gain you undivided attention. Once they take their place on stage, they can continue with gospel worship.

5. Lead with a funny joke or an engaging story. Communicate with the congregation and share with them certain details of your life or what has happened in the past week or news concerning the church. Engaging them first quiets the crowd and draws their attention to you, at which point when you are finished, you may transition into gospel worship.

Tips & Warnings

• Always begin gospel worship at the same time. This way there are no surprises and the members will know what to expect which makes future transitions much easier.

References

• Old Paths: What Is Worship
• Merriam Webster Dictionary: Definition of Gospel
• Gospel City: Homepage

Resources

• Gospel City: Homepage