2. How is everybody feeling?
This common church opening line is setting the wrong tone for worship. For one thing, this is just begging for a positive response, and let’s remember that church is for the broken (Mark 2:17). There are a lot of people in the pews that are facing battles in that very moment. Asking them how they are feeling privately is fine, but let’s not make them feel worse by asking everyone else to scream with joy.
As Wilson says, “… my guess is that 9.9 times out of 10 what you’re really trying to do is get people to say, “Woooooooo!”
3. Here’s an oldie we dusted off.
This is always said in reference to a hymn, many of which are still used in churches all over the world to this day. The melodies and language may be different than what your church is used to, but perhaps these hymns should be kept a little less dusty.
“Please don’t apologize for leading us in the rare song that is theologically rich and doctrinally solid. Apologize for not leading us in them more often!” Wilson writes.
See Also: PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD
4. Lord, we invite you to be here.
God doesn’t have to be invited to His own church. It’s the exact opposite actually. God has called us to worship in His house, not the other way around.
Wilson writes, “God isn’t a genie and worship isn’t like rubbing a golden lamp. Nor is he a cosmic butler to be summoned. Don’t invite the Lord into a space like he doesn’t already own it and isn’t already there.”
