FredMcKinnon.Com

Well, here we go with Part 4 of this series on the blog called “What Regimen Training Taught Me as a Worship Leader”.

If’ you’ve missed the series, back up and see these other entries:

Part 1:  What is Regimen
Part 2:  R.A.N.
Part 3:  Change It Up

Part 4:  Teach The Why

I’m a parent of 4 kids.  If you’ve been around kids much there is one word they learn at an extremely early age.  Do you know what that word is?

“WHY”

Maybe it’s the God-given instinct to learn, but people like to know “why”.  Leadership gurus have taught for years that if you can give people a reason “why” they are more likely to follow your lead.

One of the things I really enjoy about our Regimen Training (side note:  I’m supposed to be there working out RIGHT NOW – I woke up around 5:50 AM this morning and apparently my alarm clock had been buzzing for 20 mnutes – apparently, I needed the rest!) is the teaching and instruction we receive from the primary trainer, Eric Taylor.

There have been plenty of times when Eric has stopped the group and started teaching.  Proper form, proper technique, breathing, etc … and why.  Why do we ask you to do this? Because if you don’t do it that way, this muscle group is not getting worked or this joint is taking too much of a beating.  How and why does this exercise help in your cardiovascular routine.  Hearing the “why” and some teaching behind the proper way to exercise is motivational and more importantly, it keeps us on the track of safety and maximum results.

Sunday after Sunday, Worship Leaders take the stage, strum their guitar (or in my case, play their keyboards), start singing, and expect everyone else to follow suit.  I’ve found that there is very little teaching and instruction on how to praise and worship our God.  I’m convinced that we come out of the womb educated in praising and worshiping … just watch a little kid or toddler when music starts.  Somewhere down the road of growing up, we tend to forget.

The Worship Leader may bark out a few instructions (oh, wait, let’s use church-speak and call them exhortations!) … “c’mon, clap your hands”, or “lift those hands”.

And though they may not say it out loud – people in your congregations are thinking, “Why”?  Or they may be thinking “I don’t feel like it”, or “I don’t get it, that freaks me out”.

Let’s take the lifting of hands as an example, which is clearly a physical act of praise and/or worship to God from the Scriptures.  Wouldn’t you feel more motivated to engage in that physical act if you understood the “why”?  Perhaps if you were taught – even in a short, 30-45 second burst?

Example:
“One of the many ways we can physically respond to God in worship is with lifted hands.  Many of us do this, or see others doing this, but let’s discuss it for a moment.  Throughout Scripture (some references would be helpful) we see the “raising of hands” as an act of worship and surrender to God.  In doing this, we’re honoring God and we’re physically showing a sign of surrender.  It may seem a little strange of uncomfortable at first but try this with your heart and mind focused on surrendering and worshiping God”.

Now, I understand why.  I’m motivated to express myself and I’m taught why.

Why do we sing?
Why do we clap?
Why do we play our instruments?

Don’t just lead and give instructions – teach the “why”.

OK, let’s have your comments!

About the Photo:
Taken by Chris Moncus Photography.  In this photo, Eric Taylor (Trainer) has his dry erase board – explaining the workout, and teaching how it’s done.  Many times he will explain the proper, functional movement, demonstrate how it should look, and share the benefits of doing it correctly … and the potential harm if we do it wrong.