Sunday, February 21, 2016

Why We Meet with our Ministry Partners Regularly

Something that has been stirring in my heart the last week or so...

One of things we talk about each year is our team covenant.  The covenant outlines what it looks like to honor God as we serve Him and His people in the worship team setting.  One of the key questions we can ask ourselves is, “how am I doing at loving Jesus?”  And how is my worship of Him extending beyond Sunday mornings?

The truth is, the higher profile the ministry the more we need to be attentive to our own spiritual walk with Jesus.  The brighter the spotlight the more we need to be grounded in healthy spiritual community and the practices of reading Scripture and prayer.  The potential exists for us to believe that merely “being up on a stage” means we are spiritually healthy and growing.

We – I – need to regularly refresh my relationship with God – to check ours heart and ask Him to search us and reveal anything that doesn’t please Him (Ps. 139:23-24).  As lead worshippers we represent Jesus and His Bride (the Church), and we want to walk in a manner worthy of this calling (Eph. 4:1).  We want to be “pouring” our hearts and talents out of a cup that is being regularly filled.  I love how the Message translation puts it: “Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing” (2 Tim. 2:21).  God desires to use those who are “set apart” so He can bless and encourage His people.

When we ask you to “sign a covenant” you are - in effect - giving us permission to hold you accountable to how you are loving and honoring God as a whole-life worshipper.  However, we are simultaneously extending our commitment to you to help you care for your souls. When we sit down with you over a meal and “check in" our heart is to help point you to Jesus.

Even though our primary interface is the music ministry we view you as way more than musicians – you (we) are the dearly beloved children of God (Eph. 5:1).  Our heart is to see your soul well-cared for so you can be a healthy servant and we can have a healthy ministry.