Transitioning from one song to another with scripture is like segue on steroids. (Without the 'roid rage.) Here are several reasons:
ONE - It's a Compass
Using scripture, especially amongst man-written songs, is a compass. Are the songs we choose based in the Bible? We sure try. Are many of them "inspired"? Yes, but "little-i" inspired, not INSPIRED. As in God-breathed, inerrant Word of God, needle-pointing True North.
As we flow from one song to another, a segue through scripture re-centers our heart and re-orients our minds.
TWO - It's Common Ground
As I lead my congregation from the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy into the Revelation Song via a reading from Revelation 5, I'm creating common ground for a diverse crowd. For instance, the older generation in my church have a long history with Holy, Holy, Holy. The younger generations, not nearly as much, if at all. Likewise, the Revelation Song may move many of the us Xers, Millennials, and--thanks to Phillips, Craig and Dean--the Boomers; but our Builders may not connect as well.
So to bring in chapter 5 of John's Revelation, it reflects where we've been (Holy, Holy, Holy) and where we're going (Revelation Song), and is neither "old" or "new." It is ancient and future. The living and active Word becomes a common ground for the generations.
THREE - It Provides a Unique Context
We don't know what God might be doing in people as they encounter a scripture in a different context. Maybe someone slogged through Job a few years ago during a painful "One Year Through the Bible" attempt. Imagine him now seeing chapter 9 as your team moves out of "Indescribable" into another song describing His greatness. His ears are still ringing with "you place the stars in the sky and you call them by name..." and then he encounters:
4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5 He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
FOUR - It's a Catalyst
Our well-meant words of encouragement and cajoling from the stage hold nothing compared to THE WORD.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Scripture, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, can stir and convict, rip and tear, melt and move. It puts the responsibility for changing hearts squarely back into the lap of Jesus Christ, where it belongs. It's not our job. That, friends, is very good news.
We'll put a comma here and continue this segue in part two where we'll talk about some practical application. But before I sign off, I gotta get something off my chest: the alliteration with compass, common ground, etc....yeah, well, to all my Boomer friends who like that sort of thing - glad I could give it to you. To my GenX cohorts and younger Millennial brothers and sisters, I apologize. I was three words in when I realized they all started with a hard C and I just couldn't resist...
Jon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting out a great series on transitions. I think this is critical for worship leaders to understand. Anyone (with reasonable skill) can lead once a song is going. But it's "leading between the songs" as Curt Coffield talks in his worship training series that helps our people engage all the more with the content of what they are singing. Particularly the verbal aspects. I realize the musical side of transitions that you've outlined in much of the first part of your series is critical as well. But I really am interested in hearing what you have to say about things like setting up the offering, having people greet one another, etc. These are areas that I struggle with keeping it fresh. Thanks again for this series.
Dan, thanks for commenting - I'll be getting into the verbal side of things on the second half of this series. I really appreciate (probably envy a little, too) leaders who move people effortlessly from one element to the next with just their words. I imagine for some it's a gift. But I'm guessing for most it's something they work at. I know it is for me.
ReplyDeleteI find that I need to spend as much (or more) time thinking through (and rehearsing) a verbal segue as a musical one.
It'll be great to hear more of your thoughts as I go through more of these.