Smoother Service: Transitions Matter
Read this on Justin Knowles blog this morning www.Justinknowlesblog.com Justin is the High School Ministry Weekend Coordinator at Saddleback church in California.
Posted on May 2, 2012
For a service programmer, I think one of the best things anyone can say after a service is, “That was a smooth service.” This means that the service went on without a hitch, no mess-ups, no awkward dead air and or silence. The service went smooth from beginning to end. My goal is to run smooth services, where all pieces of a service are to come together as if I actually planned it to happen that way (what a concept!).
One thing that I have noticed that will absolutely kill the momentum of a service is an awkward transition. It is that time after the first set up worship when someone is supposed to come up and do announcements and there is that dead, dry, weird silence because the worship leader didn’t welcome up the announcement person. Its that time where the video was supposed to play and you stand there pointing at the screen but instead you are pointing to dead air. Its that time where you go and speak into the mic and its not on and no one can hear you so you are standing helpless on stage.
When your goal is running a “smooth service” this is something that needs to be addressed. This will kill the atmosphere. You might be thinking, “There is no need to focus on this, there is no real difference.” But oh there is. No one notices a smooth transition. No one after a service goes up to someone saying, “Oh man, the way you directed us to the screen for the video was so good!” That’s my point.
No one notices a smooth transition, but they WILL notice an awkward one.
Some steps we have taken to prevent bad transitions:
- Pushed everyone to be done 30 minutes earlier than earlier.
- All tech, band, and people on stage attend the run through.
- We go a halfway mock run through of the services.
- Basically just running through all the transitions with the person doing the welcome, the band, the announcer, the speaker, into videos, and out of prayers.
- It takes about 20-25 minutes to walk it out so the band knows when to come up, who to welcome up to speak, the tech knows who’s mic needs to be on, how the lights need to be for a certain section of the service, etc.
I can almost promise 100%, if you take just the little extra time to work on transitions in the service, your services will run so much smoother. If you notice the little things before the service, then the congregation wont notice them during the actual service… because there wont be anything to notice because you already took care of it in the pre-service run through.
CSM DEVOS*
Psalm 15
LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
Here we see in this Psalm, David begins to write out a list of characteristics of a person who will dwell in the presence of God.
The list contains: A person who doesn’t lie, doesn’t gossip, doesn’t swear or curse, a person who hates the evil things of this world, a person who stands by their word, and a person who doesn’t take advantage of people.
Let me ask you a question:
Do you have any of these characteristics?
Which of these characteristics do you lack?
Which of these characteristics is hardest for you to control?
Sometimes when we look at our lives it seems like so many things are wrong that we don’t know where to start to fix some of the junk in our lives.
I want to encourage you today, look at this list and begin to ask God to help you with these things. Then, work on one at a time and have a goal where all of these things will be evident in you life.
I love what it says at the end, “whoever does these things will never be shaken”, what an amazing promise from our God.
CSM DEVOTIONS*
Psalm 14
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the LORD. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Have you ever sat in a class room and been told that there is no God?
Have you ever watched a TV program or movie that makes it seem like if you believe in God you are fool?
Here we see David writing about how the culture around him was turning Godless and how the people were turning into enemies of God. Does this sound familiar to you?
In our culture today, it has become very wicked. Our culture embraces sin as normal and we as the people of God have let some things that God hates, live in our lives But I love what David says at the end that God is present in the company of the righteous. Even when it seems like you are surrounded by evil, God is in your company.
I want to encourage you today, if you are in a public school or judged because of your faith, God is with you. He is standing right with you and no matter what any one says, don’t loose hope.There is a God in heaven who loves you and is there for you.
CSM DEVOTIONS*
Psalm 13
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.
Have you ever had to wait for an answer to a prayer?
Some times we can pray for something and wait and wait and wait for God to show us an answer. This can sometimes bring frustration and doubt in God.
This is a reoccurring theme in the book of Psalms. David is constantly praying out to God asking Him when He will answer him… When will you help me?
When will you come through for me?
When will you answer my prayer?
But I love how David says at the end, “but I trust in your unfailing love.” What an amazing example of faith. Even though David doesn’t understand what God is doing, he doesn’t give up his trust in God.
Have you ever given up hope in God?
Have you ever lost your trust in Him?
I want to encourage you today, even though the storms of life are trying to knock you down, don’t let go of your trust in the almighty God. Sometimes God is working through the most difficult circumstances. And no matter what happens, don’t give up!
CSM Devos.
Psalm 12
Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue— those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?” “Because the poor are plundered and the needy roan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Have you ever felt like the only Christian in your entire school?
Have you ever felt like everyone around you doesn’t believe that there is a God or their belief in “God” is really whack?
Sometimes we can feel like we are the odd person because of our beliefs in God. nd many times, we can feel like this relationship with God thing, isn’t worth all the grief we get from other people.
I love what the Psalmist says here, that God will arise and protect us. That when people are hurling insults or making fun, God will arise and protect us. Then he says this, the words of the Lord are flawless… meaning they are the truth. When God says something in His word, He means it.
What do you need God to protect you from?
Where in your life does God need to arise and show Himself?
There is another verse in the Bible that says, God is NOT a man that he would lie… so when He says something in the Bible, we can count on it 100%.
I want to encourage you today, God will protect you, God is there for you, and God doesn’t’ let you down. Just take a moment and pray to Him and tell Him where you need Him to arise in your life.
CSM Devos
Psalm 11
In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain? For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When thefoundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.
Have you ever been made fun of or felt excluded because you did the right thing?
Do people treat you different because you are a Christian?
Sometimes when we try to do the right thing or live for God in our lives, and some people in our lives can make fun of us trying to do right. Many times, we can feel that doing the right thing all the time or being “holy” isn’t worth it because of all the criticism we take from people.
Look what the Psalm says at the end, the upright will see His face. That’s pretty cool, because not too many people on earth have seen the face of the almighty God. When we read the Bible, the people that saw the face of God, their lives were never the same. It changed them forever in a good way. And here we see the Psalmist write that only the upright will see His face.
I want to encourage you today, every time you decided to say no to sin or compromising your faith, God is so pleased with you. Sometimes we can think “what’s the point of living for God?” or “I’m tired to doing the good thing all the time!” But listen, when you walk upright, God will reward you and His reward is far better than anything we could ever receive on earth.
C.S.M. DEVOS
Psalm 10
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.
Have you ever felt like you are all alone in this world?
Have you ever felt like the stress of your life is just too much and you just can’t handle it anymore?
Sometimes this life can seem unbearable. So often we can go through life and feel like everything is going wrong and we are all alone in our fight.
I love what this Psalm says, God sees our grief and takes it in hand. This is an amazing concept because it also says in the Bible that God measured the oceans in his hand. Now that’s a big hand… and yet he takes or grief and problems and says I got it. I hear your cries and I am there for you. Another thing which is so cool God says that He is a father to the fatherless.
This can mean two things, He can be a father to people who are without a father and also be a father to people who are with out a spiritual father.
And as our father, he is our protector and comforter. That is so cool to me.
I want to encourage you today; the same God that created all things is the same God that will take your problems IF you give them to Him. And He can be a father to you IF you want Him to be.
C.S.M.DEVOS
Psalm 9
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High…The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted…
Have you ever heard a word or a phrase that “Christians” use and not understand it?
What does it mean to seek the Lord or how do we seek the Lord?
Is the Lord lost and I need to find Him?
Is this a game of hide and seek?
In this Psalm, David says that the Lord has never forsaken those who seek Him… wow that sounds pretty important… so important that we better understand what it means to seek Him so we can be included in this promise.
When the verse says seek, it’s referring a couple things:
one, to come close to Him like a best friend that you know everything about Him and
two, to seek Him with everything in our lives. Seeking God is finding out who He is and who He wants you to be in your life. Sometimes we can get bored with prayer or reading the Bible, but these are important components in seeking God because we are learning the very nature of God through them. Also, this shows us that God is not looking for a half hearted search, but an all out relentless passionate search for Him.
The book of Jeremiah says it this way: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
What are the things in your life that are keeping you from seeking God with everything?
Are you truly seeking God for direction in your life or is it just a casual relationship?
I want to encourage you today, put down the distractions and for the first time in your life, truly seek God and discover what He has for you
