Leadership Tip: Be Intentional about Discipleship

Leadership Tip: Be intentional about discipleship. 

One of the best disciple makers I know is my friend Nathan. Nathan is the worship pastor at a church I used to attend. While I was attending there, he was also the communications director for another ministry. At one point, when I was catching up with him, Nathan mentioned he was changing roles in the organization. I asked him about the new gig and his reply really stuck out to me. He told me that in any role he was in his job always stays the same. His exact words were, “I’m here to make disciples.”

The longer I’m in ministry, the more I realize that’s what it’s all about: discipleship. Discipleship isn’t just part of ministry, it IS ministry. It’s growing people; and when it’s done well, it’s growing people who grow people. It’s creating leaders who create leaders. We need to be intentional about it.

When it comes to your worship team, there are two major opportunities for discipleship every week: Rehearsal and Sunday morning. Hopefully, you’re involved with your team outside of those times, but let’s start there.

How can we be intentional with discipleship in rehearsal? 

Start with being prepared. If you come into rehearsal with instruments set up, music printed, etc., it’s a lot easier to focus on discipleship. From there, build in time for your team to go through a devotional and pray together. 

I do this by talking with my team about the scriptures that are associated with the songs we are about to rehearse. That allows opportunity to teach, it helps us all understand the songs on a deeper level, and it prepares our hearts for worship. 

How can we be intentional with discipleship on Sunday morning?

As a church, Sunday morning is likely your biggest outreach of the week. It’s where the majority of your ministry time is spent, so have your team engage in ministry. Of course, they are already doing that through music, but encourage them to go beyond the stage. Encourage your team to pray with and for individuals in the congregation. Encourage your team to engage people in conversation. Encourage your team to be available. 

If you’re going to encourage your team to do that, though, you need to do it too. Don’t be a leader who talks about being a servant, but is only ever seen on a stage. Be a leader who get’s into the lives of the people who are following him/her. 

If you’re intentional about growing people, people will grow. Be intentional about discipleship!