Stop Talking!
I was told to stop speaking between worship songs, then thanked for something I had said. The experience changed how I think about a service’s timing and message.
Tags: Church, Music, Preach, Worship
I have always loved it when worship leaders take a moment to speak before or during a song. It adds a personal, human touch to the whole experience. Lately, there has been a push from service production teams to streamline everything and keep the transitions tight. I understand why. But I also believe we lose something valuable when we discourage those moments.
When a worship leader explains what a song means or shares a related verse, it gives the congregation a reason to attend to the lyrics. A few words of encouragement can help us understand why we are singing together and connect the song to something we are living through.
Years ago, when I used to lead worship, I remember being told to stop talking because it was throwing off the timing of the service. Someone even said, “You’re just the singer, not the preacher.” I understand where they were coming from. There is a flow to a service, and everyone has a role to play.
But at the end of that very same service, someone from the congregation came up to me and thanked me for something I had said during one of the songs. She told me it was exactly what she was walking through, and that it gave her the encouragement she needed.
That moment settled the dilemma for me. Timing matters, but so does ministry. If a single word can touch someone’s heart, that is a responsibility worth handling with care.
This brings up something else we need to approach with intention: the alignment between the message and the songs. You can feel it when both parts of a service are on the same page. Each song starts preparing the minds and hearts of the church for the Word about to be shared. It creates a unity and focus that go far beyond the music itself.
When a short word of encouragement or a testimony during worship lines up with the direction of the message, it can multiply the impact. But those words have to be rooted in Scripture. They should never distract or mislead; they should point people straight toward God’s truth.
I think of those words as seeds that the sermon can water later. Preparing songs and spoken encouragement with the message in mind helps the congregation follow what is being taught throughout the service.