When Worship Feels Flat, Check on This 👇

In partnership with

Worship Strategies, for the most part, has been all about:

• Helping teams improve musical abilities.

• Giving management tips for pastors and directors.

• Showing individuals and families how to worship well at home.

There are so many wells from which to draw and trails to follow in the broad categories, but we must remember:

Worship is just ONE part of the Christian life—and making it our sole focus not only undermines the other parts of our walk with God…

It can slowly starve itself by ignoring those very parts that create a healthy, robust spiritual life.

The Four Soils (NOT the Parable… Maybe. We’ll Get There.)

I was recently listening to a fantastic podcast hosted by Michael Horton (Sola Media, Core Christianity, The White Horse Inn, etc.), where he discussed the gospel and cultural engagement with Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford. Here’s the episode for you to check out:

I was really struck by their discussion at 26:29, concerning the “Four Soils” of the Christian life. In short, they are:

• Worship

• Catechesis

• Vocation

• Hospitality

In a broader sense, these are four “plots” within the “good soil” that Jesus talks about Mark 4, Matthew 13, and Luke 8; this is where we can tangibly plant the Word of God and see it holistically bear fruit, bringing us closer together with God, each other, and seeing a greater enrichment of life.

Each of these four soils can be summarized in a tangible action or use of God’s Word:

• Worship: Expression of God’s Word in communion with Him.

• Catechesis: Knowledge of God’s Word that leads to wisdom.

• Vocation: Demonstration of God’s Word in one station in life through ordinary action and conversation.

• Hospitality: Application (i.e., ministering) of God’s Word through benevolence and advocacy.

Horton, Senkbeil, and Woodford discuss these points in the context of cultural engagement, but for the worship leaders, musicians, and congregants reading this, I want to look at how interconnected these “soils” are, much like the ecosystem of a garden that needs layers of nurturing to thrive.

First Soil: Worship

As Woodford says, worship is central to the Christian life. We engage in the reading, teaching, and singing of God’s Word, along with prayer—all as a way of being in direct communion with God. We take part in sacraments that have been given to us to tangibly interact with the presence of God.

However, when worship gatherings become our only focus at the expense of the other three soils, we starve that soil from “nutrients” that help it thrive.

• Worship without catechesis leads to shallow expression, empty of substance.

• Worship without vocation is really just an echo chamber; the world doesn’t see the fruit.

• Worship without hospitality deprives extraordinary grace from those who need it; it’s really just performative and lacks meaningful application.

Second Soil: Catechesis

We’ve talked about catechesis before, but in short, this how we come to understand God’s Word at a deeper level and can refer back to historic summaries (creeds, confessions, etc.) to remind us of what God’s Word essentially reveals to us. It doesn’t replace God’s Word, but it is helpful in exploring the depths and breadth of the truths within, making them digestible and providing a “rule” by which we measure other claims (theological, philosophical, political, etc.).

When catechesis is our only pursuit, here’s what happens:

• Catechism without worship gives no outlet for emotional engagement and communion with God and fellow believers.

• Catechism without vocation keeps information withheld from those who would see God’s Word in action.

• Catechism without hospitality renders God’s Word dormant and cold (i.e., quenching the Holy Spirit’s work).

Third Soil: Vocation

In this sense, God’s Word should be seen in your role as a:

• Family member (father, mother, sibling)

• Christian (member of local and global church)

• Citizen (participant and beneficiary of systems of government, economy, and defense)

When the other “soils” are ignored in this area, here’s what we see:

• Vocation without worship shift expression to celebrate vocation as the top priority.

• Vocation without catechism replaces God’s Word with human understandings that ultimately compete with God’s authority.

• Vocation without hospitality isolates us from the opportunities that create action through compassion.

Fourth Soil: Hospitality

Hospitality is one of our highest virtues, right? I don’t think anyone would ever say that hospitality is ever a bad thing.

But when it’s the sole focus, then this what happens:

• Hospitality without worship keeps us from receiving personal revitalization that only comes through focused expression of glorifying God through the forms in which God has called us, where the congregation of believers is essential in that expression.

• Hospitality without catechesis eliminates the “why” from the “how”; since hospitality is focused on “doing,” we risk lack of substance (knowledge/wisdom) that should enhance our ministering.

• Hospitality without vocation shifts responsibilities to other people/institutions. An example would be choosing food bank work every night of the week, but not engaging with your children through play, instruction, and family worship. Benevolence is noble, but you’ve ignored your role in the family in the process.

An Interdependent System

Much like how farmers rotate crops seasonally to simultaneously introduce and extract key nutrients, or how gardeners integrate several plant species together for mutual well-being (i.e., planting pollinators and pest-attracting flowers to allow fruit -bearing plants to thrive), you need these “four soils” to experience a robust Christian life.

As a worship leader, my pitfalls tend to be only focusing on worship and vocation (and even then, my job as a “worship leader” over my family and member of society), all at the expense of demonstrating hospitality and engaging well in study of Scripture with fellow believers.

I’m looking forward to seeing God work in these areas—not just to enhance “worship”…

But truly live out an “abundant life” to which He called me—and He’s calling the same of you.

Be blessed 👊✌️