Encouraging Students to Worship Through Singing
Things were going so well at youth group. There was a noticeable glow on students’ faces and an excitement to be there. The opening icebreaker was a big hit. They even seemed excited to hear the announcements of upcoming events.
But then the wheels seemed to fall off.
What happened? It was time for worship through singing and most of their voices were “missing in action.” Many of you can relate to this discouraging experience. But the reality is sometimes it's not the fault of students for weak singing, as there are several factors at work.
Because of this, youth pastors have the wonderful opportunity to shepherd students in this area of the Christian life.
Why Students Should Sing
Quite simply, students should sing because believers are called to sing. Psalm 96:2 says, "Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day" (ESV). But even in the New Testament, the members of the church are told to sing to one another (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
A student who loves the Lord ought to sing to Him . Keith and Kristyn Getty have made the helpful insight, “Worship comes as a response to revelation” (Sing!, pg. 3). So, as students grow in their understanding of God through His Word, their “new normal” response will be joyful singing.
Why Students Don't Sing
Most of you have probably experienced a student ministry or have been part of a youth-based event that didn't exactly raise the roof with vibrant singing. While it might be tempting to get frustrated at what seems like apathy, there are at least a few reasons why this happens.
The Presence of Unbelievers
It shouldn't surprise us that a student with an unregenerate heart lacks the motivation to worship God through singing. For these students, a faithful witness is needed, rather than striving to urge their religious lip-service.
Not Modeled by their Leaders
Perhaps as you look around the room, the soft movement of lips void of actual singing isn't just witnessed in your students--maybe they're simply following the leaders’ example. Do your youth leaders sing? During your Sunday gatherings as a whole church, does your lead pastor sing? Do you sing? We can't expect students to sing if we're standing in silence.
Unfamiliarity
Although it's not necessarily ungodly to choose difficult songs, it is largely unwise. This past fall I attended a youth event at a local middle school. There must have been over a hundred students who came together early before classes began, which was amazing! There was, however, a bit of a glitch when it came time to sing. The group organizer had chosen recordings by professional artists that recently came out on Christian radio. While this might seem appealing so as to be fresh, there are some cautions.
With brand-new songs, some students may not be as up-to-date with Christian artists on the radio (millennial moms and dads are a different story). This adds an additional challenge to learn an unknown song, let alone singing it with confidence. Students are probably already a bit timid about singing in public, so introducing a song they’ve never heard will make it difficult for them to join the singing.
Song Difficulty
A final caution has to do with the difficulty of the vocal range and arrangement. Most students do not have the vocal range of Phil Wickham or CeCe Winans (for that matter, most adults don't either). If we use the same keys and arrangements as professional singers, we will leave most students behind.
Some other practical questions might include the following: Does it have a difficult rhythm? Is the melody hard to master? If you have student musicians playing, are they capable of learning the song?
How Youth Pastors Can Help
Fortunately, youth pastors can help students to joyfully worship the Lord, even if they are not musical themselves. Keeping some of these suggestions in mind for whoever helps lead the singing at youth group (whether it's another staff member, youth leader, student-led, or a mix) can help foster a healthy environment in which students who desire to worship the Lord in singing can do so without added roadblocks.
Choose Simple Songs With Robust Theology
Colossians 3:16 describes how when we sing, we are actually teaching one another. Let's not teach theological fluff. Preach the gospel through song. At the same time, be aware of the potential distractions from complicated songs (unfamiliarity, vocal ranges, rhythm, melody, etc.). Simple done well is better than complicated done poorly.
Keep Familiar Songs in Your Lineup
Yes, it's perfectly biblical to sing a "new song" (Isaiah 42:10). However, we shouldn't only be singing new songs. Although some songs might especially connect well with teenagers, we can help students understand that they are part of the same local body of Christ by also including songs that are also sung when the whole church gathers. Give students a chance to learn songs at a reasonable pace while keeping a steady lineup of songs they already know and sing well.
Be patient in discipleship
The Apostle Paul reminds us of a helpful truth, especially for youth pastors who work with students who are new to the faith or near to the faith. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). If you notice several students not singing, there could be a variety of reasons.
Help students develop their worship leading skills
Part of the job of shepherding students includes helping them discover their spiritual gifts and use their talents for God’s glory and the good of the church. Oftentimes, students aren’t quite ready to play an instrument or help lead the singing during the gathering of the whole church (though it’s great when they are!). This is where youth group can be a great opportunity for a less intimidating opportunity to serve.
At the same time, less experience often correlates to less skill, which can cause another roadblock to the rest of the group in their singing.
Fortunately, there are some helpful strategies that allow students to gain needful experience, while also retaining a level of skill that doesn’t distract from the singing. When there’s a larger team to choose from, it can help to have the most skilled students paired with those who have a further way to go in their musical training. On smaller teams, having adults on board can be an opportunity for inter-generational ministry. Ideally, once a student team gains enough experience, the adults can step back as well. Even better is when students are able and willing to integrate into the church’s worship team.
Lead by example
As leaders, we should begin with ourselves. Are we modeling God-honoring worship? Are we overcomplicating anything with the song choices that we are ultimately responsible for?
And as we minister to our students, may we have patience for God to give the growth as we plant gospel seeds, water with the Word, and rest in the fact that "the Father is seeking such people to worship him" (John 4:23).