4. Acknowledge the controversy your ministry generates.
Even when you’re not doing anything to generate it. The preacher is the front-line soldier in taking criticism. Both the elders and congregation will complain about you to him.
To some, it appears you’re not working very much/hard. To others, you are the source of the church’s problems. The preacher (if they are a good one), will be filled with shrapnel of worship battles.
Don’t go out of your way to make the preacher’s job more difficult in this regard. Avoid laziness and agenda pushing. Arm your opponents with nothing. Arm your preacher with a ministry well done and obvious diligence.
I don’t know exactly how to do that other than producing obvious growth and excellence in your ministry. That will help silence critics, and it’s what God wants anyway.
5. Understand the personality/professional differences between you and the preacher.
This might be a simple left/right brain difference. It’s likely more nuanced than that.
Most preachers worship with their minds. Remember that as you explain what you’re trying to do and where you are trying to head. Help them understand what the service is “saying” or “teaching.” Engage them intellectually, and it will help them engage with your ministry experientially.
6. Expose them to vibrant worship, and expose yourself to vibrant preaching.
It’s a lot easier to appreciate ballet if you’re watching Baryshnikov. I hate ballet—but I’d watch Baryshnikov or one of my daughters.
Most worship leaders don’t hate preaching at all—but could use some heightening of appreciation for it. One of the best things I do is attend conferences with our worship leader, in which some of my favorite preachers preached with Hillsong, David Crowder and others leading worship in between sessions.
Go to things together—Catalyst, Willow’s Global Leadership Summit, Fellowship’s C3 Conference, Exponential, etc. These will bring you together and heighten your appreciation for one another as true partners in the Gospel.
What else might you add to these?
