Creating Great Moments In Worship, Part 8: The "E" Factor

As we come upon the Easter season, many of us are well underway in the preparation process for the big day. In many churches, Easter is one of, if not, the biggest attended service of the year. Through this great privilege, we have the opportunity to reach our communities for God. These "calendar" opportunities come only a few times a year, so our attention to detail and quality in preparation and presentation will not only be an act of worship to God, it will also be a big reason that people come back to visit us again the following week. The subject of this installment of Creating Great Moments in Worship is about the "E" factor: excellence.

My pastor always encourages his staff to bring our "A" game to weekly worship responsibilities. I find it humorous each time he says it because I have no other game in me! I desire to give my all even though I may miss the mark in the process. I desire to be a person of excellence and I try to surround myself with others of like-mind. John Maxwell says,

"People of excellence love what they do. They have learned how to fuel the fire that keeps them moving. How do you spot a passionate person? 1) They work with their whole heart. 2) They work with un-distracted attention. 3) They work with maximum energy."

My desire is to do my job to the best of my ability, with the best quality I can render, and with the understanding that it is ultimately a gift to the Lord. I want to submit 10 descriptions of what excellence looks like to me. Not only is it in the resulting product, but excellence is also reflected in our planning and processes.

1) Excellence requires learning
The ancient Roman poet Horace wrote this truth, “No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation." Excellence is learned through observation and gained through applying the principles of those who have gone before us. We only know excellence after having seen it in action.

2) Excellence requires a decision
We must decide to do things well, to pay attention to detail with persistence. It is easier to take a short-cut. Doing things with excellence is most difficult when we are tired and pushed for time.

3) Excellence requires faith
When we dare to take the less traveled road of excellence, we trust that the seed we sow today, while no one is looking, will provide a robust harvest. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

4) Excellence requires courage
Doing things with excellence is, many times, a lonely activity. Excellence exposes mediocrity and some people don't want to change. We will face criticism.

5) Excellence requires patience
Understanding and love will help others around us to pursue excellence. Our example of doing things with excellence will be the best motivator. Our love and concern for people is what attracts them to our leadership.

6) Excellence requires time
Along with patience, it will take time to do things well. John Wooden says, "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" This is why we must start early in the planning process.

7) Excellence requires other people
The reality is, we cannot bring about excellence in our churches without the help of others. Volunteers are the hands and feet of the Body of Christ. We must help them find their place of service--then train, encourage and love them. We must surround ourselves with people who have skills we do not posses.

8) Excellence requires leaning from mistakes
How do we learn except by making our own mistakes and then correcting them? We can learn from another person's mistakes, but we may be faced with unique challenges that require our own dues to be paid. Sometimes it is helpful that we fail before we succeed. Abraham Lincoln failed to be elected nine times in his bid for various public offices before he became President.

9) Excellence requires leadership
Leading others into new places requires respect, trust and love from those who follow. As church leaders, we will find ourselves with the lonely responsibility of leadership. But the rewards are great when, in pursuing excellence, we find success for ourselves and others.

10) Excellence requires communication
It is vital that we as church leaders communicate our vision, philosophy and desire to pursue excellence to our teams. Excellence is not only taught, but caught!


Each person, organization, church or denomination has it's own idea of what excellence looks like. Regardless of style, taste, preference or culture, excellence, as coach Pat Riley said, is, "...the gradual result of always trying to do better." King David spared no expense in the construction of Solomon's Temple. We should pursue our ministry with all of the quality, ability and excellence we have in us. Our attention to excellence will be attractive to those who need Christ. We may not have the wealth of David at our disposal, but we can optimize the resources we've been given.

For me, excellence is a personal commitment. As Abraham Lincoln once said,

"I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me."