10 Tips for Worshiping Online

While many in church leadership are trying to figure out how to provide the best online worship experience, it would be wise to remember there's another side to the equation. Perhaps we can serve our church families by helping them know how to worship from their family rooms. Here are ten suggestions I'd make. I'm curious if you see anything I've missed. Let's learn from one another!

1. Get the time on your calendar. If at all possible, meet at the same time as the rest of the church. You won’t see the people in the next row, but there is something about knowing you’re doing this at the same time as the rest of the church family. Blocking out the time may help you focus. Don’t do the dishes during the sermon or check your email. Practice being fully present. 

"It occurred to me one day that though I often worry about

whether or not I sense the presence of God,

I give little thought to whether God senses the presence of me."

Phillip Yancey

2. Get your space ready. Have your Bible handy, and maybe a notebook and pen. You could light a candle or do something else that helps your space have a sacred vibe to it. If possible, use the biggest screen in your home. Turn up the volume so you can sing along, talk back to the preacher, say “amen,” etc. If you’re not sure how to do “screen sharing” and get the service on a smart TV (which you’ll need to do this), ask a tech-savvy friend.

3. Get yourself ready. Get dressed. Whether you dress up as much as normal isn’t as important as that you simply “get ready” for the online experience by getting some clothes on. Comb your hair. Dress for an encounter with God, not just a seat on your couch.

4. Get your family together. If you have children in your home, this is a tremendous opportunity to teach your children how to worship, especially by your example. You can do things at home that might feel uncomfortable in the church building. Kneel when it’s time to pray. Sing. If you have to, turn up the volume again so you can sing without feeling self-conscious. Dads, lead your family here. You are the pastor of your home. If there’s no dad in your home—which was true for much of my upbringing—God will empower you moms to do this.

5. Get communal. If you know of a single person, invite them to watch with you via FaceTime or Zoom. You could do this with your small group. It takes a little more work and technical resources, but many of you can do this. It’s a way to feel more together while we are physically more separated.

6. Get active. Stand up for the first song, or any time the music is upbeat. You can move around. Again, kneel when you pray. If this feels awkward, do it anyway. God is going to grow you in this season in ways you've never experienced--if you let him. We all know growth usually happens outside our comfort zone.

7. Get generous. While we are not meeting together physically, the church is still operating. Many churches are taking care of people who are struggling financially. The church staff is still working, many are sacrificing more time than usual to make ministry work in a paradigm we've never known. The equipment it takes to do online worship well is expensive. If you are able, this is a great time to step up your giving. And if you are in need, be sure to reach out to a pastor or church leader. We want to take care of you.

8. Get a plan for afterwards. Follow the service with a meal, an on-purpose meal. And while you eat, talk about the service. You could use the “events” tab on the YouVersion app to talk through the sermon. If there was a song lyric that grabbed you, talk about that. If there was a call to action, decide with those in your home how you will respond. This could become a powerful habit after we’re back together.

9. Get word out. Inside the service you can leave comments any time. Real-time feedback is familiar to church-goers. We say “amen.” We clap. We interact. Now you can do that online using the comment feature. And get The Word OUT! Invite your family and friends to attend with you or after you. Share the post if you're on Facebook. You can text or email a link to others inviting them to be part of this. Online invitations seem a little less intimidating than in person invitations, so invite people to "church" online.

10. Get gratitude out. Unexpressed thankfulness is just a feeling. Expressed, it is far more powerful. People are taking a great deal of their time to make this experience possible, and at the top of that list is the tech team. Reach out to those who serve in your church and tell them thank you.

Let me know what else you're doing to make the most of online worship in your house?