Creativity in Worship Ministry - What's the Point?

2025 is coming to a close here in a few weeks. If you're a worship leader like me, you might be in the middle of a massive Christmas music weekend that serves as an outreach to your community. Or maybe you're in the final prep phases for your "all out" Christmas Eve services, the ones where everything has to be perfect.

This past week, I was scrolling through Instagram when a reel stopped me cold. A mega-church had spent millions on a Christmas extravaganza for their community. It was an intentional, ticketed event, and the production value was staggering. Holiday songs with choreographed dances. Flying drummers suspended from the ceiling. Phenomenal musicians executing flawlessly. And woven throughout, you heard the salvation story proclaimed.

I watched it twice. Then I sat there thinking.

I get what they're trying to do. I really do. And I'm not here to write my thoughts on that particular approach. But that reel got me thinking—not just about our large Christmas or Easter blowout services, but about every Sunday that we gather. What is the point? How do we view creativity in the context of worship planning and worship leading?

Do we go all-in on stiff and stodgy—no videos, no lights, no special music, just hymns and a sermon? Do we go all-out with flying drummers and million-dollar budgets to pull off a Christmas weekend like that? Do we ask volunteers to come to fifty rehearsals and expect them to nail it when we get to perform—erm, I mean lead?

What is the point of it all?

I'm not here to answer that question definitively, but I want to explain how I think through these tensions as a starting point, at least.

You Cannot Dress Up the Gospel—Nor Does It Need It

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the absolute best thing going. It is weathered and worn, with tattered pages that have stood the test of time. It does not need to be dressed up. It needs to be adorned.

When we think of creativity as a way to make the gospel more attractive, I think we may be taking a first misstep. The gospel is powerful on its own. At the same time, it is the best thing going, and our call as worship leaders is to adorn it. (Thanks to Jared Wilson for this distinction.)

Adorn means to make something more beautiful and attractive. This may sound counter to what I just said we shouldn't do when we use creativity in worship, especially regarding the gospel, but hear me out.

When we dress something up, we make it look like something else that it is not. It's about disguising the truth because we believe the thing cannot stand on its own. To adorn is to help people see beauty that's already there by highlighting it.

Here's what I mean practically. For example, think about a bride on her wedding day. She doesn't dress up to become someone else or to hide who she is. She adorns herself with makeup, jewelry, and a beautiful dress to highlight the beauty that's already there. The adornment doesn't change her identity; it draws attention to who she truly is.

That's what we're called to do with the gospel. We can use creativity like video, spoken word, readings, music, and intentional moments of silence to adorn the gospel, not dress it up. The perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus doesn't need our help. It is what made us alive and gives us a true reason to worship. Our creativity simply helps people see what's already gloriously true.

Help the Church Worship

I've probably said this many times in other articles or on my social media, but it bears repeating: Whatever you do on the stage needs to help those in the seats worship.

If we ever slip into "dude, look how creative we are," or if we just think we have to keep outdoing ourselves for creativity's sake, then we're missing it. If what we're planning doesn't help people behold Jesus and worship Him fully, then we're wasting their time and our efforts. The glory of Christ alone is what needs to be seen.

It's very difficult these days not to look at the trendy church on YouTube and think, "If only I had that." And maybe what they're doing is serving their church really well. Awesome. As long as whatever you bring into your church helps the people in the seats worship.

I see too many flawless bands, on-point lighting, amazing mixes, contracted musicians, and perfect sets and transitions happen while the people in the seats just sit and listen. They don't engage. They become spectators rather than worshipers.

Let your creativity serve your moments to serve your church so they can worship with all they have.

Creativity Serves as a Foreshadowing to Heaven

One day, we will see Jesus face to face. We won't need creativity. We won't need things to help us imagine His glory. We'll see it face to face.

So use creativity to help people remember how glorious He is. You can't replicate it, nor am I saying that creativity reveals what God is. I am saying that God is the ultimate creative. Look at all that He has made and the story of redemption that He is writing.

Help people see the love, grace, glory, mercy, might, and power of Jesus. Use all of the paint colors that God has given you to help craft an order that points to the beauty of Christ. You don't need to wow anyone. No one needs to be impressed.

But when you see the awesomeness of our Savior, you want to spend time in your office, in prayer, with your team, trying to help create an environment where your church can go all-in with their worship. All of your efforts are going to fall way short of what you will experience in heaven, but help people hang on until they get there.

Help them be moved by the power of the gospel through the prompting of the Spirit. Let creativity be the texture, adornment, and colors that help people remember the gospel over and over again and respond with all-in worship.

The Challenge Before You

So here's my challenge to you as you plan your next service, whether it's a Christmas spectacular or an ordinary January Sunday:

Stop asking, "What can we do that's impressive?" Start asking, "What will help our people see Jesus and respond in worship?"

Stop comparing your context to the mega-church Instagram reel. Start stewarding the creativity, resources, and people God has given you to adorn the gospel in your unique setting.

Stop dressing up what doesn't need fixing. Start adorning what is already beautiful.

The gospel doesn't need flying drummers. It doesn't need million-dollar budgets. It doesn't need you to be someone you're not.

It just needs you to help your people see it clearly.

And when they do, when they truly behold the glory of Christ, they won't be able to help but worship.

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