MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

The X Factor

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Tue, February 06, 2007
Viewed 401
(9) comments so far

Consulting with faith communities has left me in some ways feeling like I now know less than I ever have. I find it easy to describe leaders who do amazing things with very few resources. In fact, I have a whole arsenal of words developed just for this purpose (e.g., team work, momentum, alignment, congruence, values-driven, etc.)

It’s on the other side of the spectrum, among congregations that seem a little lost that the terminology thins out to the vanishing point. Oh, I can tell you what they’re doing wrong organizationally, but I cannot account for what I feel absent when they are together in a large, worshipping group. They may execute the basic elements of a service well, have a handsome facility, and even have a friendly atmosphere, but something powerful is missing. What are we to do about a force we cannot even name?

When I stand (or sit) in a service where the X factor is present to only a small degree, I feel about as comfortable as when I’m waiting to see my dentist. But when a corporate worship experience is overflowing with X, it feels like no one there can get enough. In the former experience I say to myself, “If I lived in this town I would not go to this church, but I’m not precisely sure why.” In the latter, I speculate, “Maybe we should move to this town so we can join this church.”

Perhaps the scariest part of the experience I’m having is the number of congregations that, to me, seem unaware that their X level is running near zero. But then that all depends on what it is, doesn’t it?

For Discussion:
1. At least in the context of large group worship, what is this X factor?
2. What is a more useful name for the X factor?
3. How much X factor is found in your church’s Sunday morning experience?
4. Can the X factor level be increased in corporate events? How?

About the Author: Earl Creps has spent several years visiting congregations that are attempting to engage emerging culture. He directs doctoral studies for the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri (http://www.agts.edu). Earl and his wife Janet have pastored three churches, one Boomer, one Builder, and one GenX. He speaks, trains, and consults with ministries around the country. Earl’s book, Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders, was published by Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network in 2006. Connect with Earl at http://www.earlcreps.com .

I get a strange sensation with unnerving regularity when visiting Sunday morning worship services around the country. Sometimes it hits me right away, and other times I realize it’s happening only afterwards, when the pastor takes me for lunch and over chips and salsa asks, “so what did you think, what could we improve?” What I’m feeling could be described most clearly if I were to answer the pastor’s “what can we improve” question with one simple word: everything. What is this X factor that seems to be missing in churches that are struggling? The Pentecostal side of me wants to say that there is some limitation on the Holy Spirit in these settings. But the organizational leader in me replies that the issue is more likely a lack of “synergy” or some other leadership buzz word. My conscience warns that I’m judging them using my own cultural preferences. All of these voices probably speak some truth, but collectively they still add up to something for which I have no name...

Comments

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J.R. on Tue, February 06, 2007

I was pretty good at math, so I’ll try. I think X can be solved with this equation:

X = A + B + C where

A = Holy Spirit

B = Humility

C = Prayer
Jan on Tue, February 06, 2007

As a worship leader who started with absolutely zilch and has a growing and enthusiastic worship team, my only answer is prayer, prayer and more prayer.

And I think the X Factor is the Holy Spirit work among His people. And that is unexplainable.

I love this statement:

“Consulting with faith communities has left me in some ways feeling like I now know less than I ever have. I find it easy to describe leaders who do amazing things with very few resources.”

Yes, we can improve technology. We can become better musicians. We can create a formula for worship and develop a format and structure, but after years and years of worship leading and vocal performance, I still cannot explain how God can take an ordinary hymn and the congregation can break out into tears or spontaneous applause, or make a life changing decision through it.

When individuals criticize tradition etc (not against not using tradition by the way) I cannot help but think of thousands of men belting out hymns at a Promise Keepers Event.

It defies all “logic” when it comes to relevant contemporary worship leading. Except that the Holy Spirit is there and drawing men unto God. And He is using worship leaders who are willing and submitted to His work. And He is there.

Do we have it? YES!!! Last Sunday was incredible. And behind the scenes there were some horrific things that happened to divide us right before. But we didn’t let it happen. We went for it and prayed that God would move and use us and He did.

Have we always had it? NO!

But the few who recognized this, got on their knees and began beeseeching God. And now two years later, He is moving in every area of ministry (thus the tension!).

Are we great musicaly? Do we always sing “the right songs”? Is our worship excellence on par with many other churches? No way! But it is worship in spirit and in truth.

And our congregation is growing daily and are touched through the worship.
Pastor Al on Tue, February 06, 2007

I like what you said about the Holy Spirit having “freedom” if you will. I have noticed in the 4 churches I have pastored, 3 have grown and 1 remained stalled. From my “objective” point of view, I would have to say that in the 3 that grew the HS was allowed to move freely directing the church to move beyond itself to those who need Christ. The last church talked a good game, but had no desire to allow the HS to lead the congregation outside its four walls to the lost and hurting, I left after two years of fighting against this disobedience. Pastor’s understand that they have a huge amount of influence, but if the “leadership” of the church is not willing to follow the Lord in reaching the lost, then the Spirit is grieved and withdraws to a point if not altogether.

Just my experience,

Al
Derek on Tue, February 06, 2007

It is true that there is an X factor in church worship services. This is where worship services become more of an art than a science. The X factor that we strive for is much more artistic than it is scientific. Meaning, I do not think that we can boil it down to an exact formula (with all due respect to J.R.’s comments).

There is the “spiritual factor” which refers to the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit.

There is the “relational factor” which refers to the love and friendship (partnership?) between the people present.

There is a “missional/contextual factor” which refers to the relatability of music, language and the aesthetic of the service. Are there cultural barriers in a worship service that drain the X factor?

There is the “suck-a-bility factor” which refers to the musicians and preachers. Are they mildly talented and having a bad day or are they just crummy musicians? Does the pastor have a spiritual gift of teaching or exhortation?

There is the “superstar factor” which refers to the charisma of the pastor and worship leader. I have found that this increases with the brightness of their teeth! So if we can all get bleech white teeth like Chris Tomlin then our superstar factor rises! Insert laughter here http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif

There is the “enthusiasm factor” which refers to the energy level of the people in the worship service. Charles Finney talked about preaching to “sinners” at certain times when it feels like “pulling a freight train uphill.” Haven’t will all experienced services where the congregation is just not engaging, because they are tired or distracted?

There are some factors that make worship services better than others, but I can’t say they are the X factor. Maybe the X factor is a combination of these things???
Spica on Wed, February 07, 2007

Just a thought : don’t you think this X is nothing but a cross ? I’m not going to argue on what each church teaches, but sometimes, churches get all the “organizational”/“good atmosphere” stuff right, but they fail to keep all this focused on the cross. They sometimes focus on the “feel right” aspect, instead of the “Christ centered” aspect, and that’s where your spirit can feel something is missing… At least, that’s what I have experienced.
Chris Dillingham on Wed, February 07, 2007

IMHO, I think a lot of it boils down to Derek’s aforementioned “enthusiasm factor”. I think if the congregation (including, but not limited to the praise team) are genuinely passionate about worshipping, that accounts for a great deal of that X factor.
layne on Thu, February 08, 2007

Isnt it possible that the X factor is different in different settings. Where the musicianship/speaking is strong and we rely on our strength to carry the day, the x factor could be the lack of the Spirit, I have pastored in a church where the ‘Spirit’ was the only thing that mattered (this meant everyone had the right to say any silly thing they wanted, with no examination or evaluation from the word) so to suggest that we try to develope our gifts/abilities or to try to make things understandable to a visitor/guest was seen as watering down the gospel. Isnt it possible that it is a multi-faceted issue, and that we need to look at strengths and weakness’?

How about something like;

X=A+B+C

A=Holy Spirit iff Holy Spirit in and through us

B=Humility iff Humility drives us to do what we have been called to do

C=Prayer
Joel Triska on Thu, February 15, 2007

In group counseling circles, they call this X factor “cohesiveness.” It’s a complicated term that measures all sort of factors, but in short it is merely the attractiveness of the group. Part of this seems to be in the hands of the people (leadership, structure, awareness, culture, group norms), but then there is the intangible portion that seems to be determined by the unpredictable chemistry created by the combination of many broken people’s personalities. Perhaps your X factor works similarly with the uncontrollable will of God along with the invisible faith of the individuals being the intangible parts.
Fear on Tue, April 03, 2007

Ok, thats interesting for me.. Thank you.