Blog | The Equation of Excellence

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If you’ve spent any amount of time working or volunteering at your church, you’ve undoubtedly heard the word “excellence” thrown around. It’s a mainstay of conversation when talking about executing services, offering hospitality, pastoring congregants, and basically any other area of church work.

The roots of this principle are found throughout Scripture, nowhere more explicitly than in Colossians 3:23:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Whether leading your church through musical worship, preaching, teaching, childcare, or serving those in need, we’re called to approach every single task with intention and care. Hence, “excellence.”

Excellence isn’t perfection, but similarly, it isn’t just “good enough.” It isn’t doing someone else’s best. It’s taking the gifts, the resources, and the talents you have, and applying them to the work entrusted to you in order to accomplish the best version of that work that you are able.

Here’s what we don’t always talk about when it comes to excellence: the trade-offs. People, tasks, and days don’t exist in a vacuum. Giving your all to one thing impacts your ability in another. Spending money to fix one issue may result in leaving another unresolved. Asking a volunteer to serve in one area may take them away from another.

As church leaders, solving this ever-shifting equation takes up a large percentage of our time and energy.

A Common Scenario

Take this situation, which is quite common in small churches. As a worship pastor, you receive complaints that the mix of the band is “too loud,” or “too harsh,” or “it sounds like someone threw a blanket over the speakers.”

You know the issue. Your volunteer pool is limited, and the folks who are willing to mix the band—and who have the technical knowledge to do so—seem to lack the “ear” to get the mix sounding great. You have one volunteer who can deliver a wonderful mix, but the problem is, they’re also your only drummer.

You can see the options in front of you:

• Do you spend money on training resources at the expense of other important budget items?
• Do you ask your drummer to change roles at the expense of having drums on Sunday?
• What does excellence look like in this scenario? In your scenario?

It would be easy to describe countless scenarios in the excellence equation. Your time, effort, money, volunteer pool, and talent are all limited. So rather than try to answer what to do in each situation, here’s a framework for how to approach them.

1. Know the Lord

This may sound trite, but it’s essential. Colossians tells us to work as if working “for the Lord”—not instead of the Lord.

When it comes to the excellence equation, we must never remove the power of God. While our resources are limited, His grace and power are limitless. It is our job to give our best, but God is the one working in the hearts of the people we serve.

When it feels like our best isn’t enough, know that the Lord sees our hearts and honors our participation.

2. Know Yourself

As a leader, it’s incredibly important to intentionally take inventory of yourself. What are you good at? How much time and bandwidth do you have? What are you passionate about?

Worship ministry leaders are often asked to wear many hats. Being multi-talented is a blessing—but as a leader, it can also become a crutch that hinders focus and momentum.

Get clear on how you intend to divide your time between delegating, mentoring, and doing the work yourself. Flexibility is helpful, but discipline is required to build systems that support both your team and your own sustainability.

3. Know Your Team

One of the most fluid aspects of the excellence equation is your volunteer team. People come and go. Schedules change. Life happens.

Check in with your team regularly. Understand what’s happening in their lives both inside and outside the church. Do they want to grow? Do they want to learn new skills?

In our earlier example, your best drummer may also be your best sound engineer—but which role do they prefer? If they serve in a role long-term that drains them, even with a good heart, burnout may not be far behind.

4. Know Your Church

This can be the toughest pill to swallow. You may have a team capable of producing a fantastic modern pop/rock worship experience—but if your congregation doesn’t respond to that style, what good is it?

This doesn’t mean you never try new things. But if your creative approach consistently leaves your church behind, you’re missing the mark.

You will always receive opinions and feedback. It’s your responsibility to discern which require change and which require pastoral guidance.

Excellence Is a Moving Target

The pieces of the excellence equation are always shifting—people, budgets, spaces, and desired outcomes. But the most important piece of the equation is the Spirit of God and the work He alone can do in the hearts of you, your team, and the people you lead.

Above all else, recognize that our goal is not to achieve a particular look, sound, or “perfect” worship set, but to point people to Jesus with the resources we have.