Redefining “Success” in Worship

There’s a difference between a smooth service and a compelling one. As someone who oversees services, that simple idea has shaped how I evaluate almost everything we do.

And if I’m honest, one of the most common questions I hear after a Sunday is: “Did it work?”

I get it. I’ve asked it too.

Because when we evaluate services, we naturally drift toward questions like:

How full was the room? Did the band sound tight? Did everything go according to plan? Those aren’t bad questions. They tell us something. But if we’re not careful, something that doesnt tell the whole story starts to define success for us.

Here’s the tension: Research, including work highlighted by Kelsey McGinnis in Christianity Today, points to something deeper. When people are searching — whether they’re young or old, new to faith or unsure of what they believe—they’re drawn to what feels compelling. And what’s compelling isn’t primarily the lights, the sound, or even the style. It’s a room full of people who are clearly invested in what they’re singing and doing.

That’s what moves people. That’s what makes them lean in. That’s what feels real.

Redefining Success in Worship

If “Did it work?” isn’t the right question, then what is?

I think you may know where this is going - Maybe a better question is: “Was it compelling?”

Not just smooth. Not just polished. Not just prefectly on time.

But compelling in a way that draws people in - not because of production, but because something deeper is happening. And this is where we have to be careful. Because it’s easy to measure success by what we can see: numbers, energy, engagement, whether things went according to plan. But those are moving targets.

God’s Scorecard Looks Different

His priorities are different. He sees the heart. He values obedience over applause, faithfulness over flash, and humility over hype. A successful service from a Kingdom view might look very different from what we evaluate on Monday.

Pleas hear me - keep planning and pursuing excellence in the details. It matters.

But at the end of the day, we’re not just trying to execute services. We’re stewarding moments where people might actually see Jesus, maybe for the first time… or in a fresh way again.

So don’t settle for asking, “Did it work?” Ask, “Was it compelling?”

Not because everything ran perfectly - but because people were drawn into something real.

And that’s not something we manufacture. It’s something we make room for.