Managing Your Ministry: Helping Students Surrender in Worship

As a student in youth group, I sometimes would get some warm-fuzzy feelings when we sang, but my relationship with God was very shallow. What changed me was when one of my leaders began bringing a guitar to meetings. In those times of worship, we met with God. I began experiencing the truth that when we come near to God, He comes near to us (James 4:8). It forever changed my relationship with God.

What the Bible Says About Engaging God in Worship

Take your students to the Scripture, where the worship of God is synonymous with lifting holy hands to God (i.e., Ps. 134:2, 1 Tim. 2:8), bowing (Ps. 138:2) or lying prostrate (1 Kings 18:39). Show them they're not like the crazy people they see on TV if they choose to worship God in this way; they're following a biblical standard.

Other Times When It's Normal to Be Demonstrative

Students need a rational explanation for why it makes sense for them to engage their bodies in worship.

Raising hands is an extremely normal response in many aspects of life. At a rock concert when the band comes out on stage, what happens? Everyone's hands go up in the air. What happens on the rare occasion when a Chicago Cubs batter hits a game-winning home run at Wrigley Field? The hands go up.

There's something about participating in the moment that requires your body to engage. Imagine that same scenari a game-winning home run, and you celebrate only by remaining in your seat, merely noting, "Cubs win." It wouldn't feel right. If we so easily celebrate rock bands and sports teams with our bodies, why should it be any different when we're celebrating and giving honor to the King of kings and the Lord of lords?

An Opportunity to Experiment with It

On a recent retreat, my worship leader had everyone raise their hands in the air and put them down a couple of times. Then he explained that raising your hands in worship doesn't make you more spiritual or make God love you more. For some, raising their hands helps express with their bodies what's going on in their hearts; it might help them engage with God more deeply. He then invited everyone to raise their hands during worship if they desired.

We had two worship sets after he spoke, and nothing changed. He felt somewhat discouraged, but I actually was pleased that students didn't start raising their hands. If it's going to happen, it should be real.

That night, we did a song that we had done dozens of times before, a song called "The Stand." That night, it was different. When we got to the part of the song where it says, "So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned…" people started raising their hands. By the end of the song, most of the people in the room had their hands up. It was a powerful and significant moment for a lot of us. Worshiping God with our bodies helped our connection with God go deeper into our hearts.

Though some may fear that drawing too much attention to the physical display of worship will make that the focus rather than God Himself, but sometimes people need a catalyst to push them deeper. The point is not to guilt students into raising their hands, but to give them permission to worship God with their bodies if they so choose.

It's not about lifting hands or not lifting hands; it's about helping students grow in their love for God, connecting their bodies with their hearts.