“Wherever two or three people gather together…” Many of us could finish that sentence with words like, “…there can be different hopes, different expectations, different needs”—because that’s our reality every time our congregations assemble for worship. A stadium fills with people who come for one reason—to see their team win and the other team lose. A concert hall fills with people who come for one reason—to hear the performer or the music being performed. Church is very different. So, how do you help your congregation find unity when they come together for worship? How do you help them begin to glimpse the glory of God?
If someone has come to worship, it’s safe to assume that Jesus is part of the equation. They may be coming out of piety and deep devotion. They may be seeking answers or help for challenges they are facing. They may be celebrating. They may be in mourning. They may be looking for fellowship, or they may be coming to appease a persistent family member or friend. Worship may be a lifelong habit, or this might be the first time they’ve come into a church—they may be coming with skepticism and a long list of questions. With all these possibilities and many more, where do we even begin to find unity? Jesus.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
—Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)
Philippians is a love letter. The church in Philippi was a giving, serving, loving community of believers whose common desire was to grow in their faith and reflect Christ to their world. Paul wasn’t chiding as he had to in many of his letters to other congregations. He was encouraging them. “You’ve got it. You’re doing it. Keep it up—and remember why.” So what can we learn from this in 2025?
Notice Paul’s focus: being like-minded with Christ. Jesus Christ is our Lord. His story is our story. Becoming living proof of God’s love is our purpose. This kind of like-mindedness can translate to worship in any tradition and music of any style—it can begin to move people beyond themselves toward unity in worship with a tight focus on Jesus.
The kind of like-mindedness needed to nurture unity in worship begins with worship leaders. Bringing the leadership team together to plan and pray is a vital first step. Whether Lectionary Year C is mapped in a Google Doc or you’re not sure what the focus for next Sunday will be yet, gathering worship leaders regularly to pray, plan, prepare, and review is critical to achieving like-mindedness with one another and, most importantly, with Christ.
The next step is nurturing the other leaders. Music rehearsals are obvious. No choir or worship team can lead worship with music they don’t know and haven’t rehearsed, and yet liturgists and other worship leaders try to do this all the time. Music leaders, make sure your singers and instrumentalists know not only the notes but also the words—their meaning, their scriptural basis, and why these songs have been chosen for this particular service. Pastors, claim the luxury of time to talk with lay leaders about the Scripture being read—the who, when, where, and why of passages—and nurture the passion of the liturgists. When everyone from the senior pastor to the sound guy understands that the focus of worship is Christ and the purpose of worship is gospel transformation, the chance for everyone to experience meaningful glimpses of God’s nature, plan, and purpose increase dramatically.
But what do we do when the congregation shows up? Before you can begin to unify the vision and mission of the congregation and their worship, you need to know who they are and what they believe. One of the best metrics I’ve found as a pastor and as a music director is to discover the congregation’s top ten favorite hymns and worship songs. Find a way to collect that information, and once you have it, look carefully at the words. You’ll see their theology—what they really think about God. Is God judgmental or just? Demanding or demure? Does the congregation want to sing about God at all, or are their “heart songs” more about themselves? Do they see the point of worship as “getting in tight with Jesus” or following Jesus into a broken and hurting world?
As you get to know who your people are, you’ll better understand how your united team can begin to bring them closer to like-mindedness with Jesus as he is revealed in Scripture, and create a unity of purpose, vision, mission, and expectation. Then you can be better equipped to tackle the next great challenge—valuing others and their interests above ourselves.
And remember, you’re not working toward this unity on your own. The real quote is: “Wherever two or three people gather together in devotion to me, I am right in the middle of them” (Matthew 18:20). Unity in Christ is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who is simply fulfilling a promise made by Jesus himself. And when Jesus is “right in the middle,” we can’t help but catch glimpses of the glory of God.
