“Is performance in worship wrong? I'm sure many of us are familiar with Kierkegaard's famous quote "We perform for an audience of one," and that one of course is God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The majority of us engaged within the worship ministry, be at church, cell groups, schools, Bible colleges, wherever we are in ministry, would agree that we are not doing this for ourselves, but for God. I'm sure many reading this do realize that we are not there to perform for our own ego's sake, attempting to 'WOW' a congregation with our extraordinary musical gifts, instrumental abilities or our vocal gynmastics. It's a real turn off when the worship leader, choir, band, music, song, sound, person, CD, recording artist, church, pastor, leader becomes the centre of attention and not the Centrepiece of Creation Himself.

But there still is an element of performance that I believe is necessary for us to embrace - authenticity. If we are not engaging with God sincerely and from a genuine sense of connection and relationship with Him, how can we expect our congregations to follow where we feel led to go? So, let me pose the question - do you believe in what you are singing about?

Great performers make you feel every word. They take you somewhere, untap emotions and stir passions from deep within. Energy, effort and preparation has gone into every word they sing in every song they perform. Keith Urban, the Aussie country music artist who has conquered the US market said he strives to make every word and every lyric that he sings to be full of meaning and sung from a genuine expression of his heart.

If we are striving to do that, then I propose we are on the way to leading our congregations in worship. The skill of the experienced performer is worthy of consideration – they believe what they are singing about.

As worshippers then do we really believe what we are singing about? Do we really believe in who we are playing for? Is the Word of God changing our worldview in such a manner that causes us to worship Him in fresh genuine and heartfelt expressions of praise and adoration? Is your worship whether private or public - your performance to 'The Audience of One' - sincere and genuine or has it became a matter of tapping to the rhythm and mouthing the words, singing the songs?

If it has become that, then we fall into peril, a people who worship with their lips but whose hearts are far away from the Lord. If that has become the case, then take some time right now to realign your heart and reorientate your gaze toward Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.