• How to do cell group worship on Zoom?
• How to remove ads when playing songs on YouTube?
• How to find songs that our church sings?

These were some of the questions we were asked when the COVID-19 pandemic halted on-site church services and small group meetings, forcing people to stay home and switch from meeting in person to meeting on online platforms like Zoom.

Many churchgoers found themselves disoriented without their regular order of Sunday service; without a song leader, prayer leader or pastor leading them in near-formulaic, structured live sessions, people were forced to learn to do things differently.

And more digitally savvy individuals like us, who also served in local worship teams, were getting loads of questions – some logistical, but some much more conceptual and philosophical.

Is watching a worship session online the same as attending an on-site worship service?

Does one feel the same level of engagement from the pastor addressing an online audience versus the one standing on stage a few metres away from you? Are the differences because of them or us?

What does worship mean anyway?

As we grappled with these questions, conversed with church leaders, and tried to figure out a way forward during and post circuit breaker in 2020, we were constantly drawn back to Scripture.

• “Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honour Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote…” (Isaiah 29:13)
• “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

So, worship isn’t about the format or the medium of transmission, but about our posture.

If our hearts are not postured aright, and we approach a worship video online like we do any other entertainment video produced with the profit motive in mind, then we might be missing the point of worship – ascribing glory to God.

The attempt to answer these questions also led us to cross paths with people from different churches and denominations, with slightly different methods and ways of doing things, but who love the Lord just the same.

We found ourselves similarly challenged in deepening our walk with the Lord, and were being stirred to rethink what worship means in today’s digital context.

We also realised that many people struggled (and still struggle) with conducting worship sessions for their cell groups on Zoom, be it song selection or dealing with advertisements between songs.

Some people also prefer having a short time of “free worship” and Scripture reading so that some time for reflection and meditation are built in, but not many videos currently offer that option.

My thoughts also went to smaller churches that do not have the resources to continue sustaining an online presence alongside resuming on-site services.

Some people have resorted to using free MIDI software online to play songs because they simply do not have the manpower or expertise to conduct live worship with a live band during their worship service (which are still held on Zoom).

THAT’S WORSHIP

The idea of starting a YouTube channel that dealt with all things worship – from worship sessions to conversations about God and worship – had been ruminating in my mind for a couple of years, but nothing ever came of it.

Ideas would occasionally pop into my head and I would get all excited, but the timing never seemed right, or the resources never lined up.

I knew that without God’s green light, it was a no-go.

The vision of That’s Worship is to offer worship resources to believers looking for inspiration on what biblical worship looks like, beginning with live worship sessions.

That was until the pandemic hit, and divine direction brought like-minded individuals together, including an old friend, Joshua Poh (BBTC), and his friend, Gerard Lee (Cornerstone Community Church).

One thing led to another, and in a matter of weeks, we had a core group of like-minded individuals and the resources to start something.

God had given us the green light and paved the way. We just needed to obey and get cracking!

The vision of That’s Worship is to offer worship resources to believers looking for inspiration on what biblical worship looks like, beginning with live worship sessions.

It is our desire to facilitate inspired times of worship for anyone looking to connect with God through song.

We hope to bring a fresh touch to old and new songs, and link them in a way that provide opportunities for free worship and that encourages a passionate response to the great God we know and love.

Having an appropriate flow of worship, that isn’t disrupted by the opening and closing of browsers or ads, is key to helping people connect with God and we hope that people everywhere can sense God’s presence through these worship sessions.

And as we talk about what biblical worship truly means, we hope to be able to say that in whatever we do, when we work at it with all our hearts, as if working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23), and offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord (Romans 12:1) — that’s worship!

Like That’s Worship‘s vision of living out biblical worship? You’ll find resources and worship sessions at That’s Worship’s YouTube channel which has no ads and aims to release new content every Friday. Go on and be part of something new that’s just getting off the ground!