When I came to Mars Hill Church over ten years ago, I had never owned an electric guitar or been in a real band. I was an acoustic guitar-playing, worship-leading youth group poster-child with hippie tendencies. This didn’t go over well when I showed up at Mars Hill. At that point Mars Hill was known for dim light, incense burning, and experimental rock bands. Virtually every musician was a new Christian who had been in many bands, worked in music professionally, and even toured. A huge musical shift began for me. Instead of my previous diet of Dave Matthews, Bruce Cockburn, and Phil Keaggy, I started going to local shows and was drawn to the Seattle indie-rock scene. I got my first electric guitar, nerded out on amps and effects, and started a band. My acoustic guitar lived an isolated existence for the next 8 years. Recently, this changed. Over the past year, I have led many small groups in song with just an acoustic: at staff meetings, for students in Re:Train, during community group training, for Acts 29 events, during family song nights, and on and on. During the reawakening of my acoustic guitar, I’ve learned a few things:

Turning Down the Effects Turns Up the Music

If a song can’t stand on its own with an acoustic guitar and a few voices raised together, it needs more work. Effects and instrumentation shouldn’t be used to cover up a poor song. If you can’t strip it all away, and still have substance that moves hearts to worship Jesus, then you’re relying too much on technology, tricks, and gear.

You Learn to Lead, Not Perform

Worship leaders exist to lead others in song; not to perform for them. If you can’t stand on your own and sing your guts out with just a guitar and lead others to do the same, then you need to grow as a leader. I’ve been leading worship for a while now, but leading more in small groups on acoustic has given me significantly more confidence and insight in how to lead others than leading with an electric.

Acoustic Lets You Try New Things

When it’s just you and your acoustic, you can be more sensitive to the people you are leading and, most importantly, the Holy Spirit. If you want to be able to “go with the Ghost” you have to practice and grow in your confidence just like anything else. This year I’ve seen spontaneous prayer, words of prophecy, healings, and rich times of fellowship with God—all in small groups raising their voices in song. Now, by God’s grace, these things are starting to make their way into our main services. Coincidence? I think not. We’re almost charismatics! I’m still a fan of large bands and worship teams leading God’s people in fist pumping shouts of praise to our great God. But no matter how big your church, seek the opportunity to lead small groups of people in song—and don’t forget your acoustic! For any questions or comments go to our Facebook group or follow me on Twitter.