Luke Morton has put together a very good set of diagnostic questions for the worship community to think through as a means of assessment:

Worship, Liturgy and Spiritual Leadership

Theological

1. As you have compiled music for the church over the years, have you seen it in terms of shaping/challenging/galvanizing the theological life of the body? Why or why not?
1. Along these lines—how far can we go in saying that the music/worship/liturgy of the church forms the convictions of the body as compared to the preached Word or say, something like Sunday School?
2. I am reading a book right now, Music and Social Movements, and am fascinated by the idea of music and songs being at the core of a social movement’s identity. This seems to be a ripe concept for consideration in the body of Christ—a social movement par excellence (ideally, by His grace!)…coming together to demonstrate to the world what renewed humanity looks like.
2. How might the teaching/directing of music in the church connect people to their spiritual lineage, their history? Put another way, is the music director in a place to be a church history teacher via the music selections?
3. What benefit (or detriment) do you see in prolonged seasons of singing within the liturgy?
4. Any thoughts on being ‘missional’ with the worship? I am curious as to the Psalms’ role in inviting the nations to praise the God of all the earth.
5. How does (or should?) the music director encourage/facilitate their musicians to be involved, missionally, in the community? What if this looked as simple as the choir singing at a community street fair (amidst the wonderful noises of commerce and other music) or any other group from the church playing music that was unashamedly pulled directly from the liturgy? (For some reason, I truly think if it is done well with great sincerity, it will be received in a public setting…) Inevitably, the body of Christ is rubbing shoulders/get in conversations with people in the community. If we believe the gospel is good news for the world, an unabashedly public message, how is it not good and right for sacredness of the liturgy to be a blessing on the street corner! (Regardless of whether or not it is understood…)
6. What could be said for music—and the themes therein—being an instrument for racial reconciliation in the divided city of St. Louis?

Pastoral/Praxis

1. How do you see the liturgy and music function as a tool for discipleship?
2. In what ways is the leading of music a shepherding of souls?
3. How do you deal with suggestions from others that are not in line with our theology and/or desired ethos of the church?
4. How have you dealt with eager musicians who lack proficiency but dearly want to be involved? Within this, is there a ‘pastoral obligation’, if you will, to come alongside and nurture their desires?
5. Where and how does prayer play a role in the preparation of the music? How might is serve as more than a tack-on at the end or beginning of a rehearsal?
6. What can be said for ‘working oneself out of job’ by way of training the next generation or even just for the strength of having a back up leader when gone?
7. Would it be worth the effort to spearhead a local, annual church musician summit or conference? Maybe a joint effort with New City Fellowship, Old Orchard, etc. with an aim to explore worship in the city?

Personal Sharpening

Any practical ways to ‘stay fresh’ musically, creatively? Do you listen/read broadly? Intentionally interact with people on other ends of the spectrum musically, theologically or otherwise? Could these things be seen as part of a work week?