“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” – Psalm 133:1
Let’s clear something up real quick.
People love to bad-mouth green rooms like they’re some kind of VIP diva cave—where someone’s demanding green M&Ms and a foot massage before singing Great Are You Lord.
That’s not real life.
Most worship green rooms are where we store jackets and purses, warm up the Throat Coat in the electric kettle, and try to find enough chairs for everyone to sit down before the run-through. It’s mostly functional, a little chaotic, and yes—sometimes it even smells like a mix of perfume and coffee.
But as much as I love the green room, I’ve learned something:
The most important preparation for leading worship doesn’t happen there.
It happens in the living room.
Or around a fire pit. Or at a dinner table. Or, if you’re anything like my wife and me, at our kids’ birthday parties—where our kids have invited the worship team just as often as their friends from school. And while yes, those parties occasionally turn into impromptu jam sessions, more often it’s just laughter, silly stories, and conversations that build genuine relationships.
That’s where team unity is forged.
Unity and trust don’t magically appear when the first song starts. They’re built when you show up in someone’s life outside of Sunday.
When you know someone’s story, you don’t just harmonize with them—you stand in agreement with them. You pray with more insight. You lead with more empathy. You’re not just sharing music; you’re sharing life.
You’re together together.
Want a tight band? Rehearse well. Want a unified team? Hang out.
The strongest worship teams eat together. They text each other just to check in. They hang out in the parking lot after rehearsal for an hour—not because they have to, but because they genuinely like each other.
So yes, show up early. Nail the set. Make the transitions smooth.
But don’t underestimate the power of being present at a birthday party. Or the impact of a team dinner. Or just sitting in someone’s living room with no agenda other than connection.
Because being a healthy, unified worship team doesn’t start with a pad or a downbeat.
It starts in the living room.