You read that title right.
In worship design, we consider predictability to be sinful. Why?
Because familiarity lessens impact. If you know what element is coming next, then that element has already been robbed of some of its power.
For example, we showed this video at the end of Sunday’s sermon as a way of driving home the point from 2 Samuel 9 that “we most resemble God when we invite the outcast into our inner circle”:
About half way through the video, a couple of us invited people in the congregation to join us by standing and holding hands. The movement caught on, and in short order everyone in the room was standing & holding hands with their neighbors.
It became a WE moment.
And because no one knew it was coming, it had power.
If predictability is sinful, surprise is an act of grace.