ESSENTIALS OF WORSHIP LEADING
By Various Authors
We live in a pop music culture; we are surrounded and saturated with "hit" pop songs that are played constantly. TV shows like American Idol are built on the back of hit songs; movies are laced with emotional music that becomes the soundtrack of our lives, and as we drive in our cars, we are bombarded with radio signals; satellite or FM pumping out the latest top 40 hit. While I am really grateful for being able to turn on a Christian radio station, I am concerned with something: our "hit music" culture is influencing too much of the way we are leading worship in North America. I am not saying that appreciating good music in culture is a bad thing (I sure appreciate it!), but we need to be careful to not be shaped by culture, especially by the "hit song" mentality, and then transfer that mentality into our expression of worship when the church gathers.
Desperate for a Renewal
Now I believe that writing new songs of worship is critical; Scripture does say, "Sing to the Lord a new song." Does it not? But I believe that our calling in writing a new song is not to write a hit song. It's to write a God-song-a song that is thoroughly biblical in its words and content, yet still accessible to people who are impacted by our churches. That's the music part that needs to keep changing and adapting. Sometimes when people write new worship songs, they have no idea how much pop culture is influencing the lyrics they write. A recent song presented to me by an fairly seasoned writer and worship leader had a chorus full of "All I wanna do is / All I wanna do is..." I gently pointed out that while those words may roll off the tongue in a pop song kind of way, they sound like a "hit" pop song, not a congregational worship song that will stand the test of time due to its strong biblical content. And in this season of history, we are desperate for a renewal of biblical content in our worship. I think there is a very simple alternative.
Journey
Let's move into leading people on a journey. Let's invite people into God's epic story and call people into the unique story of our local church. Let's seek God, and ask Him, "Where are You leading us?" "What part of Your epic story do you want us to focus on at this gathering?" Then when we put our song list together, prayerfully, we always have a goal in front of us-that theme or aspect of God's character. Actually it's more than a goal-it's a person. Jesus is our real worship leader, and we are joining into what He has already accomplished, and into His intercession that is going on now at the right hand of the Father. When we keep Jesus always before us, and the goal that His Spirit reveals to us, each time of worship is shaped by that clear biblical revelation-not just by what is popular right now. Because what is popular always changes, quickly-even more so in our generation. In other words, don't just string together a worship set based on the top 25 songs from the CCLI Web site, which is simply our worship culture's equivalent of the Billboard top 50.Leading Worship Is Not Singing Hit Songs! If we were called to entertain people then it makes sense to sing a string of hit songs. We need to be selecting or writing songs for a reason, not just to sing a song because it's popular. The only songs we should be singing in our gathered times of worship are songs that are an important part of the journey. I believe this is one of the reasons why biblical laments are so seldom used in the North American church. If our set lists are primarily chosen by popularity then the honest songs drawn from the Psalms will not win popularity contests. But if we lead worship based on journey, we will include songs that contain lament, not because they are popular, but because they are part of the human journey into the heart of God. We are called to invite people on a journey, and so we as worship leaders need to know where we are going. And we need to constantly remember that we are drawing people into the presence of God where our gathering is all about Him and His character, so that all of us are transformed as we journey. Brian Doerksen's songs include "Come, Now Is the Time to Worship," "Faithful One," "Refiner's Fire" and many others. His most recent album, Holy God, is a diverse journey through worship with a unique and beautiful musical tone.
briandoerksen.com
Maintain Your Focus - Joe Pace
Worship leaders, much like everyone else involved in ministry, are not immune to issues and problems. There are those days that are filled with joy and excitement as you see God clearly manifest His presence in a service through the worship, and then there are those days that you feel so woefully inadequate you wonder if you belong on the platform at all. There are those days when the sound on the platform seems perfect, and those days when you want to throw the mic at your sound person! There are those days when the congregation seems to be in “lock-step” with you, and then there are those days when you want to throw the mic at some of them as well! Often there are days of leading worship through pain, hurt, fatigue and frustration. You are not alone. Been there… Done that! None of us are immune.
To every worship leader reading this article, I would say to you to be encouraged and by all means… Maintain Your Focus. Remember why you were called by God to do what you are doing, and that for every call there is provision to accomplish the mission. Know that there are road blocks, both internal and external, that if not effectively managed and overcome, can cause us to veer off the path of divine purpose and provision, into a ditch of frustration and confusion where we are no longer really being as effective as we could or should be in our ministry. Below I’ve outlined some of the common impediments to maintaining focus, and just a little encouragement as to how to overcome them:
1) I’m Just Not Good Enough:
Worship leaders, in fact all leaders deal from time to time with insecurities and doubts about their abilities. We must remember that God chooses the weak, base and foolish things to bring glory to Himself (I Cor. 1:26-28). The Apostle Paul in fact, gloried in his weakness because it forced him to depend on God’s strength and not his own (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Further, avoid the mistake of demanding more of yourself than God is asking. Make sure you are not operating out of people’s expectations of you, rather than God’s expectations.
2) What If I Fail?:
Stop taking yourself so seriously! We all make mistakes… expect mistakes to happen. Come on, how many of you have been leading worship and forgot the words to the song you were singing! I know some of you are saying “amen” right now! Trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you attempt to do great things for God. When you do make mistakes, be quick to learn from them and try to avoid repeating them in the future. Failure is not final!!
3) Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen:
Rare is the worship leader that doesn’t get discouraged and disappointed at times. Things are not always going to turn out the way we want them to. If you, however, can keep your eyes on Christ instead of yourself, your circumstance, or other people, you will be able to effectively navigate the road of discouragement.
4) Dry Bones:
Often, dryness or lack of power in a worship leader’s life can be attributed to the absence of: a) Prayer, b) Time in God’s Word, c) Holy Lifestyle, d) Relationship. Don’t be so concerned about others that you fail to do the things necessary for your personal growth. Every worship leader must do whatever they can to stay refreshed, renewed, and revived (Jer. 31:25). It is for your benefit as well as for those you are leading. Remember, no water comes from a dry well!
5) Now What Time Was I Supposed To Be There?:
All leadership is hindered by inefficient use of time. Often, as a worship leader, major time commitments and priority shifts are necessary. You must regularly define ministry and life priorities and stick faithfully to them in order to eliminate time management problems. Try going over your calendar regularly with someone else in an effort to bring some accountability to your schedule.
6) Can’t We All Just Get Along?:
Personality clashes, jealousy over roles or abilities, competition, superstars on the platform, etc.. Man, talk about losing focus! You need to always try to see others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3-5). Desire to see them succeed in whatever it is they are doing. Pray for them, and then you yourself repent of any unloving attitudes or behavior. Remember, no one can do what you do like you do. God has given you a specific anointing that is unique to you. Be secure in that, and focus on what God has called you to do.
7) Headed For A Breakdown:
Problems can quickly manifest from us overextending ourselves and taking on more than we can adequately handle. Learn, as a worship leader to delegate responsibilities to others, and to let other people “do what they do” while you focus on your call. You may have to look at cutting back on some other things. Also, make sure that there are regular periods of rest and recreation so that you can stay rejuvenated and avoid burnout.
8) Don’t Fight The Power:
Issues are inevitable when worship leaders act independently of God. There is a blessing that comes with submission to authority. If you insist on having your own way, know that there will always be conflict! I Peter 5:5-6 speaks of submitting to one another, being clothed with humility and how God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Every worship leader must be submitted to the leadership of the church and ultimately to the will of God.
Keep your focus squarely on God and what He has called you to do. If this is where you are called, then God has equipped you with all the tools you need to accomplish His will.
Seek His guidance and provision and… Maintain Your Focus.
Worship State of Mind - Martin Smith
Worship, worship, worship and more worship!Is it just me, or is worship getting boring? In true fashion, the Christian world takes a genuine movement of God, wraps plastic packaging around it, markets it and targets the consumer as though it's just another product to be sold alongside Barbie dolls and the latest flat-screen TV.When anything becomes this consumer-driven, what usually happens in time? We become bored of it, like the latest computer game or new sneakers, because it becomes just another product."Worship, it's so over," I've heard one record company exec say. "It all sounds the same now," I hear the kids saying. I'm sad-very sad-when I hear this, and I believe God might be sad too.Edge of My SeatCan I say, for the record, that worship is not boring? In fact, it's the very reason we were born and the very act that keeps us truly alive in a world that only worships itself. It's the most exciting thing we can do while we're here on earth and the only thing we will take from this life into heaven. We should celebrate God with all that we are. A human being who doesn't give themselves in praise and adoration to Jesus is not really alive but merely skin and bones passing through this world on the way to hell. So to worship God-the one who birthed us, who named us, who called us from darkness, who adores us-is actually what we're on the earth to do, first and foremost. It's to daily be in love with Jesus-in love with who He is, in love with what He loves and what His heart breaks for.Ah, what's that bit about "what His heart breaks for?" Oh, I wish God didn't have to go and spoil it with all that social justice stuff! Why can't we just stay in this beautiful, safe place and sing our modern worship songs all day long?Let's look at what the Bible says about all this for a moment, as it might help us get a clearer picture. "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1 NIV).So worship is more than music and songs then, more than CDs and concerts. Worship, it seems, is about us, about our life, the way we behave, the way we sacrifice our lives and the ability to stay pure and keep our hands clean (Psalm 24:4).Brass TacksSo what does this mean in reality, in the everyday humdrum of life? I believe God gave us hands to raise in worship and adoration to Him, and He also called us to take those hands and help the world around us. One cannot exist without the other; they go very much hand-in-hand. To be just a people who praise God without a care for others or the Godless culture around us is a conflict in itself and a religious oxymoron. It is also a travesty to be a social "do-gooder" without knowing the power of the Holy Spirit or a heart to simply adore Jesus, the one who is ultimately the world's savior.Worship without mission is like an airplane without adequate fuel. It can only take you so far before it will crash back to earth with serious consequences. The call of God to His people is to "love mercy" (Micah 6:8), love our neighbors, care for single moms, visit the prisoners, feed the poor, rescue abused children and whatever God asks you to do.Worship, worship, worship and more worship! Raise your hands to Jesus. Mission, mission, mission and more mission. Be the hands of Jesus. Now is the time to be Church and not just act like church. It's a great time to be alive. And if we believe in what we believe in, then change on a global scale is possible. What we need is worship for the workers and workers who worship like King David and love singing with the angels in heaven.
Training Young Musicians - Andy Chamberlain
There is an old joke that says, "How many electric guitarists does it take to change a light bulb?" The answer is 100. One to change the bulb and 99 to say, "That was rubbish, I could do it much faster."Every so often at my music college, I come across a teenage guitarist who has been playing for a couple of years and has now come for lessons. When I ask them to show me how they play, they pull off a vastly impressive, fast metal riff that leaves me thinking ... er... perhaps you could teach me instead. If I then ask them to play it in another key or fit it into a song, it becomes apparent that they can't do much else apart from a few riffs at lightning speed. Essentially that person is a technician-something quite different than the more rounded skill of an experienced musician. Musicianship is much more than physically being able to play the song. Communication, team working and listening skills should balance technical excellence, and if you are trying to integrate inexperienced musicians you'll want to embed those skills early on.So here are some practical ideas for getting young people involved in the worship band and developing their musical maturity. Learn to Play the Simple Stuff WellMany musicians learn a few cool chops and try to fit them into every song, at every opportunity. Many worship songs are written quite simply, and the temptation for the more able musician to overplay because they are bored is sometimes overwhelming. The song then becomes like a recipe with too many ingredients. It spoils the main flavor. As I mentioned last month the way to combat this is to start with a basic groove and discipline your rhythm section to keep with it. The other instruments fit around that groove one after another and listen to what everyone else is playing. This is a great lesson in dynamics and shows them that not everyone has to play ALL the time. Play with Pros Listen closely to a CD, identify what each instrument is playing, unpack what is manageable, copy and play along. Like this, they play with professional musicians whilst simultaneously developing timing, taste and listening skills.
ReviewRecord or film the band and get the musicians to review their playing. When I first heard one of my parts on a live album, I realised it was far too busy in the context of the whole band and congregation. Self realisation amidst a culture of open constructive feedback is great learning. Body LanguageGet the band to communicate using eye and body movements. Think about the dynamic change points in a song. How you could use your eyes and body to direct those changes? This doesn't this mean you take your focus off worshiping God. Just glance around a couple of bars before the end of a section and be very deliberate in your body language. MentoringFirst Chronicles 25 observes the way musicians were trained. "Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties." Here is a mentoring process that places the experienced and inexperienced in the same band together. Try occasionally having two of the same instrument in the band-a mentor and a student. A co-worship leader, two guitarists, two bassists or even two drummers. This can provide a fantastic copy-and-play exercise or even the main player could drop out for a verse or two to let the student take over. This counteracts a perfectionist performance orientation in worship and reinforces that you don't have to play all the time. This is great training for new musicians to learn from playing a few songs without the full responsibility of a full worship set.Be PreparedLearn your parts before the rehearsal. A good rehearsal is much more productive if the focus is on working the song through as a band rather than waiting for one member to learn the chords. Do also make time to jam and be creative with the songs.
Be WorshipersHelp your musicians understand that even if they are not the worship leader,
the emotions and focus behind their playing has the power to either draw people into worship or distract them.
Even if you are not a great musical technician, encouraging wider musicianship skills will mature your band in serving the congregation in worship. You will also find that as you unpack and teach what perhaps comes naturally to you, your own musicality will increase as you pass that knowledge on.
Step In Time - Andy Chamberlein
I have a friend who is a professional drummer. He's one those musicians who you never really know how good he is because everything he plays in a worship setting is simple, understated and doesn't draw much attention to itself. Yet in the studio he is a first-call drummer for a number of well known worship leaders and has picked up more touring work with top international rock bands than most aspiring drummers could dream of. What's his secret? Well as a young drummer he chose to focus a large part of his practice on an important musical skill that tends to be neglected even by experienced players. That skill is timing. Developing a great sense of timing and rhythm doesn't just apply to drummers. It is fundamental to, and should be actively developed by every instrument, including vocals! Timing is often the key to why a particular song is or isn't working in a live band situation. There are many ways to work on your sense of timing so here are a few thoughts to get you going. Firstly buy a metronome. It'll probably be one of the most important musical purchases you'll ever make! Practicing to a metronome at different speeds will show up imperfections in your timing and will vastly improve your own internal ‘metre'. Also as many faster worship songs have a tempo of around 110-120 beats per minute (bpm), and we are used to playing at those speeds, anything outside of that can feel unusual. So take a fast song and the metronome and practice playing your normal part at increasing speeds. When you come back to the regular speed your playing will feel much more relaxed and loose. The next tip is the reverse. It's much more difficult to play in time slowly at say 40 or 50 bpm. Most people naturally speed up at that pace. So try playing a simple song very slowly and work on getting each note really in time. If the whole band can do it together as an exercise and resist the temptation to fill up the space with extra notes you'll have a self-made master class in timing, working together and making every note count. Perhaps even try setting the pace with a metronome, switch it off as you begin the song and then switch it back on again at the end to see if you are still in time. Alternatively, get your drummer to play to a ‘click'.Thirdly, learn to dance! I kid you not. One of the best ways to develop your own internal sense of rhythm is to get your limbs to move and act out those rhythms. It's much harder to keep a detailed sense of the groove if your body is motionless. A professional bass player friend stamps REALLY hard on the floor in time to the beat during studio sessions. It looks odd to the outsider but his timing is impeccable. Also work hard to play the easy stuff well. Often bands sound bad because they try to play overly complex arrangements or one member decides change the groove mid song because it is too simplistic for his more developed skills! Remember, if the rest of the band is playing it straight; resist the urge to make it funky! This is a huge temptation for many bored musicians.For simple arrangements try starting with the main rhythm instrument that will set the groove. It doesn't have to be drums. It could be bass guitar, piano, acoustic guitar or something else. Then one by one get each additional instrument to add a part. Work on listening to each other and fitting your rhythm into the main groove but leaving room for the other musicians as well. Lastly, think of your practice like three concentric circles. In circle one is everything you can play easily. In circle two are the things you can play with concentration and in circle three are the things you can't yet play. Very often people waste time by mostly practicing the things in circle one whilst attempting pieces in a live situation from circle two or even three! Yet the model should be only to practice the pieces in circle three and only play live things from circle one. This way anything in circle two should start to move to circle one and eventually all three circles will merge together.
Teaching A New Song To Your Congregation - Tommy Walker
I was looking back at my 16 years as worship leader at my church, Christian Assembly, and realized that on at least 200 different occasions I have had the privilege of teaching my congregation a new worship song. Through these many years I have found that the way you go about teaching a song can have a lot to do with how the song will be received. The first thing I have learned along the way is that if you're going to teach a song with even a little bit of detail you'll have to let go of your need to be overly spiritual. As worship leaders we are often so afraid of grieving the Spirit or ruining a God moment that we can be overly spiritual or religious. This is understandable because it's part of our gifting to want to create an atmosphere where God can work. But we must learn that teaching is really a different dynamic than leading. When teaching something new, you must step out in boldness and create an atmosphere of anticipation and joy. When I'm going to teach a song, especially if it's a more difficult one, I'll just stop and tell the congregation, "Alright everybody, we're going to take a few minutes and go to worship school. We're going to learn a new song." I try to break the ice and have some fun with it. I give a brief explanation of what the song is about and then begin teaching it section by section without the band. This way the congregation can clearly hear it in its raw form. Then I'll repeat the verse over and over until I feel like they have it. Teaching songs is a great way to build rapport with your people and remind them that you're not there to sing to them, but only to inspire them to be the worship choir and ultimately glorify and connect with God. Keep singing the song for the next few weeks. This will help them really own it. As creative people we must remember that we get bored easy. Don't teach another song too soon. Don't give up on the last one too soon. Slow down and let the response that your congregation is giving be your creative guide. Creativity is a must, and teaching new songs will give you something fresh to look forward to and will help keep the river of creative life, given to us by our Creator, alive in our churches.
The Body of the Believer in Worship: Joining the Heart and Hand - Ronald B. Allen
Heart worship is God's desire in every aspect of our living, both personally and corporately. It may then seem to be somewhat out of place for us to deal with the physical body of the worshiper as she or he participates in the community. When we think of physical actions, we likely find ourselves picturing what we have learned to describe as ritual actions or emotional excesses. "Excesses" like clapping or lifting one's hands toward the heavens. Or "ritual actions" like bowing and kneeling, or bending low one's body. "These are the things others might do, not me," our minds think. We need to look inward at this point, however, before becoming too critical. Some of the motions considered excessive may be biblical.For worshipers in many churches today, there are few opportunities for any physical bodily action in worship except for sitting. No one opposes standing while singing some of the hymns, but on occasion it appears that this simply allows people to adjust their frames before the sermon begins. Raising the hands seems to be too emotional an act; bending the knees is too formal. These actions are foreign to us. Seems SillyA friend of ours on one occasion was describing an encounter he had with a woman who goes to a charismatic church in our city. She asked him if people raised their hands in his (non-charismatic) church. He responded that they did not. She then probed him as to why they refrained from what the Psalms speak of doing in worship services. My friend's defensive reaction was that this whole idea seemed pretty silly. "Perhaps the Psalms do speak of such actions, but we don't do them. Why should we? Just because a pastor tells us to do so?" My friend's response seems to suggest that habit and precedent are the arbiters of actions; that custom (my custom) settles issues. "That is not custom of ours. Why should we do it?"But what about physical actions in worship? Does custom dictate action, or are there biblical principles that can guide us with clarity and authority in making our decisions in this area? One of the delightful elements in the older Anglican wedding is the clause, "With my body I thee worship." In these words one lover says to another: "My body will adore you, and your body alone will I cherish. I will with my body declare your worth."Tie it TogetherSimilarly, the Scriptures give us ample warrant to suggest that with our bodies we may adore the glory of God. Heart worship and body worship are not mutually exclusive; they complement each other. Peter E. Gillquist states the basis of the issue: "To tie it all together-we simply can't be spiritual without being physical. For man was never created to be either just a soul or just a body. We are not one or the other, but both."A moment's thought will help us to remember the physical aspects of our worship quite apart from bodily posture. The two most basic institutions of our corporate worship life are physical actions. The practice of baptism is a physical act, regardless of how much water might be used in a given congregation. The celebration of the Lord's table is a most basic physical action. Further, we know of some communions where the washing of one another's feet is also done as a community act of worship.Hence, even apart from the issue of posture we find that our worship experiences are marked by physical actions. Finally, we could not even have a corporate worship service without the presence of our physical bodies. This is the subtle danger of the electronic church. Watching a worship service on television may be an act signally blessed by God for a given individual, but that physical separation from the community is a serious loss. It is not insignificant to be away from one's fellowship. Lift it AllThe psalmist beautifully blends worship of "heart and hands and voices." In David's prayer to God for mercy, he says: "Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place"(Psalm 28:2, NIV).Here we see his words of petition conjoined to his action of lifting his hands as a suppliant, expecting mercy to come from the God whose mercy is revealed in the "Most Holy Place." Later in this same poem, David finds that God's great grace has been extended to him another time. Now hear and voice conjoin in exultation: "The Lord is my strength and my shield:my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song" (Psalm 28:7, NIV).The heart in the Old Testament is a word often used to describe the inner being of an individual. The hand is a convenient symbol for the physical body. Artists throughout the ages have recognized in the human hand one of the most difficult features of the anatomy to portray well. Animators, for example, often reduce the number of digits on their characters because of the complexity of the hand. The hand is not only complex in its structure, but it is marvelously expressive of personality. It is not for this reason that we read so often of the "hand of the Lord"? But the visual image of His hand extended in mercy or clenched in wrath, we draw more closely to the experience of the reality of the God who is Spirit.Ronald B. Allen is professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
Passing the Torch: 11 Keys to Mentoring New Worship Leaders - Doug Murren
I love to develop and mentor worship leaders. I have a list of "Things Not to Do" numbering in the thousands with only a handful of solid ideas that I offer as practical advice. The first step to helping others lead worship is you yourself must love to worship. Too many pastors have a lackluster response to their worship times. Excitement and devotion in worship is contagious.I learned a long time ago, you lead from the end backward. Others may not be aware of where the service will end or what the ultimate aim of the Holy Spirit is. But the leader must. A good worship leader first learns to take things slowly with a prayerfully designed aim for the service. This is the same key used in preaching. Keep your desired end in your mind the entire time and keep finding the pathway there. Here are some helpful hints.
1. A worship leader doesn't have to be a good singer but sensitivity to God is essential.
I sound like a combination of Bob Dylan and Randy Newman on a bad day when I lead worship. But I get us through. I have learned to rely on the good singers to give the punch, or if I lead alone I make my limitations work for me. This is the first skill I teach everyone I train to do worship. I think highly trained pros rarely are good worship leaders or arrangers for that matter. Good leaders are sensitive to God and the interchange between God and man. So I don't begin my search for a worship leader from the singers. I search for those who exhibit the ability to hear God and are obviously sensitive to people. You cannot teach that stuff, whereas vocal excellence comes and goes.
2. Work on body language.
Leading worship does require a sense of authority (not power). The group has to know you are endorsed by God. Poor body language can weaken a new leader's ability to direct a group. I hate pulpits. I know the history around them, but they strip away about 50 vital tools from a leader. The step that has the greatest impact of all, the step forward, is taken from you with a goofy pulpit. If you want to replace yours, I have four or five dented music stands I would give away.
I have watched new leaders closely and almost all do the two-step backward maneuver when they start out. This move says, "I am afraid of you and I am in quick retreat so you need not pay much attention to me." The step forward, where a pulpit normally is, is one of the most powerful moves. No, actually it is the most powerful gesture a leader has. Try it and you will see what I mean. I use the step forward when people are not joining in. I don't talk. I move my body. One step forward and hit the first note on a chorus and you are on your way.
Looking down at your shoes is bad, bad, bad. Do it three times on me and I won't spend time with you. The sideways step done thoughtfully sends the signal-let's sit here and enjoy Him awhile. Don't ever sit on a stool unless you have so much authority that people run from you when you walk along sidewalks. I have that kind of effect sometimes. I sit on a stool and use my guitar to lighten some of my presence. It works.Don't slump down and curl your shoulders in. It says, "Oh man, oh man, is there anywhere to hide around here?" Often new leaders think they are creating a personal vibe that way. Stand up straight and go for it.
3. Watch the key changes.
I do a seminar where I discuss the problems with key changes for about one third of the seminar. A common error new leaders make is to not pay attention to the best keys for congregations. I encourage new learners to make a list of songs all in the same key for the first few times. Later you can add things like a step and a half modulation when you are comfortable with the task.
It is rough when you get a new leader and the first chorus is in C and then you go to F, then to D, back to F, and then G. I have seen a list made up like this in a church I consulted. Oh my! A congregation can go home seasick from this list of selections.I usually do all songs on a half step higher in later services. People tend to be slower getting with it at these times. If the key is slightly too high it has the similar effect of speeding the tempo up.
4. Let the instruments help you.
Most new leaders fight the musicians. If you have a drummer, you have to go with the meter that is there. It takes a while to whip a drummer into shape. If they push you, go with it and after the service go get in their face and threaten to slash tires and stuff. But, the leader has the responsibility to cover over the temp with the drummer. Worship leaders should practice with a metronome, not a piano. Learn what the tempo registers feel like and be able to state exactly what you want.
It is a good idea as a leader to help new recruits work with the keyboardist or guitarist. Show them how to let the instruments bring in the next chorus. A leader has too many things to think about on top of bringing in each chorus. I like the instrumentalist to watch and if I stall a bit and then lift my thumb, be ready to give me the melody as an intro. Sometimes my mind is on the message and my short-term memory evades me. A good musician can make a new leader a hero.
If you have new worship leaders, have the keyboardist give a strong lead on the melody so they can hear the first line.
5. Teach eye focus.
I train all my leaders to look at the wall beyond the last row and then to glance around the room. Most leaders, if you watch, focus on the row they have the faith for. Trust me, it's true. Most often new leaders focus on rows five to ten or even row one. Your eye focus is an inclusive action - use it! I recently visited a church where the leader looked at row three. I was in row eight and I felt like I was outside the main group. I could see with a quick glance around the room that participation was slight beyond row three.
6. New leaders don't talk.
Talking is a cheap way of leading a group in worship. If you can't lead by leading the songs then get off the platform and practice more.
7. Teach the importance of spiritual preparation.
Worship leading is a spiritual event. A person weak in spirit cannot pull it off for long. I have been fooled by talent, but eventually it catches up with them. I share disciplines like reading five chapters a day. As a pastor I prayed one whole night a week in the sanctuary to prepare my spirit and to pray for the church. I am not bragging. I am not in that mode weekly now, but I still use the discipline regularly. The sacrificial lifestyle is a must to be an authentic worship leader. Yes, it should be a sacrifice.
8. Give new worship leaders short runs at first.
At one time I was training up to five people to lead worship. I would sit several of them to the side on stools and I would lead for a bit, then one of the trainees would launch out, and another trainee would be prepared to lead a prayer of worship. It is a great way to get people comfortable with being up front and to help them create good habits.
9. New worship leaders get one prayer.
They should ask the pastor and review the choruses to see what God's theme is that day. A new worship leader can pray one prayer around that central theme. They shouldn't pray for anything else.
10. How are you going to end?
Too often newer leaders just get up and go or the worship goes on and on because they can't figure out how to stop. To end a worship session you might just hand the microphone over to the pastor, lead in a prayer, read some scripture (don't ever say what you are going to do-just read it), have a special song, or just ask for a moment of silent worship. But you need to know how you will end it beforehand. Don't miss too many opportunities to end.
11. I like to have several people trained to worship.
In my startup ventures I am training four people. One is pretty experienced. I have turned him into an instructor as well. I used to like having just one constant person leading the worship for me. But, I now believe five to ten well-developed leaders can be beneficial. I have found that a lot of a congregation's stability does ride on people like the worship leader. Twenty-five percent of all staff people move every year-100 percent, eventually. So with at least five leaders you can maintain a stability through changes, and that is helpful.
So there is a starter list for training worship leaders. There are many more ideas. I tend to be pragmatic about my observations of church life. I am spiritual, but I feel the pragmatic side of me is often left unobserved so I like to do seminars and write about it. Others can really help you get into how to sense God in worship, but I am just the "how do you do it" guy. We all have a contribution to make.
I usually don't recommend churches I start to have too many worship leaders. But it is a good idea to have at least three to five more than you need who are always learning. I have come up with several innovative approaches to worship to reduce the reliance on a leader and create a more community feel of worship. And I still think we have not done our job as worship leaders until we have replaced ourselves.
Doug Murren is director of Square One Ministries, a ministry devoted to helping churches gain greater skill in evangelizing our post 9/11 world. Doug is known as an innovator and inventor of concepts for contemporary church life for over twenty years.
Avoiding a Circus of Worship - Paul Baloche
In moderation, many things are useful in the art of worship leading. But overuse of one skill can be just as distracting as an usher moonwalking down the aisle to get extra tips in the plate. With a little fun in mind, we shared some over-the-top examples of common worship leader traits that, when over-utilized, have the ability to distract in worship. And Paul Baloche responded with some insight about each, encouraging us to constantly self-inspect to make sure our service of worship does not become a circus of worship.Have you ever been...· Lost in Space - eyes closed, lost in worship making the congregation wonder if, and when, you will ever pick your guitar back up from where you threw it in the Spirit and re-join them in worship.Paul: That's usually a person who is attempting to personally connect with God, to really discern things in the spirit, and they're trying, on a personal level, to focus their heart and mind on the Lord.
But, it's important to realize that when we're leading worship we're more like a waiter. It's not our turn to sit down and eat our dinner. We may worship, but we actually have a role at that moment, and our job is to wait on others-to serve others at that point. We have to be willing to give up a little bit of our overwhelming connection with God and connect with Him in service of His people. We still have to function as a host.
· The Sermonizer - The worship leader who needs to ad-lib share before after and even during the pauses of most songs. Some call it pastor-envy.
Paul: Worship leaders-let the pastor preach. Occasionally, you may want to set up the time of worship with a brief, capital B, brief Scripture or a thought that sets the tone for that first song. But, be very measured. A little goes a long way.
If you find yourself doing it every time you lead worship then you ought to look for ways to cut back. And I am the chief of, of sinners here. I know that sometimes it helps us connect on a relational level with the people. Saying, ‘Good morning. Hey, before we get started I just want us to look at Psalm 8; as we begin to steer our hearts toward the Lord let's just think about what that Scripture says and let's begin to lift our hearts to him right now.' But again, keep it short and sweet because a little goes a long way.
· Vegas Praise - The performance oriented WL with over the top exhibitions of over-the-top worship and musical virtuosity hitting every vocal pitch and key while your backup dancers shoot bottle rockets that whistle in tune with your voice and explode in glittering letters: G-O-D.
Paul: Performance can sound like such a bad word, in a sense very unspiritual. But, regardless of what anybody says, we are performing a task. The pastor's also going to perform a task of preaching and so let's not kid ourselves-we are performing.First Chronicles 25 says all the musicians were ‘trained and skilled in music for the Lord.' So it's important that we aspire to excellence in our craft. But it also says, ‘they were trained and skilled in music for the Lord.' And that's the key. For the Lord.
Our performance is to boast in His name and to bring attention to Him. We have to try to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, but we can also use hindsight. Monday morning pray about it, talk to people you trust. In humility, ask if there was something that you did that distracted from worship. If trying to hit your five octaves, or pulling off your Aretha Franklin licks on every song affected the spirit of praise.
· The Broken Record - Each song is a fifteen-minute worship extravaganza that repeats the verse, chorus, verse and chorus about as long as the Spirit is calling the leader to repeat them.
Paul: Do all things in moderation. So, there are occasions, when you just sense in your gut, or maybe something's going on in your church where you want to emphasize a particular song or maybe a particular chorus, and you'll just kind of hammer that one idea or that one chorus-soaking it in like a teabag. But if you find yourself doing it all the time, be aware. It's not unspiritual to just do the song like the CD and then move on to the next one.
· Jane Fonda Worship - The Worship leader who dictates standing, sitting, clapping, hugging and relay races through the narthex during the service as if they were an aerobics instructor.
Paul: This one has more to do with the language, the attitude and the language of just respecting where people are at and gently, and respectfully encouraging them into certain actions, but you can certainly overdo it. We have to be careful not to be spiritual pushers.We have to make sure that our language is respectful and not pressuring people. I like to look at is as if they were coming into my home, where I'd say, ‘Hey, come on in, would you like to have a seat?'
And when I'm in cross-denominational situations I don't just say, ‘Lift your hands.' I try to say, ‘If you feel the freedom to lift your hands to the Lord' or, ‘If you feel the freedom to move your feet, this is a good song to dance before the Lord.'
Worship & God's LoveConviction #1 of "The 12 Convictions of True Worshippers"Excerpted from "The Adventure of Worship" by Gerrit Gustafson
This first Conviction is simple, but challenging. It goes like this: Worship is a response to God?s great love.
Learning worship does not start with learning techniques. It begins with knowing God’s kindness toward you. When Paul urged us to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices, he began with the phrase in view of God’s mercy? In other words: Since we know God’s great love for us, let’s worship. If we are not deeply convinced of God's love, our worship of Him will be forced and mechanical.
Earning His Love vs. Receiving His LoveRemember Cain and Abel? Both worshiped, both brought their sacrifices, but one was acceptable and the other was not. My guess is that Cain approached worship thinking, What can I do for God to win his favor? Abel simply received God’s love and expressed gratitude. Those are the two primary paths people usually take. The one is called works, the other grace.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast? (Ephesians 2:8:9). The works way tries to earn a standing with God by what we do for Him; the grace way simply accepts by faith His love for us as a gift, and our worship then becomes a natural response to that love. The acts and attitudes of worship are simply the by-products of knowing His love, not the means of trying to gain it.
Love Drives Out FearWe love God, and we worship Him, because He first loved us (see 1 John 4:19). That love wins our trust and gratitude, and dispels all our fears. Remember the problem at Mt. Sinai? Because of fear, the Israelites did not draw near to worship. (See Ex. 20:18-21). There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear? (1 John 4:18).
Ask yourself this question: Has God’s love won my heart? If you think you have to earn His love with your performance or achievement, listen to this: God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). His love for us is not based on our goodness, but on His own. You cannot earn it; you can only receive it.
Maybe you have trusted in someone and gotten hurt, or you think that God has let you down in some way, and there’s a wall between you and Him. That may be why you feel that you are just going through the motions when you worship.
Like Cats PurringMany of us are like cats. Aloof and independent, cats are suspicious when someone approaches them. But once convinced of gentleness and good will, they will sit in your lap and purr. Let God’s love win your trust. He is not a heartless, impersonal taskmaster whose only goal is to keep you in line. He is the One who knows you better than you know yourself, and who has the key that can unlock the prison doors that keep you from the glorious freedom He has in mind for you. His is that rare love that sacrifices His personal gain for your well being. That’s what His death on the cross was all about. By that selfless act, God has shouted out, I love you, Bill. I love you, Jennifer. I love you, ______.? (Fill in your own name.)
As we realize His love, our trust flourishes. Our fears of being let down, and all other fears, as well, evaporate. And like the purring of a contented cat, our worship effortlessly springs out of heartfelt gratitude. Our hearts have been won by His incredible love.
Conviction #1: Worship is a response to God’s great love
Lord Jesus, we know that Your love can totally conquer all our doubts and fears, and we invite You to do just that. Form in us an unshakable conviction of Your amazing love. We give up trying to achieve a standing with You and instead, by faith, receive as a gift the love You so freely give. May our worship spring out of knowing Your love. Thank You. Amen
Worship in Spirit & Truth Conviction #2 of "The 12 Convictions of True Worshippers" Excerpted from "The Adventure of Worship" by Gerrit Gustafson
The second Conviction is about the two essential ingredients in God's recipe for true worship - Spirit & truth: Acceptable worship springs out of life in the Spirit and love for truth and reality. Spirit and truth - those two words hold the essence of renewed worship. They are the two main criteria of worship that is pleasing to God. "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Notice the word must in this passage. Jesus didn't say, "I would strongly suggest that you worship in Spirit and truth, but it is really up to you and how you feel about it." Spirit and truth are biblical essentials. Together they are the inescapable imperative of worship. If you want to be a true worshiper, Spirit and truth are required; they are not optional. So, what does it mean to worship in spirit and truth? Worship in Spirit.* The Scripture says that "the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord" (Proverbs 20:27, KJV). That picture gives us a good starting point. Our innermost being is like a candle?s wick. As we fellowship with God, our human spirit is set aflame with God's Spirit. With that picture in mind, consider three characteristics of worship in spirit:
Worship in spirit centers on Jesus Christ.
Jesus said this of the Holy Spirit: "He will bring glory to me" (John 16:14). If we allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit, we will become saturated with the Holy Spirit's desire to glorify Jesus. Emphasizing the centrality of Christ in worship will become increasingly important as other forms of spirituality and worship rise in popularity.
Worship in spirit is born out of dependency on God and stands in contrast with confidence in the flesh.
Confidence in our own strength or wisdom apart from God is called the "flesh," and it is our biggest hindrance to life in the Spirit. We have been made to rely on God. Without a vital relationship with Him, we simply will not accomplish what we were designed to do. We are like an electric appliance, a coffeemaker for instance, that has to be plugged in to work. Fulfilling our calling requires that we be continually connected to Him in abiding fellowship. Paul said that the true believers are those "who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3). The contrast between the Spirit and the flesh is huge. One is about life empowered by God's energy; the other is about life powered by human effort. One is about following godly desires; the other is about following self-centered desires. In Romans 8, we learn that those who are controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God (see verses 5-8). Unfortunately, we often use the term flesh to refer to a narrow set of sins and ignore how often we actually put our confidence in something other than God. When Paul spoke of the "flesh," he included his potential confidence in his own education and religious pedigree. If our confidence is in our musical talent, or our knowledge, or our appearance, or our religious heritage apart from God, we are in the flesh, and our worship, like Cain's, will be unacceptable. Worship in spirit is stirred by God's Spirit, not mere human enthusiasm. Religion that is motivated by manipulation, intimidation or domination is carnal, rather than spiritual.
Worship in spirit has an unpredictable component.
Describing the way of the Spirit, Jesus said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going" (John 3:8). Just as it is impossible to control the wind, it is impossible for us to manage the Spirit. God is orderly, and He encourages us to make plans (see Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9), but He always reserves the right to override our plans. When it comes to worshiping in spirit, we must learn that the Spirit is like the wind. He has a mind of His own, and it is wise to learn to cooperate with Him. What does it mean to worship in truth? The New Testament word for truth, aletheia, has two dimensions: one has to do with content, the other with manner:
Worship in truth means that the content is biblically accurate.
Obviously, a song or an expression of worship that celebrates other gods would not meet Jesus' criteria. And though we may quickly think that all the worship in mainstream Christian churches will be solidly aligned to God's truth, we would be wrong to do so. According to the research of George Barna,
Ten percent of those who say they are evangelicals agree with the statement: "The Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same spiritual truths."
Forty percent of those who say they are Protestants believe that protection from eternal condemnation for one's sins is earned rather than received as a free gift from God.
Fifty-two percent of those who say they are evangelicals agree with the statement that, "When people are born, they are neither good nor evil-they make a choice as they mature."**
That is why those who lead our worship must not just be talented artists, but also careful students of God's Word.***
Worship in truth means that it has spiritual reality.
The second dimension of truth - spiritual reality - is just as challenging as the first. According to W. E. Vine, the New Testament word for truth refers to "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter."**** This means that external expression without internal reality is unacceptable worship. How many times do we simply go through the motions without realizing that what we are doing does not really qualify as true worship? Jesus referred to "words-only worship" as "vain worship" (see Matthew 15:8-9). If we take Jesus' specifications for worship seriously, we must take up the discipline of excising our conversations and our expressions of everything that is not genuine, authentic and honest. For me that is a rigorous challenge that I encounter every day. So much of our communication is riddled with empty words: "How are you doing?" "Fine. How are you?" "Fine, thanks." To underscore the importance of spiritual reality, consider how the Scripture treats its opposite, pretense or pretending. According to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, we are to see pretensions as enemy territory. They are strongholds behind which our enemy operates, and they should be ruthlessly torn down and demolished. In the instruction to the Ephesians regarding spiritual warfare (see Ephesians 6:10-18), the first piece of armor we are instructed to put on is the "belt of truth" (verse 14), which is spiritual reality. Along with the challenge to become truthful is an encouraging promise. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of truth... will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). It is He, who is utter Reality Himself, who will bring us into all reality. Interestingly, the predominant culture characteristic for which today's teens are searching so desperately is authenticity. George Barna summarizes his research on current attitudes among teens with this: "In a nutshell Mosaics [his term for today's teens] are looking for an authentic experience with God and other people."***** As we become the true worshipers God is seeking, we will also become the kind of authentic community for which others are searching. Spirit and Truth When we talk about spirit and truth, we cannot disconnect them and choose one or the other. From our perspective, there is a tension that exists between the two. Spirit is like the wind, dynamic and unpredictable; truth is like the rock, fixed and immutable. From God's perspective, however, spirit and truth are in complete harmony. His subjectivity and objectivity are a unified whole. The Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of truth," and He, the Spirit, is in charge of leading us into all truth. Personalities, as well as traditions, often tend to develop strengths on one side or the other. It is common to have "left-brained" church cultures that are rich intellectually and emotionally poor, or "right-brained" cultures that are emotionally rich and intellectually poor. Knowing what we are helps us to know what we need to work on and develop. Conviction #2: Acceptable worship springs out of life in the Spirit and love for truth and reality.
Jesus, convince us of our deep need for Your Spirit. Give us a heart to yield to Your ways. Convict us when we put our trust in our own abilities instead of in You. Holy Spirit, grant us the courage to demolish any and all belief systems that are contrary to Your truth, and replace all our pretending with emotional and intellectual honesty and authenticity. Lead us into all truth so that the watching world can better see who You are. Let us worship You in spirit and in truth. Amen.
Wholehearted Worship Conviction #3 of "The 12 Convictions of True Worshippers" Excerpted from "The Adventure of Worship" by Gerrit Gustafson
The third Conviction is about how we should worship: A true worshiper engages the totality of his being in worship. How would you describe the worship in your congregation last Sunday? Was it a genuine response to the knowledge of God's love? Were the people worshiping in spirit and in truth? More particularly, what proportion of those who were there participated with all their hearts, minds, emotions and bodies? Some of you may say, "How can we possibly know how people were worshiping? Only God knows that." That's true -- but what percentage would you guess was worshiping with all their hearts, minds and physical beings? An even more important question is, "Were you one of them?" The fact is, the percentage is less than it should be -- and less than it is going to be. This third conviction is all about exchanging a partial expression of who we are in worship with a total expression -- spirit, soul, mind and body. The Great Commandment and Worship Quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Jesus said in Mark 12:29-30 that the greatest of all commandments is to love God with all that we are. That is pretty important, wouldn't you say? In this great commandment, we find that God values a comprehensive response to His comprehensive love for us. In another passage, we find that halfheartedness is actually repulsive to Him, and that He would actually rather that we be cold than lukewarm: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15–16). Here we find a significant difference between how God thinks and how we generally think. We tend to believe that a little bit of fervor is better than none; God does not agree. He makes it plain that halfheartedness is worse than coldheartedness. Because worship is simply the expression of our love for God, the great commandment has much to say about how God would like us to worship. Wholehearted worship reflects wholehearted devotion, and halfhearted worship reflects halfhearted devotion. God is looking for wholehearted worshipers.* We should be disturbed when we allow ourselves to become halfhearted. Understanding Ourselves Each of us has been created as a fascinating combination of physical, spiritual, mental and emotional components. Because these components are so intricately linked, and their names are sometimes used interchangeably, it is hard to neatly dissect a human personality. Sometimes biblical lists include four parts—heart, mind, soul and strength; others, three—heart, soul and strength. Every person is a unique combination of these elements with differing strengths and weaknesses. For instance, some people may be very articulate intellectually, but very inarticulate emotionally. Others may have high physical aptitude but unable to engage in critical thinking. Although a person's basic framework will remain pretty much the same year after year, growing in Christ requires that we progressively bring more and more of our lives under His rule.** How we worship is probably one of the best indicators of how healthy the various components of our personalities are. For instance, if your emotions do not engage in worship, there may be a need for healing and restoration in your emotional life.
One complication to all of this is the effect of the traditions in which we grew up. When I first came to the Lord, I was exposed to teaching that implied that emotions, because they were unreliable, were fairly useless. And so it followed, the more spiritual a person was, the less emotional they should be. It took me years to realize that, in the name of spiritual discipline, I had developed a habit of suppressing my God-given emotions. I remember the liberating truth I came to as I was meditating on Psalm 23:3 -- that is, God wants to restore my soul, not destroy it. He wants to show me how my emotions were meant to work. Another sub-Christian tradition is the one that creates suspicions toward the mind. I had a close friend whom I influenced to become a Christian. He was a thorough thinker, an engineer with a degree from a top engineering school. Unfortunately, he became part of a ministry that looked down on the value of the mind. In coming under that influence, he was forced to shut down a vital part of who God had made him to be. Something valuable was lost. Finally, there is the tradition that deems the physical side of worship as inappropriate. Thosewho hold to this belief would say that thoughts and feelings are fine, but do not lift your hands in worship. Movement in worship or anything that stimulates movement, according to this tradition, is not spiritual but based on "the flesh." But regarding the body, most of the "worship imperatives" in the book of Psalms require that we do something physically. Activities such as bowing before Him, lifting up our hands, singing and dancing are all physical. Worship without physical involvement is like a car that is not running on all its cylinders. I once heard Derek Prince, referring to Romans 12:1, ask, "Why did God, in describing worship, say to present our 'bodies'? Why didn't He say to present our souls or spirits?" Then, answering his own question, he said, "For the Hebrews, the body was the container of the soul and the spirit. When you give your body, you give your soul and spirit." God wants the whole of you to serve and worship Him -- intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically. How would you evaluate your compliance with those specifications? If you have been unduly influenced by any of these three unbiblical traditions (i.e. minimizing the role of the emotions, mind or body in worship), now's the time to let those neglected areas of expression breathe again. Of course, any expression can become self-serving. For instance, the proper exercise of emotions and emotionalism are worlds apart. And redeemed thought -- thinking God's thoughts after Him -- is worlds away from becoming proud in our thinking. Courageously evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses. In what part of the Great Commandment do you feel you need to be strengthened today? How about your church?
Conviction #3: A true worshiper engages the totality of his being in worship.
Evaluating your worship team by Bob Kauflin
One of the best ways to motivate your team to continued growth is to offer consistent and thoughtful evaluation. Assessing your group's progress in different areas will also help develop a "culture of humility."
If we want the members of our team to desire growth, we have to desire it ourselves. So we should lead the way in asking others for input and observations. How did I do leading this morning? Was I clear? Are there any ways we could run rehearsals more effectively? Am I still overplaying? If I'm regularly asking my team those kinds of questions, they'll realize it's OK to acknowledge their weaknesses in front of others. And it will make them more receptive to my observations in the areas of their musicianship, character, and gifts.
Musical Presentation
Not long after I arrived at Covenant Life, we started getting together for an evaluation meeting right after each service. Years later it remains one of the most fruitful practices we've established. The musicians and sound folks gather on stage, and the first thing I do is highlight how God was faithful to use us in spite of our many flaws and mess-ups.
Then I run through the songs, pointing out specific things that were encouraging: "Jared, you did a great job catching my eye at the end of the second chorus on ‘Blessed Be Your Name.' Thanks for paying attention. Ben, that was a strong beginning on acoustic for the third song. Roger, the synth voicings you used during the fourth song left plenty of room for the vocals. Speaking of vocals, thanks for remembering to sing unison the first time through the new song." I'll also typically take that opportunity to commend the sound team for the way they tirelessly and joyfully serve us.
Then I'll point out things that could have been better.
"Don, remember that chord change in the turnaround for ‘The Glories of Calvary.' Don't forget to write things down. Oh, you did? Well, then don't forget to read what you wrote! And what happened before the tag of ‘Holy is the Lord'? My signal was unclear? Oh, sorry about that. I'll try to give those earlier." We'll also discuss any monitor problems that came up.
I'll close by asking the group for their encouragement and critique. Normally one of the other worship leaders or musicians who was in the congregation that morning offers their thoughts as well.
I don't want to give you the impression that these are "heavy" meetings. They usually take less than 10 minutes. We laugh, poke fun at each other, and always express gratefulness once again that we get to serve the church with our musical gifts.
Consistent evaluation, given graciously and clearly, pops the bubble of self-exaltation and self-pity. You did well? That was God's grace! You messed up? Welcome to the club. And thank God for the blood of Jesus that perfects all our sin-stained offerings.
One small point: For evaluation to be effective, I have to be listening to others besides myself while we sing. A good monitor mix is a must. For years my monitor mix consisted of my piano, my vocal, and everyone else far in the background. No wonder I felt like the bottom dropped out when I stopped playing! Make sure you can hear everyone so you can give them accurate thoughts about what they did.
Rehearsals provide another opportunity for evaluating your musical presentation. The best practice is to listen to a recording or watch a video of your previous meeting. Those don't lie. That can be a painful process, but there's nothing like a recording to open up blind eyes and deaf ears.
Character
Dave Campbell has been playing on our worship team for over 25 years. He's skilled, he's faithful, and he's humble. When I invite him to play for some special event he regularly asks, "Are you sure you don't want to give one of the younger guys an opportunity?"
Almost weekly he tells me how grateful he is to be serving in the church, what Charles Spurgeon refers to as the "dearest place on earth." He also is consistently on-time, making sure his gear is set up before the rehearsal starts.
People like Dave – and we have many of them on our team – set the standard for what God is looking for in a musician.
Unfortunately, we can get used to hearing common refrains like these from church musicians: Why does she get all the solos? I thought rehearsals were for people who aren't as gifted. Why am I playing only twice this quarter? My idea for the ending was much better than yours. I'm tired of the singers always getting special treatment. Are we singing that stupid song again? We're prone to excuse such pride, self-serving, backbiting, and criticism because – well, we're musicians. The idiosyncracies of artists are no justification for sin.
If I care about my team, I'll hold them accountable to godly character and help them grow (i). I'll take the time to follow up on questions or concerns I have about someone's behavior. If it turns out they're unwilling to change, I'll get a pastor involved and possibly ask them to take a sabbatical. Their godly attitude is more important to me than their great musicianship.
Gifting
I should have a good idea of a person's gifting when they join the team. But over time, I want to be on the lookout for three things:
1. Are they growing in their skills? Being part of the team doesn't mean you've "arrived." It means now there's even greater motivation to improve.
2. Has the church outgrown an individual's gifting? A guitar player who can serve a church of seventy-five may not be your best choice once the church has grown to five hundred.
3. Have others come into the church who are as godly but more gifted than people on the team? We try to prepare our team for the inevitability of being replaced by regularly mentioning that possibility.
If you realize someone lacks the gifting to be part of the team, talk to them. I've found that when the bar of excellence is raised, or when more gifted musicians show up, people often realize they shouldn't be on the team. If they don't figure it out, we have to tell them. We need to fear God more than their disapproval.
In 30 years, I've taken members off the team only a handful of times. When I do, it's never easy. But I remind them that God has a unique place for them to serve. They'll enjoy serving with the gifts God has given them much more than trying to prove they can serve where he hasn't gifted them.
(i) C. J. Mahaney's book, Humility: True Greatness, effectively addresses issues that every musician deals with.
This article was excerpted with permission from
Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God by Bob Kauflin (2008 Crossway).
The blessings from the Lord are much too big to keep inside you that to stay calm is just too much of an effort. To shout and jump for joy in praise of His Name for the Glory and power that He has in this world releases a spirit of love to share among His people.
