A Thought Question: Advice for Worship Leaders

14 Responses to A Thought Question: Advice for Worship Leaders

1. Pastor Mike says:

   January 20, 2011 at 7:14 am

   Absolutely! I have made many of the same pleas on other forums, and I am a contemporary style worship leader.
2. Bob Brandon says:

   January 20, 2011 at 9:27 am

   "Worship leader?" Whatever happened to edifying each other? 🙂
3. Rogbro says:

   January 20, 2011 at 9:44 am

   I have often been accused of closing my eyes while leading worship and have made an effort to not do it so much but it just happens from time-to-time. It is the songs that touch my heart the most that I tend to lead with eyes wide shut.

   One thing I've learned is that what one cultural group of people worshiping God is familiar and comfortable with another cultural group of people will not be familiar and comfortable doing. Then, when you worship in a cross-cultural multi generational church it becomes important to blend "worship styles"…which often may appear chaotic, but in reality done on purpose so that all receive a blessing and learn something different as well.
4. Danielle says:

   January 20, 2011 at 11:53 am

   Whether a person closes or opens their eyes in church shouldn't matter-it's their heart and how they relate to God-and if a worship leader is worrying about what someone else is doing than they are being distracted from worshiping, which is defeating their purpose of leading in worship. And for me the "layperson" I should just be paying attention to what's going on of course-but the main focus should be on God, not the worship leader….or the preacher…or the pastor(s). This is part of why churches struggle so much with putting their leadership equally with Jesus on a pedestal….this is wrong.

   Also Jesus said "be not concerned with what you wear" with the exception of dressing in a way that causes sexual lust or wealthy people "showing off". There is no dress code to dress in formal clothes or casual shown in the Bible-don't add to the Word-and I've seen most churches with a formal dress code frequently have a "religious spirit" that permeates the spiritual atmosphere. Also in the hippie era churches were turning away teenagers and young adults who came in barefoot dressed in hippie fashion-Jesus said to "come as you are". While I'm not advocating dirty feet in church, I do suggest everyone dress as they feel closest to God personally and not out of tradition-some may still dress up but for the right reasons. And remember that God told Moses to takes off his shoes because he was on holy ground…I've seen people in church take off their shoes in reverence for the Presence of the Lord moving in one of their services-this isn't wrong in and of itself either.
5. Twistersinbama says:

   January 20, 2011 at 3:35 pm

   It seems the list is one focused on ease and comfort for the worshippers – easy rhythms, familiar tunes, people looking "normal" (eyes open, dressed like everyone else), no spontaneity (no la la's, planned transitions). Of course, he ends with "love Jesus more than music". and I can't argue there.

   I would hope our worship leaders would kind of do the exact opposite of this list by truly focusing on the "love Jesus more than music" part, or should I say "love Jesus more than tradition, comfort, and cultural norms".

   Corporately, liturgically, I hope our leaders create space for spontaneity, for creativity, for different modes of expression. I hope our leaders continually pull the best from the past while continually seeking the best of the now. I hope our leaders are, first and foremost, worshipping in spirit and in truth. I want to follow those who are showing their love and passion for Christ and who create the space to allow others to show their own love and passion.

   Old hymns, new songs, 3/4, 4/4, la la songs, gregorian chants, silence, lights low, lights high, eyes closed, eyes open, in a suit (either business or swim), comfortable range, challenging rage – bring it all!!

   Let the constantly changing patterns of worship remind us that God is forever creating us anew into the image of Christ. The particulars should constantly shift lest we begin to think that our way is "the" way.

   It's not about being comfortable during worship. It's about being worshipful. That starts with the leader, and only from there filters through to the congregation.
6. guy says:

   January 20, 2011 at 3:53 pm

   Some seem like sensible ideas. Others border on the nit-picky in my view.

   Our last worship leader, on Sunday nights he stopped standing in front of the crowd at all and just led from his seat. He took a great deal of attention and potential distraction off himself by doing so. Seemed like a good move to me. And he seemed more like "one of us" instead of the high and mighty worship minister.

   i will say that leading singing is tough. i used to lead singing quite regularly for lots of congregations, and it was always awkward every single time. i felt more in the spotlight than i should be. i felt like i couldn't focus on what i was singing because i was far too concerned about the mechanics of leading so i didn't mess up. Sure, some worship ministers are wanna-be rock stars. But a lot of them have taken great social risk by stepping on the stage at all. i've always tried to remember that any time i'm tempted to criticize a song leader.

   –guy
7. Mark says:

   January 20, 2011 at 4:16 pm

   Modern day Christianity has compromised much of it personal expression to leaders as if they (the leaders ) can plead or express their praise to God better than the congregation. We first need to think about what is a worship leader? Leading is a non Biblical concept. Not saying we can lead. But leading rather than following sets a different belief about how worship is to be done. What about following?Although I feel there are sincere people who lead many leaders control over worship is about their salaries and church mortgages. It is about satisfying a feeling more than truly thanking God. However things like prayer is not boxed in 4/4 time or notes. The lords supper is not just lost in traditional of silence to a thimble size piece of bread and grape-juice. Giving also to the church in worship is not just expressed in a silver plate. The Spirit just doesn't work that way.

   There is also the problem that the word worship is rarely used in the New Testament. We don't even know if Sunday is the day we are to come together. I understand leaders complaints sometimes the band is off the technology is glitching out and babies are crying. But that's life. The best way to improve worship is let people bring there own.
8. Anonymous says:

   January 21, 2011 at 12:34 am

   When I first looked at the link you provided this afternoon there were 65 comments, a couple of hours later 189. Wow! Most of the ones I read differ mostly on the assumptions we make of what the assembly is for and what worship is. Example: one person said, “When you attend, and especially when you lead, you are first of all setting an example to the world on how you should dress in the presence of God.” If the song service and worship is to set an example, to come into the presence of Jesus, etc. every point is important — but is worship a time, place and performance or a lifestyle? If it is a performance every possible effort and expense should be invested to make it a superior production. If the worship is to attract the “un-churched” we should make every effort to make them feel comfortable fulfill their expectations. If the worship is to evangelize it should be true to the gospel. If worship is a lifestyle everyone should come to the assembly to encourage and strengthen one another and the “worship leader” just gets in the way, so none the questions on the survey would matter.
9. aBasnar says:

   January 21, 2011 at 1:55 am

   "Worship leader?" Whatever happened to edifying each other? 🙂

   Good question. My objection to this "worship style" is that it is not only from a different culture (youth culture vs. the style of bygone days), but from a different mindset. It is more entertainment with a sing-along-option than NT-worship. And the article confirms that: The author calls the worship leaders back from imitating professional pop-stars to worship. Since they somehow fall for high-pitched keys, Lalalas and a certain "beat", I think there is something terribly wrong with this whole approach to worship.

   But also in conservative settings there is a "worship leader" who choses the songs and leads them. A lot more plain, to be sure, but the other priests are equally meagerly engaged.

   What would happen, if we just don't "ordain" worship leaders? If we encourage everyone to bring along a Psalm, a Hymn, a scripture, a testimony, a prophecy, a teaching … and a pot luck … and let all come together for mutual edification?

   Wouldn't that be a step towards the fully restored NT church? Of course you cannot do this in a setting of several hundred or thousand people.
   But if our structures hinder us to imitate what we find in the scriptures, why is the the NT that must give way to our traditions and not vice versa?

   We might break up the congregation into several dozen or more assemblies that fit in houses and would meet throughout the whole city in local neighborhoods. Spreading like the leven. Imagine what this would mean for the next door neighbors. Or the environmental benefit, when you can walk to church or ride a bike. It also would be cost-saving since we don't need speakers and a sound system.

   And all the priests of God will be more involved.

   Alexander
10. Anonymous says:

    January 21, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Alexander, great comments. I assume your suggestion to come “together for mutual edification” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 14:26ff. This is one of the most complete descriptions of the assembly of the 1st century church. It is interesting that it is not called a “worship service” and the instructions Paul gives is not to the “worship leaders.” The only time worship is mentioned is in the paragraph headings translators add and in reference to the unbeliever who might be present. I have found several descriptions of a church assembly in the New Testament but never a description of the Sunday morning worship service, worship leaders or worship agenda.
11. Van says:

    February 4, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    The "open your eyes" comment really gets to me. I have had the opportunity to be a worship leader in my past. It was a pricelss gift given to me, and I tried to use it as an opportinuty to give back to my church. My goal was to encourage my church by expressing to God the joy in my heart and to lead them to sense God's joy in hearing their hearts. It was a learning process (everything is). I really got into it.
    Over time, I realized that I was expressing my heart felt desire to worship God in such an outwardly visible way, that I may have appeared that I was crossing the line from leading worship into leading something else. Although it was not my intent, I started sensing that my presence on the stage appeared to be more about what I wanted the congregation to sense and less about God. That wasn't the intent, but it felt like that was the result. I felt that people were looking forward to seeing me up there more than they were anticipating worshiping the Lord. And I began to think that everything I did up front was calculated to be seen. It wasn't supposed to be about closing my eyes just the right way. I really just wanted to worship and encourage. Leading with sincere feelings that are outwardly noticable can be a hard juggling act.
12. Bobby Jean says:

    August 2, 2012 at 7:19 am

    So I’m a 17 year old worship leader. I made a list of some of the things God has taught me over the years 😀 I bet you’ll get a kick out of it, here goes:

    1. Love Jesus more than music.
    2. I think Jesus likes Woah oh’s and maybe even some la la la’s :).
    3. It doesn’t matter what you’re physical eyes look like, as long as you are FOCUSED on Jesus.
    4. People, just sing in whatever key you sing in. Lol.
    5. God lives outside of time…I say if He tells you to play in 6/8 or heck, even 5/4…that’s probably what we should do haha.
    6. Totally, plan transitions! Amen. That’s just common sense :).
    7. Who cares what the lights look like? On, off, dimmed, or creative…is that even what really matters? I don’t think He cares…
    8. Our lives are constant worship…dress like you are living a life of worship. Yeah?
    9. Er…love Jesus more than music. HAHAHA DUHHH
13. mark says:

    August 26, 2013 at 9:50 am

    How about have a service once a month with no power point slides, no technology at all. Use the old hymn book. Have a cantor (not a song leader who is trying to generate electricity with his arm swinging) sing and let the congregation follow him. You might be surprised at how many will come. Trying to be hip and cool won’t get you as far as you think it will.
14. Charles Mclean says:

    August 28, 2013 at 9:01 am

    It has been my observation that folks who propose these throwback gatherings generally throw things back only so far as their own remembrance. This might have a sort of nostalgic attraction to folks who were happier back in the Fifties and have idyllic memories of gatherings back then. But that has little to do with worship, it seems to me. It’s just a matter of being “hip and cool” to a different demographic. Or, maybe “neato and keen”…

    I found Nation’s “list” pretty mainly a petty grievance list, but here’s mine, which is a bit different, after leading worship in several genres for years:

    1. Make it easier for others to participate in worship. When you have a mixed demographic in your congregation, that means you are unlikely to accomplish this by locking in a particular musical style. This principle also applies to song selection, keys, and how you go about introducing new music.
    2. Understand that you can only lead worship for people who are worshipping. People who are music critics or consumers can’t be led any more than a dead mule. They are not going anywhere. Pray for these folks, but don’t give them influence.
    3. Sacrifice your personal style. The first shall be last, in this case. This is not about what YOU like. A worship leader is a servant first. “I’m leading today, so we finally get to do what I want” is neither worshipful nor leadership.
    4. Dress so as not to offend most people. God could care less, but they do. Again, sacrifice personal liberty as needed. I hate wearing a tie, but sometimes I just do it. It’s a cheap and generally harmless concession to the immature, like giving out cookies in children’s church.
    5. Worship is about God. Worship leading is about people. The whole idea of corporate worship is pointless if we do not acknowledge one another beyond watching our harmonies. If a leader is not aware of what is going on among people in worship, he’s not leading worship– he’s just a music conductor.
    6. “And now, turn to number 666” is NOT a transition. Too many songs makes for less worship and more “What are they gonna do next?”
    7. Loud enough to hear, not loud enough to hurt.
    8. It’s not about getting to the end of the song so we can do the next one.
    8. Give the disco lights back to the BeeGees.
    9. If your congregation’s worship sounds more like the Volga Boatmen’s Song than like Handel’s Messiah, just stop. Please.
    10. Worship leaders, if your congregation isn’t “getting it”, then neither are you. Worship leaders are like doormen: we hold the door open so others can come in. We don’t stand on top of the hill waiting for everyone else to catch up.

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