the art of worship leading
// August 12th, 2008 // 7 Comments » // Leadership, Sunday, Worship
I’m no amazing worship leader but I am a Pastor and one of the things I need to attempt to do is ensure that whoever is leading worship in my congregation is doing a good job. So I found the latest blog at churchrelevance.com really interesting as it lists the Top 10 Peeves about Worship Leaders as compiled by an American pastor. Looking through it was quite surprising to see what was in there but made me think as to exactly what I DO like to see from our Worship leaders… so you can read the Peeves here but here’s my 10 response to those Peeves so as to explain what I’m looking for:
Peeve 1: Asking the Congregation to do Something
It was interesting to see that people disliked it when they are told to raise their hands in the air or turn to others and say hello or shake hands. Funny cause we do both! But I understand part of the sentiment as I do hate it when someone just says in the middle of a particularly charged worship moment… “oohh just raise your hands…” cause I have to ask the question that most un-churched attenders are asking.. “why?” I think if you’re going to give instruction then make it meaningful! Here’s a challenge for every worship leader to give meaningful instruction that draws people to lift hands, sing louder, appear to enter into God’s presence, whatever it be you are attempting to do… but don’t use the phrase.. “lift your hands!”
Peeve 2: Mini-Sermons & Talking
Some worship leaders don’t know when to shut up and some just seem to appear on stage, get lost in their own world and then hand on to the pastor after 30mins. Our format is generally to kick off with a great praise song then a short encouragement to worship and then that’s it apart from maybe a few ‘meaningful’ instructions later on. Key thing is to make sure you have SOMETHING FROM GOD and not just a piece of worship leader rhetoric. Plus I encourage our leaders NOT to pray for the crowd but instead to encourage them to begin to pray… after all you’re leading THEM in worship and not doing it on their behalf!
Peeve 3: Not Focusing on God
This goes without saying really – the worship leader needs to be a worshipper! So you need to be confident that they are not just on stage doing an excellent job but that they are also engaging in giving God their worship.
Peeve 4: Unprofessional
We demand a high degree of excellence from our Worship Team because when you practice well, learn the music/words, know the runsheet and can keep tight with the rest of the team – there are no distractions for the congregation and there is nothing to stop the musician/singer from really worshipping God themselves. So we don’t allow any music / music stands on stage, there’s no cue cards, no props – just musicians/singers who value worship so much that they are prepared to put the time in to practice and learn what they are doing.
Peeve 5: Bad Singing
Erm – yes – who wants to listen to a bad singer. I find that it works best when we have a good blend of a number of singers with a strong melody line. Don’t get lost in harmonies because the congregation need to know the melody – especially when doing a new song. So we have harmonies but make sure they are not overpowering or confusing.
Peeve 6: Appearance
Dress code is important and our bands adhere to a casual smart policy – we want them to look up-to-date and ‘trendy’ – but nothing distracting or too flash.
Someone makes the comment on this peeve that they don’t like Worship Leaders with their eyes closed. This is a good point – Worship leaders need to make eye contact with people. I say to my leaders – you can find value in your worship to God by seeing others really getting into it. Obviously there are times in the presence of God when it’s appropriate for the leader to close their eyes – but they should really have their eyes on what is happening around the room at all times so they can ensure the crowd is being led in the right way.
Peeve 7: Inauthentic Prayer
Like I mentioned above – don’t just pray – if you’re leading worship you should come to the meeting with 3 or 4 things that God has been stirring in your heart so that you can pluck from these what the Spirit guides you as appropriate. More often than not its more important to get the crowd to pray. So encourage them to start singing in the Spirit, praying in tongues, telling God how much they love him etc… although make sure you giving them ‘meaningful instruction!’
Peeve 8: Bad Transitions
If you’re a worship leader then you need to spend as much time on rehearsing transitions between songs and links as you do the actual songs as dynamic and atmosphere can be lost in a bad change, awkward silence or horrible chord progression. Also avoid the obvious links / puns – better to say nothing at all! Finally be careful not to rush on to the next song! Sometimes it’s good for people to linger in a place of worship – ears open to the Spirit!
Peeve 9: Improper Lifestyle
As far as I’m concerned its an absolute privilege to be a member of the worship team – even more so a leader. It has nothing to do with our need or their ability and everything to do with character. So if that means we have a guitar and congos and nothing else because there are only 2 people who have their life and motives in line to be a worship leader then fine – cause I believe we’ll have a more powerful worship time with the right people on stage, rather than a full stage with people who are upholding bad character and mindsets. Worship leaders need to be pursuing God with all their heart, mind and soul and be an incredible servant to the whole house.
Peeve 10: Not Catering to the Congregation
I guess this one comes from people who think that the worship is their own baby and they can do what they want. I like it when our songwriter comes up with a song that is directly in line with what has been preached because they are enabling the ongoing revelation of God’s word amongst the congregation. There is no point singing songs too complicated or culturally irrelevant because you need to be able to establish a culture in which the un-churched can find themselves in an atmosphere that draws them closer to the divine touch.
So there you go – what about you? What do you LIKE most about worship leaders… what would you prefer to see / hear more of or see / hear less of?
Chris is the Congregation Pastor of 
