Worship Leaders and
Team members
Guide

an outline (excerpts).

Introduction: What is Worship

A. Praise : Telling God how wonderful He is - "for He is Worthy..."Ps 145:3

1. Opens ourselves up honestly to him, as our heavenly father.
2. Brings Glory to the Lord. (Ps 34:3, 63:3, 86:12, etc.)
3. Tells Him (and reminds us) what He does, who He is, and what He wants us to do.

a. Praise is ordained by God (Ps 8:2)

B. A Sacrifice (Hebrews 13:15)

1. We may not feel like praising the Lord, yet we should learn tolay our concerns aside and sacrifice our own desires or problems. God givesus the "fruit of our lips. (Isaiah 57:18-19)
2. Giving (Ps 96:8) - Money, Bodies, time, life...

C. Being with God

1. Coming to the Lord with no agenda, just to be with him.
2. Listening - Worship can be silent. (Ps 37:7, Ps 46:10)

D. Raising our Expectations

1. If we learn to expect God's presence during worship, we can learn to expect Him to work in other areas of our ministry.

E. Teaching us (see Eph. 5:19)

1. "Speaking to YOUR SELVES in psalms...."
2. Be careful that songs do not teach us "wrong" (scriptural ysound.)

F. Using music and singing as worship.

1. Many examples: Psalms 47:6, 57:7, 108:1, 147:1, Eph. 5:19, etc.
2. Musical worship can be vocal, instrumental, or both (Psalm 68)
3. Worship in Biblical times was done on contemporary instruments, includingharps, lyres, and percussion.

Worship Leaders

A. To Be a worship leader - you must worship.

1. Too often we look for musicians first, worshipers second.

a. However, Psalms 33:3 (KJV)says play "skillfully with a loud noise."

B. To Be a worship leader - you should lead, not control

1. A worship leader should be able to guide his/her team and the Church into the presence of God.

a. The leader is the example of what worship is meant to be for most of the congregation.

2. A worship leader must be sensitive to the Spirits direction.

a. A worship leader should "sacrifice" his/her own agenda

.b. A worship leader should be sensitive to the needs of his/her team and the congregation.

i. Needs do not always equal wants. Please God, not man.

c. Don't get hung up on style. "We must have the "Motown sound!"

i. Often we limit our congregations worship experience by setting boundaries that must not be crossed.
ii. Boundaries can be stylistic, instrumental, vocal, or even sound reinforcement.(see "Choosing songs..." section)

3. A worship leader should have the God given "grace" to lead in a particular church or situation.

a. Often, leaders do not realize (or want to admit) that the Grace to lead has lifted and it's time to step aside or move on.

C. A Worship leader must draw his/her spiritual identity from the Lord, NOT the POSITION!

1. If our spiritual identity is positional, then:

a. We tend to act on our own strength in our own time.

i. We may make "value judgements" on ourselves which arenot necessarily accurate.

b. We are personally threatened if our position is threatened.
c. Satan uses this to blind us to God's will, healing, teaching, etc.

2. If our spiritual identity is from the Lord, then:

a. He is our strength and guide to fulfilling our responsibilities.
b. If God sends "someone else" to do the job, we have lost nothing.
c. We seek his will in our ministry and may discover other gifts and talents that we never knew we had.
d. The Lord will continually broaden our ministry.

3. The worship leader needs to be accountable.

a. The pastor and/or another worship leader is ideal.
b. Choose someone you can trust and relate to.
c. Accountability and Control are not the same thing!

i. Leaders in the church must be released to minister as the Spirit leads them, if they are musically and spiritually ready.
ii. We are all unique in the Body of Christ!

D. Preparing for Worship - The Spiritual and The Practical

1. Prayer, fasting, and seeking God's face.

a. The enemy will ALWAYS attack worship leaders!
b. Spend daily time in worship - ALONE. God honors in public what is prepared for in private

2. Worship in the service can vary.

a. Before the sermon, it can help prepare the worshipers and the speaker.
b. After the sermon, sometimes people are willing to worship, especially if the sermon ministered to them.
c. Be sensitive to the Spirit and not "bound" by a formal set of rules for our worship (Jn 4:24)

3. Worship should "woo" people into the presence of the Lord and focus on Him.

a. Worship is easier when it is inviting.
b. Time should always be given for the Spirit to move.

i. free praise, prophecy, words, etc.

c. Silence, or waiting on the Lord's word or direction, is O.K.

4. Worship leading v.s. Song Leading

a. A song leader is usually:

i. Controlling the congregation: God's "Cheerleader".
ii. Providing music as a prelude to the sermon.
iii. Drawing focus to himself/herself.

b. A Worship Leader:

i. Worships God and invites the congregation to do likewise.
ii. Is sensitive to where the congregation is in regards to worship, but understands that worship is a matter of choice and he can not force people to enter in.
iii Is a pastor in his/her own right.

aa. Using gifts of the Spirit, healing, teaching, etc.
bb. Worship stands on its own, not to support the sermon.

iv. Is focused on the Lord.

E. Choosing songs (See also "Choosing songs..." section)

1. Make sure you understand the content.
2. Make sure that the words are scripturally sound.
3. Know what keys go into other keys and what chords to use to get there.
4. Parallel the present repetoire of the congregation. This builds unity.
5. Listen to worship tapes.

a. A song usually needs to become personal for a person to use itto worship.

F. Sensitivity to the Spirit and people

1. It's okay to make a list, but always be flexible.
2. Worship should last as long as it takes:

a. For people to seek the Lord and not feel "cut-off".
b. For the Holy Spirit to do what He wants.

G. Training worship leaders

1. There should ALWAYS be backup leaders!!

a. The most healthy goal is to rotate leaders.
b. Rotating helps avoid "positional identity" and burn-out.

2. Discipleship of potential worship leaders:

a. Christ's example:

i. Do it yourself for them.
ii. Show them how.
iii. Let them do it under supervision.
iv. Let them do it on their own

3. Small group training.

a. After establishing discipleship and supervising:

i. Assign potential leader to a home group as leader
ii. Have bimonthly meetings of leaders to share progress and worship together.
iii. Leader should monitor progress of "leaders-in-training".

H. A few general tips for Worship leaders.

1. Avoid preaching to the people you are leading - Focus communication to God.

a. Pray as the Spirit leads you, but address your prayers to the Lord and not to your people. (Unless a specific word is given.)

2. Lead, but avoid control.

a. Be suggestive, but not too directive. Create an atmosphere of freedom.

3. Feel free to drop or add songs, if the spirit leads you.

a. Worship may last an hour or more; it may last 10 minutes.
b. Train your team to be open to spontaneity and the Spirit.

4. Let "Free praise" be free!

a. Harmony rules were made by MAN. A JOYFUL noise is required by God.
b. Keep chord changes to a minimum, if any.
c. Listen to the Spirit. Don't be afraid to step out in faith!

5. Pray for your team daily, as well as binding the forces of darkness from entering in and distracting worship.
6. Take a vacation!! Avoid burn-out. Avoid stress.
7. Forgive. (Matt. 6:14-15)

The Worship Team

Note: Most of the Items under "Worship Leading" apply also to all members of the worship team.

A. The worship team is an example to the congregation.

1. Like the leader, the team must also know how to worship.

a. Most teams need training and teaching in understanding worship.
b. Rehearsals should be more than just "running through the songs."
c. Leaders should seek out those who have a heart for worship and are trainable. This includes musicians, sound crew, and singers!!
d. Good performers or soloists do not always make good worship team members.
e. The worship team must desire to enter the presence of God
f. Leave "extra baggage" outside the gates!

i. Forgive. (Matt. 5:23-24; Matt. 6:14-15)

g. As we enter worship, we should address those forces that would distract us or prevent us from worship

i. Satan may tell us lies: "They don't want to hear you","This is useless" "None of this is true" or "You are unworthy"
ii. We may feel musically unworthy, tired, hurt, etc.
iii. David forced himself to worship the Lord.
iv. Worship out of obedience in God's strength.

B. The Team must be able to follow and support the leader.

1. "Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians!"

a. Everybody has an opinion, but there is one leader.
b. Communicate ALL concerns and assume NOTHING.
c. Pray together often. Encourage leaders.
d. Allow freedom for the leader to be unique.

C. The team member should recognize his/her unique function in thebody of Christ. Not all who desire are called.

1. "There is one body, but many members..."

a. God doesn't make "gross" bodies. (i.e. 8 hands, 2 heads)
b. The foot should not do the hands work.

i. Avoid placing people where they are not gifted.
ii. Lead those who are serving in the "wrong" area to discoverGod's place and grace for them.

c. Treat all members with love, patience, and respect.

2. There are many worship leading opportunities

a. Worship leaders/teams are needed for regular services,Sunday school,children's church, kinship groups, etc.
b. When it seems God has sent "too many people", look at all
these areas for placement.

3. Be consistent when auditioning: play no favorites

a. Always have a trial period.

D. Team members, as leaders, must get their identity through a relationship with Christ, not the position.

1. There is no room for contempt or competition in the ministry.
2. Rotating musicians/singers helps.

E. TEAM MEMBERS SHOULD BE BELIEVERS!

1. Luke 11:17 - A house divided against itself will fall.
2. 2Cor. 6:14 - Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (NIV)

Questions, comments, feedback? Click here to respond!

Return Home

Worship Leaders and Team members Guide