A lot of churches worship leaders will hear the number one song in the land and declare, "We have to do this song!" In reality, not every song that is number one is number one.
What does that mean....
Just because everyone knows it and its on the radio for a thousand consecutive weeks at number one, doesn't mean that it will be a great worship song. In fact, sometimes the pressure to take a number one and make it the best in your worship set can distract you from what God is wanting to do.
This is where knowing your congregation helps. Knowing them provides insight to what will be effective and what may be a flop. Use that to your advantage. Plan out new music based not on the charts of popularity, but on the wings or worship. You learn it and worship with it in private. Then, if you can get to His presence with it, present it to the team and see what they think. There are a lot of songs that are for "Positive Entertainment" and nothing really more.
What?
Yes...I wouldn't sing a song by Francesca Batistelli called "Free to be Me" in church! How does singing about a rip in your jeans, or being late for work, or the speeding ticket help you focus on worship and entering His presence? It distracts more than help. That's because it's not appropriate for worship.
Use wisdom and good judgement when picking out music. Mostly, pray that God direct you into a fountain of great music for leading the church in worship. After all...He gives sermons to pastors,why would He not give you the music if you seek Him?
Friday, May 19, 2017
Monday, May 1, 2017
Worship Engagement
You're on stage and between songs. Everything up to that point has brought you here. You have one (or two) songs left on the set list, and you feel an urge to do something not planned.
Sometimes it takes a quiet moment to hear God's voice and directions. We prepare and pray for His guidance in the upcoming services, and sometimes He gives us just enough to get to 'that' moment. It can be anywhere in the worship service, and you know it when you get there. What do you do?
Some worship leaders know exactly what to do. Others don't. I knew what to do from the experiences I received by watching my parents and other ministers and worship leaders. Not everyone grows up in the environment I did, and therefore doesn't have the same experiences to draw from that I do. None the less, it was still terrifying to actually do it.
God will sometimes drop something in your spirit or in your heart, and you can't help but share it. It's usually something that uplifts or edifies the church. Pentecostal brothers and sisters will know what I'm talking about...Sometimes God uses speaking in tongues for this something, and other times He impresses us like He does ministers when they are preparing their sermons. The method is not important. What is important is that when this happens, you trust God and do or say what He wants you to.
Their are other times that speaking to the congregation will encourage worship or help set the attitude and help focus the people in their worship. Sometimes a simple prayer or an exhortation can be enough. Then there are times where you may quote scripture and briefly interpret it for them. There are many things that can be done in those moments. You just have to do it.
Don't be afraid. You're already singing in front of the congregation, why not go ahead talk to them. You talk to them before and after services anyway. Sometimes we get nervous about the little things we do, when we need to just focus on God.
These moments of spoken word will have positive results in the long run. It may take you a couple times to get the feel for it, or to recognize what God is asking you to do; but...It keeps the focus of the people where it belongs.....On worshiping God. You never know what condition someone may be in, or what they are going through. Your words may remind them that He is sufficient for all needs in their lives; that He is mighty enough, loving enough, and gentle enough to help them through anything they are facing or dealing with. This opens their hearts to a more sincere form of worship, and those that respond usually leave encouraged by God, having a more positive outlook on their situation, and since they've had an encounter with the Almighty, they leaved changed.
After all, isn't this our mission as worship leaders? Aren't we supposed to help people into sincere worship? Aren't we supposed to help them into the Holy of Holies? Aren't we supposed to help the Pastor make sure that people leave changed?
This is one way to do this!
Sometimes it takes a quiet moment to hear God's voice and directions. We prepare and pray for His guidance in the upcoming services, and sometimes He gives us just enough to get to 'that' moment. It can be anywhere in the worship service, and you know it when you get there. What do you do?
Some worship leaders know exactly what to do. Others don't. I knew what to do from the experiences I received by watching my parents and other ministers and worship leaders. Not everyone grows up in the environment I did, and therefore doesn't have the same experiences to draw from that I do. None the less, it was still terrifying to actually do it.
God will sometimes drop something in your spirit or in your heart, and you can't help but share it. It's usually something that uplifts or edifies the church. Pentecostal brothers and sisters will know what I'm talking about...Sometimes God uses speaking in tongues for this something, and other times He impresses us like He does ministers when they are preparing their sermons. The method is not important. What is important is that when this happens, you trust God and do or say what He wants you to.
Their are other times that speaking to the congregation will encourage worship or help set the attitude and help focus the people in their worship. Sometimes a simple prayer or an exhortation can be enough. Then there are times where you may quote scripture and briefly interpret it for them. There are many things that can be done in those moments. You just have to do it.
Don't be afraid. You're already singing in front of the congregation, why not go ahead talk to them. You talk to them before and after services anyway. Sometimes we get nervous about the little things we do, when we need to just focus on God.
These moments of spoken word will have positive results in the long run. It may take you a couple times to get the feel for it, or to recognize what God is asking you to do; but...It keeps the focus of the people where it belongs.....On worshiping God. You never know what condition someone may be in, or what they are going through. Your words may remind them that He is sufficient for all needs in their lives; that He is mighty enough, loving enough, and gentle enough to help them through anything they are facing or dealing with. This opens their hearts to a more sincere form of worship, and those that respond usually leave encouraged by God, having a more positive outlook on their situation, and since they've had an encounter with the Almighty, they leaved changed.
After all, isn't this our mission as worship leaders? Aren't we supposed to help people into sincere worship? Aren't we supposed to help them into the Holy of Holies? Aren't we supposed to help the Pastor make sure that people leave changed?
This is one way to do this!
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