Practice - Effective Time Management

Every successful worship team has to practice.  We have to find what works within our own dynamics of the teams we have.  We have to strive for excellence so that we take everything seriously.  Practicing helps us learn the music, the words, and the dynamic attributes of the songs we do.  But...Practice can either be really great, or it can be a jam session.

When we practice, we take the song by parts.  We start with the intro, then move on to verse 1, the chorus, and so forth.  We work out each section and make sure everyone has it, or is close to having it.  We will review each section several times before we move on.  This does annoy some people though.  I had a lady on my team tell me that she learns better by playing through the entire song, even if she was playing it wrong, then making changes once the song had been played through in its entirety.  Once those changes were made, she said to play the whole song again, then make changes, and continue until we were happy with the song.  This is a waste of valuable time.  When you take it in sections, you can tweak it more and have a higher chance of everyone remembering what to do than having them play the song wrongly ten times and correctly three times once everything is worked out.  Once you each section like you want it, play through it several times to solidify it in your teams mind.  Then work on the transition and the next section.  You'll find that this method works better for those teams that want to sound really good, and really want to please God with their worship.

You don't want to waste your teams time.  They volunteered to be here, but they have their own lives that they need to give attention to.  Make sure to keep them between an hour and an hour and fifteen minutes.  Shoot to accomplish everything in that time frame.  Plan your practice so that you have certain goals, and make them realistic.

Also, there are other ministries that your team may be apart of.  In my church, the two other vocalists are ladies and are heavily involved with the ladies ministries, Sunday School, and Children's Church.  I always try to accommodate these other ministries and work with them.  On Sunday's where the Ladies are having a meeting, or when the Children are having a big event that weekend, I don't have practice.  Yes this "holds us back" in terms of the number of songs we can learn.  But in the big picture, the entire church has a healthier membership due to the "breaks" they get from one ministry and the change of scenery by helping with other ministries as well.  We do good though.  We just make our time count.  We don't jam during practice, we practice.  My team provides me with valuable feedback, and they are glad to be there.

Respect the time of your team members, and make your time with them count!

What's Hot....and What's Not!

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?

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!

God Speaks

There is a plumbing problem in your house.  The drain pipes are stopped up and no amount of liquid fire or Liquid Plumber can unclog it.  Your washing machine drains the water into the pipes, but it back flows to the master bathroom tub.
You crawl under the house to get to all the pipes.  You've got mud around you, there are worms crawling in the dirt beside you, and there is an awful stench.
Then it happens...God Speaks.

Sometimes life keeps you busy enough that your focus isn't on God.  While I was under my house trying to fix the problem of my drain, God stirred my mind back to being thankful.  My outlook changed a bit.  Instead of frustration, anger, being ready to either pay someone or sale the house; I took a more calm approach...mostly.  I remembered my tarp, and laid it down to stay out of the mud.  I remembered my knee pads in the car and was able to have a little cushion for my sore joints.  I became grateful that human waste was not the area I was working on and my outlook on the repair changed.  In fact, some would say I "over fixed" the problem.

On the way to the hardware store, God gave me some lyrics to a song I've been working on. A simple chorus, with maybe three main parts...a verse, chorus, and maybe a bridge,  It's nothing fancy, and it may never be sung by any other worship team.  But...It's inspired by God, and it's already blessed me.

God doesn't give us something for us to do nothing with it!  He expects us to use the gift to further His kingdom.  The Holy Spirit is here to lead and guide us, for the purpose of furthering the Kingdom.  After all, if we're not furthering the Kingdom of God, what are we doing?

When He speaks, listen to Him.  Trust me, He knows best.  In all things, praise Him for His goodness and mercies.  However, even the Holy Scripture says in 1 Samuel 15:22 that obedience is better than any sacrifice you may present.  Just...Obey what He says, when He says to do it.  Sometimes, His words to us are encouragement, confirmation, correction, and inspiration.  We need to be able to use what He gives us in each situation; whether it's for your own personal growth or for the edification of the church body.  Trust me, that will become obvious if it isn't right away.

Just..........Be a willing servant, always listening for the voice of God!

God speaks to us in His own way, and in His own timing.  We just have to be ready to receive.

Surely, the Spirit of The Lord is here; and I didn't know it! (Gen 28)

We have busy lives.  Everything is society is so...complicated, busy, and social.  If we're not reading about a social issue, then we're seeing it on television.  And if it's not in either of those two places, then we see it on social media.  Our busy-ness comes from trying to keep up with what's going on and trying to keep our lives somewhat meaningful.

There is an account of a similar situation in scripture.  You can read the backstory, and  conditions of this mans life, but I will surmise the area of scripture that I want us to focus on...
In Genesis 28, we see the account of Jacob and him dreaming about a ladder that went from the spot he was in, into the heavens.  He tells of angels going up and down.  He wakes from his sleep and makes several statements.  The most noticeable is that the spirit of God is there and he didn't know it, and surely, this is the house of God.

What does that mean?  Jacob was so focused on his situation, his task, and on his night's sleep that he didn't notice the presence of God.

When you come in to church, dont be so lost in getting music ready, on practicing, on setting up Sunday School that you miss the presence of God!  Dont let your service plan and outline be so routine that you miss Gods presence in ypur midst.  God had a calling for Jacob and the vision He gave to Jacob showed some things to him.  

This vision had three aspects that we can learn from.

First of all, God revealed this ladder for a purpose.  Jacob received what God was showing him and responded with an acknowledgement of God's presence. When God communicates with us verbally, in a dream or vision, or by tugging on our hearts; He is doing it for a purpose.  Don't hesitate to declare that God is right there with you!

Secondly, Jacob not only accepted that God was there with him; but he accepted that God was there with him!  What????  Jacob accepted the presence of God.  Then he accepted that God showed him this dream because He was going to use Jacob and even gave him a promise of things to come.  Don't just accept the presence of The Most High....accept what He is trying to show you and tell you as well.  If you only accept His presence, then you will miss out on what He has in store for you!

Thirdly, Jacob was alone, he was on an errand of life changing proportions. His father sent him to find a wife.  He didn't take a host with him, he traveled alone and never got around to putting up a tent.  He gathered a large stone for a pillow and laid under the stars for his time of rest.  In all actuality, it could be said that he may have had very few things with him since he used a stone as a pillow.  So...picture this...a man with little, trying to obey his father, and all alone was approached by God in a dream.  When you feel as though you have nothing; when you're trying to do what is right; when you're all alone, or feel alone...Get ready, God could show up quickly and reveal Himself to you, and give you a promise of things to come.

What we need to take away is this...God is with us and he has a promise for us.  His will is for us to succeed and for us to be blessed!  Also, our worship needs to reflect our acceptance of Gods presence and his will for our lives.  

When you worship, pour out your heart like Jacob did.

Don't waste your time

We've all seen Hillsong, Bethel, and Covenant Worship on television.  We've seen the uniqueness of their styles, their musicians, and their vocals.  They are some very talented, and anointed worship teams.  They have an infinite amount  of resources and talent to draw from.  Your team (unless you're David Binion, Kari Jobe, or Rueben Morgan) is not one of these.

Most churches have a core group of musicians and singers.  Usually, you'll have a pianist, a bassist, a single guitarist, and a drummer.  You may have from two, up to four vocalists.  That is your group.  Those are the ones that you work with week in and week out. 

So how do we continue to develop new music and new sounds?  How do we make the songs we use by the larger churches sound like the larger churches?

Don't waste your time.  Your team will not sound like Hillsong, Bethel, or Covenant.  

There are several things to keep in mind when walking the path of a worship leader.  

First, your team is not made up of experts or professionals.  You will have members that may be beginners, or very talented and experienced.  Be willing to help them grow.  You not only need to focus on the abilities of your team, but also on the spiritual growth as well.  

Second, your team is as unique as an individual.  Your team has strengths and weaknesses.   Learn ways to improvise and change things up.  Get your team members out of their comfort zones.  Give a bass solo to your bassist.  You could change the order of the songs.  For example, play through the chorus as your intro, then start on verse 1.  Or, if there is only one verse, have one of your soloists sing it the first time through, and another vocalist of the opposite sex sing it the second time through.  Start by singing the bridge then go into the verse.  There are all kinds of possibilities that can be explored by you and your team.

Third, the songs you select don't have sound like the original artists.  Make them your own.  Change the tempo, the lead in, add your own "flavor" to the music.  Change the primary instrument or lead instrument to something else.  For example, the song "I Look To The King," by Meredith Andrews and Matt Maher uses the piano as the primary instrument.  You could start out with a single acoustic guitar and a keyboard with some subtle synth sounds.  If you don't have a keyboard, maybe a soft organ in the background.  Think outside of the box in your sounds and arrangements.

Music is fluid, worship is sincere, and the only thing that matters is that what and how your team plays so that the presence of the Most High God falls into the sanctuary or wherever you may be.  Think ahead and plan for what will help usher in the spirit of worship.

The point is this though...
Don't waste your time trying to be a worship team that you're not.  You have your own signature sound.  Cultivate it and focus your time there.  God has given your team an ID.   Be the team that He wants you to be.