HOW DOES ONE LEAD WORSHIP?

On the other hand, the worship leader must not go beyond the pastor's vision for worship. Conflicts result when musicians are exposed to the kinds of biblical truths we have explored in this study but the pastor is not. When this is the case, the worship leader must be very careful. Usually the flow of theological instruction goes from pastor to staff member, and not the other way. Hopefully, two spiritual leaders can sit down and discuss Scripture and arrive at a mutual plan. The three questions posed in chapter one (Will I worship to please myself? others? or God?) will simplify the process. The heart of a true worshiper is a patient heart submitting to the pastor's vision. God is never pleased if His truth is used to divide a church or to cause turmoil. The worship leader must never allow a "worship party" to form. God is not in political processes. A "party spirit" is something God hates.

How can a worship leader proceed if his pastor does not share his vision for worship? First, he must realize that worship is not his property. It is God's. Second, he must realize no one knows better than God how to work in the pastor's life. Remember that the true-hearted worship leader never touches the Lord's anointed. Next, the worship leader must pray as he has never prayed before. It may be the Lord is doing something in his life that cannot happen in his current location. We must remember that God is not as wrapped up in our present situations as we tend to be He loves us more than He does our ministries. If he has birthed a ministry in our hearts, He will find a place for us to fulfill it. If He has called us to be a worship leader, He will find us a place where we can lead worship.

Four Reasons for Saying Something While Leading Worship

1. Magnify

When we’re leading corporate worship, our first responsibility is to magnify the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. We’re saying with David, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Ps. 34:3)

When I use the word “magnify” I’m not referring to the way a microscope magnifies something very small, but to the way a telescope magnifies something very big that only looks small to us.

Music may move people’s emotions, but it won’t necessarily direct people to focus on the greatness of God in Christ. Our words can help them. People often come in to meetings distracted, thinking about everything but God, and viewing God as smaller than their problems. In addition, our minds are “prone to wander.” As we passionately proclaim his Word, his works, and his worthiness, God becomes bigger in our eyes.

2. Apply

The second reason to say something is that we want to help people see why the truths we’re singing should make a difference in their lives. That’s a part of the “teaching and admonishing” Paul speaks of in Col. 3:16. We want to connect the truths of God’s Word and the gospel to people’s situations. What lies are they believing about God? What temptations do they face? What common experiences do they share? It can be as simple as taking one line from the song you just sang and explaining why it should make a significant difference in your life and outlook.

Specific application is usually better than broad. It’s true that “Jesus paid it all.” But it’s usually more helpful to say something like,

“Some of us came in here this morning weighed down by our sins. It might be something we did yesterday, or ten years ago. But our condemnation is making us feel distant from God and unaware of his love. Listen again: “Jesus paid it all.” That means if you’ve trusted in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for your sins, we can say with David in Psalm 103 ‘as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.’ Your sins are no longer yours to bear! Jesus paid it all!”

Whenever we’re seeking to apply what we’re singing, we want to seek to make our comments pastoral and persuasive. In others words, we’re not just stating truth. We’re seeking to care for people’s souls. And we’re not simply speaking in a disinterested way. We want to persuade those we’re leading that what the truths we’re singing, when accompanied by faith, are powerful tools in God’s hands to renew our minds and hearts.

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