[This is an excerpt from my newsletter. I received such positive feedback, I decided to include it in this post. If you’re not signed up, you can do so here. No spam, I promise :)]
Sunday morning.
It’s that time of the week where you wake up a little stressed because of the responsibility that lies before you – getting a sound check, preparing your band, getting details in order, and praying to God that annoying buzz is not in the sound system.
But for a second, I want you to stop thinking about that.
Imagine that leading worship isn’t just a responsibility. It’s not just work. It’s something simpler, more beautiful.
What is it?
You are gathering with your friends to encounter Jesus. When that fundamental truth overwhelms your senses, all the little annoying details fall into place – they serve to strengthen the gathering of God’s people.
And you get to serve them.
The Privilege of Leading Worship
You get…to worship Jesus.
You get…to lead people to Jesus.
You get…to pastor your team members.
You get…to glorify God with music.
You get…to make disciples
You get…to set the table for a grand feast of God’s presence.
You get…to direct people back to their primary reason for living.
Wow. Take a deep breath. Fix your heart on that.
And this Sunday, go and lead with total confidence that God has appointed your for this time.
You get to lead.
Question: How do you remind yourself that worship leading is a privilege? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
David, first, great word. Thank you for reminding me.
I recently heard Paul Baloche say “sometimes before you lead, you need to take a minute and just look over your congregation and get them in your heart.”
The same can be true for our bandmates on stage as well as the congregation. One way I fight cynicism is simply to wake up early enough on Sunday to get in the Word and pray for my team and congregation.
Love that quote, Chris. Praying consistently for your congregation will take your worship leading to whole new levels.
What we have to do, want to do, need to do is massively different from what we get to do by/with/for/because of Him. Haven’t been in for awhile, but the title caught my attention tonight, Is leading a pain or a privilege? I say “both” 🙂 We don’t get out of our personal responsibility in any relationship or empowerment, no matter what we are up against. Not helpful to blame others or excuse ourselves or distort reality. Love lives, faith does, hope sees, and fear hides in disguise. Death cannot give life and destruction does not build. His life in us belongs to Him, and will thrive for His sake. Our hearts belonged to Him before they were ours, and they still belong to Him even when they are bent and broken, He steals them back, and binds them together and overwrites them patiently and persistently. he tests us each in the way He knows is best. Over and over He handles the brokenness within and around that His children were never designed for. He gives them back to the world as His own, for they love like Him, they truly love Him, and they are truly loved by Him.
Welcome back, Rhonda! Great thoughts.
Thanks David.
It is such a privilege to serve as song leader or music team member. One of the things we constantly pray for is that we would enjoy the opportunity, and that others would SEE that joy. I believe genuine, passionate praise and worship is infectious, and I pray that the Spirit of God would empower others to be passionate too.
Bren, I just shared this with my team last week. If the congregation isn’t SEEING your passion for God, something is wrong. Any tips for how to teach that?
“You are gathering with your friends to encounter Jesus.”
Thanks, David. I LOVE that – so simple, so beautiful. Keeping that at the core of all we do is so helpful. ..and there’s the joy!
Thanks Penne!
“You get to direct people back to their primary reason for living.”. We were MADE to worship, and we get to lead people back to this reason to live at all. Such a privilege indeed.
Amen!
Wow Thank You David for that Word! You are so right, its’s a privilege for me to GET to lead worship! 🙂
Thanks again!
Thank you Puchi!
Thanks for reminding that leading worship is a privilege not a responsibility, job,or duty. It is indeed a privilege to lead God’s peopl to focus on the primary reason for our existence. Great! God bless
Thanks Annie. Keep leading!
Wow thank you for sharing this to us… I’ve been reading your post and it totally rocks my life about worship. I love being in the worship ministry, I have ups and down but the good thing is that there are people like you so passionate in helping and encouraging worship leaders to pursue God. Thanks for encouraging us….
My pleasure, jan! Thank you for listening and commenting. Means so much!