When it comes to preparing for Sunday’s worship, we have the usual routines.
We pick our songs, we arrange the music, we schedule the band, we rehearse. But what if I told you there was more to your preparation than that?
What if I told you there were ways to leverage your influence on a deeper level each weekend?
I know, we’re all busy. But no one wants to get stuck in dead routines that have no meaning. This post is all about breathing life into those rhythms we keep every week.
A couple weeks ago, I didn’t lead worship. Rather, I had the privilege of watching some of our young volunteer worship leaders lead our campuses in worship.
In that moment, I realized that what was happening was bigger than me. I wasn’t front and center. I wasn’t leading worship. But I was training and releasing others to do so. That’s an exciting moment – when you realize your not just building a career or name for yourself – you’re building people.
That’s what these routines are for – to assist us in building the Kingdom of God in our local churches.
5 Often Neglected Routines for Worship Leaders
I like to call this my Weekend Preparation Checklist. There are other things I do, but this serves as a reminder for me to keep my eyes on what is most important.
Let’s seek first the Kingdom together.
1. Pray for God to Move – Something that is missing in our services is anticipation – expecting God to move. We’ve become content with songs, sermons, and religious routines. Our hearts have become bored and we’ve occupied that boredom with something less than face to face encounters with Jesus.
Is it possible that our standards of professionalism (a good thing) are a distraction from what matters most? Let’s reclaim the anticipation that anything is possible in the presence of God. What if you showed up on the edge of your seat, in wide eyed wonder, waiting to see Jesus? What if your entire church did? How would that change corporate worship?
2. Pray for the Church – Are your song choices an outflow of prayers for your congregation? Because you shouldn’t be choosing songs in a vacuum. You shouldn’t simply look to what’s hot in worship music. Be in touch with your people’s needs. Listen to their stories. Ask God to reveal what needs to be said and sung and shouted from the rooftops on Sunday morning.
Make this a routine. Pray: “God, give me a heart for your people not just my songs. Open blinded eyes to see the glories of Christ. Bring another lost soul from darkness into light this weekend.” Pray these prayers and watch how your worship leading changes.
3. Disciple Someone – It’s time for you to stop just getting stuff done. Resist the urge to just do your job. Every Sunday, every service, every rehearsal is an opportunity to disciple someone – to invest what you know into another. This has made all the difference for me in approaching weekend ministry.
It’s never just about being used by God. It’s about seeing others be used by God. It’s not about doing ministry but equipping others to do ministry. It’s not about David leading worship but about raising up others to do what I do, hopefully better than I do it.
We all like to be needed. We want to be indispensable, missed when we’re gone, loved for what we do. But here’s the truth: you shouldn’t be indispensable to your church because no one else can do what you do. You should be indispensable because you equip lots of people to do what you do. That is where you’ll actually add the most value.
4. Become Familiar With His Presence – One of my greatest fears is to enter into worship and hear God say, “Depart from me…I never knew you.” I know, I know – super dramatic 🙂 But I don’t want Sunday’s songs to be my only connection to Heaven. I don’t want the Holy Spirit to say, “Who are you? Where have you been?”
Pray this: “Lord, help my encounters with You to become a habit – consistent, often, second nature.”
Our strongest worship leading will flow from consistent encounters with Jesus (Tweet that). To be a great leader, you don’t need to be the best or know all the facts. You need to be hungry. Hunger comes from a steady gaze on Jesus. It’s a paradox. The more you see, the more you’re satisfied in Him yet desperate for more.
5. Make A Connection – A while back I realized that weekends could come and go and I never talked to anyone. People knew me because of my visibility as a worship leader, but I was making zero personal connections off the stage. I knew this had to change. Without the personal connections with people, I’m just doing a job.
So I’ve made it a goal to make at least one new, personal connection each weekend. I don’t want to just hang out with the people I know – I want to connect a visitor to what God is doing. Maybe I’ll connect them to my worship ministry. Maybe I’ll connect them to another ministry. Maybe I’ll lead them to Christ. Maybe I’ll just be a listening ear and a smiling face.
Whatever the case, the integrity of my on-stage ministry is made effective by who I am off the stage. Don’t be a rockstar. Get over yourself and connect with people.
Well that’s enough from me.
Your turn. Would love your feedback on this post.
What are some of your weekly routines that help you stay focused as a worship leader? How do you keep your eyes on what’s most important?
You can leave a comment by clicking here. It’s always better that way.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Great post, David!
It’s too easy to get on the treadmill and forget the most important thing. The two things that keep me focused are my daily morning devotions and personal worship. Bible reading and spending time with God on the guitar or piano is the main way that I connect with God.
The other area that helps me stay focused is doing something outside music. I started leading the Alpha Class a few years ago and it helped me connect with new believers and see people grow in their walk with God. It’s a great way to stay grounded!
Love these ideas, Mark. Do you spend personal time with God on guitar/piano on a daily basis? I’m curious because I know I need to do that more often 🙂
I love your blog! This message was so timely. I have been feeling for a while that I need a big shift in my approach to worship leading. It is true that we as worship leaders are always looking for ways to improve, but the best worship leaders are not looking to only their interests and getting better, bust enhancing every other team member to be the best they can be. The more we realize that as we help others to achieve success, the entire body of Christ experiences the blessing. It is not about us and our gifting, it is about using our skills to release others to use theirs. Thanks David for the way you always hit the nerve that I am struggling with at just the right time. You are a blessing to the family of God.
Not bust enhancing….lol, but enhancing. I guess I should proof read first!
Haha!
Stacy, thanks so much for the kind words. What you said was so well put. Awesome!
I’m part of a church where there’s no worship leader, because there’s never been “worship culture” at all; I am the one who lead voices and music with my acoustic guitar, but everyone can freely partecipate to the cult giving what he or she wants to share. This means for example scripture readings, prayers, stories about what God did this week and obviously hymns and songs. This has pros and cons: when the one who give his contribute is really inspired by Holy Spirit everything shine, but oftenly people don’t have nothing to share, so we fall in religious schemes, like singing a song after another without any presence of God.
This was and is my school in worship: to lead people without being a worship leader as you mean this role. My part is to be faithful in my service and to give what I received from God to help the church to “come back home”, because the worship we all need is that, to realize again and again, day by day, that we are important for Him. No more sinners, but saints, because when we’re focused on our sins and failures we risk to forget our identity in Christ, our destination, our goal and the reward.
I have to admit that in my busy life I don’t have much time for preparation: I’d like to spend more time in this, but I’m learning to live as a worshipper wherever I am; to look His face when I work, during the pauses of my job and car movements. Every place is good for worship, even if I’d like most to do this with piano or guitar 🙂
So when I meet my brothers on Sunday all that I want is to see them realize the glory of God in their life. I am not the centre of worship, but I know for sure I can do the difference to help others worship; I don’t share with them the worship attitude I like, but the worship attitude they feel comfortable and need; I don’t want to make them feel the same as I feel when I worship God alone, I want we all together feel the presence of God in that amazing way that a only a united church can feel.
Thanks David for this blog, It really inspires me in my journey to see the glory of Jesus in our lives. Sorry for the mistakes, I’m italian 🙂
Thanks for the kind words, Shamgar! I appreciate your honesty. My prayer is that you’ll continue to help people realize the glory of God in their life. That’s such an awesome goal.
I love your blog! It is always just what I need. Thank you for your encouragement and your challenge to always keep Jesus first. That is my prayer.
Awesome. Thanks Grace!
Thank you so much for this. I especially connected to #2. Until recently, I was allowed to choose my songs for our Wednesday service. Of the 2 of 3 songs I was allowed to do during the worship service would be slower tempos. It was my hope these songs would get people ready for the word as well as encourage them. (We learned recently that many were dealing with Depression). It seemed the people were responding and engaged… However, the Music Director relayed to me (from someone in leadership) that we need more “upbeat” songs to give people energy because they are coming in from work. Since that time, I have felt less of a connection to what I was doing and to the people. I’ve found that I experience God’s presence more when I’m sense I am communicating His heart and not leadership’s preference.
Cherise, this is a tension we all experience. But here’s what I’ve learned: if you are going to serve in a local church, you have to submit to leadership. I believe God honors that, even if you think there is a better idea. If I can’t back up my leader’s vision, I probably shouldn’t be serving under them. It’s not fair to the leader and it’s not fair to my church. My suggestion would be to submit and apply their suggestions with all your heart. See what happens. In the future, when they see you submitting to leadership, they may just come to you and give you more freedom to take risks and do what’s in your heart to do. Does that make sense?
Thank you. And I have submitted… and with a smile mind you! Just knowing of some of the politics that is involved can become a struggle and distraction. Yet, I am clear that God is faithful and that always encourages me! Thank you.
Hi David,
Thank you so much for your news letters. They are a true blessing from God.
I have a question and I hope you can help.
I have been leading worship at a small church in Wilkes Barre, PA for a little over a year. The team consist of myself, Lead singer, 1 guitarist, my 19 year old daughter, a drummer, he’s 21 years old and 3 of my children sing on worship team, ages 14, 16 and 17. There are a few other singers but not many. We love answering the call to serve and worship and we do it all for the glory of God!
recently my 19 year old guitarist who is now a Licensed Practical Nurse, has been working second shift and has stated that she feels burned out and that she needed a break. My heart sank, but I know and understand how she feels and released her to her request of playing twice a month. Before I took on the task to lead worship, the prior leader used song tracks and I am planning to do the same.
I just wanted to know if you could recommend the best way to do this. It will be a change for our church but I am trusting God to provide and take care of the rest.
Forever His servant
Marci Davis
Hi Marci! So awesome to see your family serving in worship together. I can feel your pain. It’s so difficult when musicians move on and you don’t have many within your congregation. I’ve found that, through prayer, God always answers and sends people to fill a gap. Continue to pray! In the meantime, check out these cool tools. I haven’t personally used them, but I’ve heard they are fantastic for teams who don’t have a full band.
http://flyworship.com
http://worshipbandinhand.com