Do you think of worship leading as more than what happens in church? I see it as more a way of life than a vocation or leading people in song.
Worship leaders lead with their lives.
The song we sing every day makes the gathering more meaningful. Private fuel gives rise to corporate fires. And that is everyone’s responsibility. The gathered church can’t rely on the worship leader, and the worship leader can’t rely on the church. We have a responsibility to:
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come into his courts” (Psalm 96:8).
It never says to ascribe glory when you feel like it. Or to ascribe glory when it’s convenient. We’re not called to worship when the band is good. We all have a responsibility.
Develop Trust
But that doesn’t mean we worship leaders shouldn’t work hard on developing trust with our congregations. The more trustworthy we are, the more people will follow.
Worship leading is all about trust. Think about it. Worship is one of the most vulnerable acts in the universe. Essentially, this is what you’re saying:
• “God, I give my life to you.”
• “Jesus, I surrender all.”
• “Spirit, have your way in me.”
• “Father, you are the Lord of my life.”
Those are very vulnerable things to say. Worship cuts right to the heart. If the people you are leading don’t trust you … it doesn’t matter how talented you are. It doesn’t matter how amazing your band is. It doesn’t matter how strong your setlist is.
They’re not going to follow. And worship is: “Follow me as I worship Jesus with all I am.”
So how do we build that trust? How do we lead in such a way that people feel comfortable to do something so uncomfortable? How do we help others be vulnerable? How do we as leaders give the room permission to pursue Jesus with abandon?
Seven Traits of a Trustworthy Worship Leader
Here are a few things you can do on a weekly basis:
1. Become a People Specialist—Sure, worship leaders love Jesus. But there’s a pastoral side to that love—we want others to experience the greatness of Jesus as well. Trustworthy worship leaders lead with compassion. It’s evident in how they lead. There’s a brokenhearted compassion. There’s a deep desire to connect people to God. The best worship leaders I know are moved by people’s trials. They know what’s going on in their church. They pray for people.
2. Spend Time With Jesus—This is the first thing the enemy wants to distract you from. If he can keep you off your knees and out of your Bible, he’s won. Time with Jesus may feel like a waste some days. But it’s the most productive task. Oswald Chambers said, “Prayer doesn’t fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.” Effective platform leaders lead with integrity where it matters—behind closed doors.
3. Get Outside—I was always challenged by John Piper’s reflections on his college Professor, Clyde Kilby. Here was one of Clyde’s resolutions: “At least once every day I shall look steadily up at the sky and remember that I, a consciousness with a conscience, am on a planet traveling in space with wonderfully mysterious things above and about me.” A trustworthy leader maintains fascination. They cultivate a massive imagination.
4. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously—There’s a difference between knowing your calling and being impressed with yourself. If you’re overly impressed with yourself, you’ll lead in order to prove to others how good you are. You’ll crave compliments. Worship leading becomes about chasing your identity in your performance rather than the God you worship. Trust me … take God seriously and chill out about yourself. You’ll lead better.
5. Do the Work—Trustworthy worship leaders don’t just show up and wing it. They’ve done their homework. They’ve studied. They prepared their setlist. They’ve rehearsed what they’re going to say. They’ve considered the first-time guest. They’ve thought through transitions. This isn’t a lack of “flowing with the Spirit”. This is I Timothy 2:15: “showing yourself approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed.”
6. Know the Scriptures—I remember when I first heard Aaron Keyes lead worship. He inspired me to read my Bible. His exhortations in between songs were drenched in Scripture. Scripture will keep you from being just a feel-good, trendy, song-based leader. Instead, be a Scripture drenched leader who happens to sing some songs.
7. Exude Confidence—There’s a difference between arrogance and confidence. Arrogance says, “Look how amazing I am!” Confidence says, “I trust the Holy Spirit is going to move.” Confidence is competency on your instrument. Confidence is knowing your craft. Confidence helps you spotlight Jesus rather than drawing attention to what you can (or can’t) do.
What does this look like for you?
What are the qualities of worship leaders you admire? Why are they easy to follow?
