When it comes to leading worship or a team of people..everyone will have their own opinion of how they think it should be done, where everyone should be, what each person should be doing and so on..
I was recently in a meeting with some others from our worship team and I listened to what each one had to say about how things should or shouldn’t go. Mainly it was suggestions.
I then chatted to a friend of mine after who gave me their thoughts, which got me thinking…
Questions that People Might Have When it comes to Times of Praise and Worship.
Who should play?
Who should Sing?
Should we have a worship leader?
What songs should be selected?
Who should be on the worship team?
How often should we practise together?
How long should we sing a song for?
Should we use electric guitars?
Should we play in circle facing each other?
Should use smoke and lights?
the list goes on and on and on….
Let me start by saying that these 5 tips are not meant to be set in stone, they are not meant to be the only 5 tips in the entire universe. They are mearly things that I have seen help.
Also Realize that amongst all the hundreds of questions you might have, frustrations and pet peeves.. God seriously is not picky.. The bible says, “Even the stones would cry out ” if people witheld their praise.
God would accept the praise of Stones. Keep that in mind.
5 Tips for Leading Worship
1. Give people Opportunity and Listen
2. Don’t Hold Tight
3. Don’t Try to Box God In.
4. Be Honest with one another
5. Give it a Go
If you are given the job of leading a worship team, that doesnt mean you rule the roost and everyone elses opinion doesn’t mean squat.
1. Giving People Opportunity.. Some times people are so scared of having everything get messed up we miss what God can do. There are lots of Young People who faithfully play away in their home, on their guitar, keyboard, bass or drums who would love the opportunity to play and be part of a worship team.
Just because they might not sing or play as well as your current guys or gals on your team. Dont miss out on not giving others opportunity to use the gifting God has given them. If you bear in mind we play for God not for people.. then it won’t matter if the person messes up on the instrument they are playing or it won’t matter if they don’t hit that note when singing.
Now I understand you may not wish to put any old Joe alongside you who cant sing a note, but you can give them the chance, by inviting them out to worship practises where they can let loose in a safe enviroment ( lol.. I cant believe im calling it safe, like if that is safe.. I wonder what a sunday morning is ? lol )
Be sure to listen to Young and Old opinions and consider what they have to say even if you feel you have been around long enough to know more..
2. Dont Hold Tight - Man Ive met a ton of people who hold on to their position of singing, playing guitar, preaching whatever.. NOPE NOPE NOPE I wont let anyone else have it.. I wont let anyone else do it..( doesnt that sound harsh?, but for some of us we’ve said that inwardly )
The Gifting and Opportunites God Gives us are not to be hogged. Remember at one time when you wanted opportunity you were sure glad when you was given it.. Think about others who may be thinking that too.
3. Dont Try to Box God In… Crikey.. the amount of times I have done this myself I probably cannot count them.. Imagine the ways that we try to get God to fit into our little idea of Church.. You know how it goes
” Ok there is going to be 30 mins of praise, announcements, 30 mins of worship then, Tithinng and followed by 1hr of the word and ending with 30 mins of ministry lol..”
Now some of you will go.. nah nah.. that isnt like our church….. we dont do that.. OH you dont??? come on now!!! lol.. be honest.. Or maybe it’s like this
” Ok we are going to sing this song, we are going to sing the verse 2 times, then chorus 1 time, then bridge 1 time and end on a triumphant note and then we will start singing in tongues “..
aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh… its enough to make God go on Holiday…
Let’s plan things out but let’s not get so rigid and stiff in how things should be done, and how they have always been done that we don’t allow God to do something new amongst us. Ease up in areas, let loose in others, Give freedom and time for God to move amongst the people in between songs before you rush into another one or before you open your mouth and rattle on about something that you think people in the congregation really want to hear…. LOL it breaks things up.. do something new, lay back sometimes and do nothing and just see what God wants to do.. im dead serious…
4. Be Honest with one another.. – so many times we tip toe around and we attend functions, meetings whatever.. and listen to people rattle on about this that and the other and we disagree but we hold back.. Seriously.. if we are family.. do you think a brother holds back saying what he wants to say to his sister? or a Mother to a father? Lay it out on the table.. if you get offended by what someone says.. maybe that is an area in your life that needs looking at … before you get all grumpy.. Building relationships is awesome but man can it hurt…
5. Give it to Go - Look.. sometimes we don’t know what is best, we don’t know if we should put this person or that person in front of a mic, a keyboard, a guitar, we don’t know if that song is going to go over well.. or whatever.. maybe we have hesitations, concerns about it all.
I have found that your not going to know unless you give it a go. When it comes down to it.. we are just people, flesh and bone.. we make mistakes and everything doesn’t have to be perfect. If it did.. God would have waited intill we were perfect before he came to save us? Probably then he would have still came to save us from being so perfectly annoying lol.
Give things a go, Allow someone room to grow, Give time to see what God wants to do amongst people. as you step out an lead, interacte with those in your worship team.. get to know them and where they have come from and what they can bring to the table. Ask questions!
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