This post is dedicated to all Christians who participate in the music ministry (or the worship ministry), but most of all to the worship leader, or the "song leader" as some churches call it.
1. Realise why you do what you do.
So you participate in the music ministry - you select a few songs, lead the worship, or perhaps you play an instrument in church. It is vital that you pause and ask yourself - "why do we have worship? why does our church sing songs? What are we trying to achieve?".
It is simply not good enough to say, "we sing worship songs because we have always sang worship songs". It is also not good enough to say, "I am leading worship because I am good at singing." It is definitely not good enough to say: "we sing worship songs because Pastor wants us to", or "we sing worship songs because all the other churches sing worship songs".
Now, I am not an expert in this topic, but I think we need to look no further than the Bible:
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvellous things
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
- Psalm 98:1
There are many other psalms that extol people to worship God through singing and making music (see Ps 66, 81, 89, 92, 95, 96, 100, 101, 105... and so on.) In all of them, the Psalmist calls us to sing and make music to God, as a response to what he has done for us, and to his greatness. (For the Christian today, worship therefore is a response to the gospel.) The psalmist used music for individual worship, and the nation of Israel used music for corporate worship. From time immemorial, people have been making music as an outpouring of love in response to God's outpouring of love over us. And if that isn't the reason you're singing, then you're doing it wrong.
2. Realise that the music doesn't matter. The worship matters.
Once, I took part in an Easter Friday prayer service, where the pastor simply played a music CD on speakers, and the congregation sang along to the CD. And yet, as the pastor lead us in prayer and in song, tears were flowing, confessions made, hands were raised in submission, and God was glorified. There were no singers, no band, just a CD on replay.
Worship is an act of adoration, an act of submission, in response to God's love. You can't make worship the way you make music, worship is something that just happens when people come to God with the right attitude. Your job as a worship leader is not just to make music, but to lead the people in worship. (Also, you can't make people worship by singing a great song, or by having the PA guy turn the volume higher. You lead people to worship. This means if you are not worshipping, people won't follow.)
There is no point in having a full symphony orchestra in your band, if you don't have the heart of worship. There is no point in making the singers harmonise their vocals, if that means their mind is too focussed on getting the harmony right to really set their eyes upon God.
3. Realise that your preparation shows.
There is a Chinese proverb that says: "ten years of training for three minutes on stage". In other words, you must put the hard work in to preparing, even if you will only be on stage for a few minutes.
My husband says that the stage is somewhere that really exposes who you are in Christ. And if you are not prepared, it will also show.
I am not talking about technical preparedness (such as practising the songs, preparing the chords, but that is important too), but spiritual preparedness. In order to lead God's people to worship, you must know how to worship, not just on stage but also in every day life. You can't lead people to relate with God if you yourself don't have a relationship with God. You simply can not lead people where you have not been yourself. If you don't worship God in private, no amount of musical practice will cover that up. It shows.
4. Realise that it is not about you. It's all about Jesus.
Your job as a worship leader is to lead people in adoration of God, in response to the Gospel. The psalmist says "Sing to the Lord because he is great", not "sing to the Lord because he gave you a really nice voice". Perhaps, inevitably in worship, people may notice that you have a nice voice, or that you're gifted on the piano. But if that is all that they notice, then worship didn't happen. True worship is when people hear the music, and get swept up in the great love story that is Jesus. It is not about you, or your instruments, or how well you harmonise. It is all about Jesus.
5. Realise that it is possible for God to reject your worship
In Amos 5:23, God says to the Israelites: "Spare me the sound of your songs. I won't listen to the music of your harps.".
The subject of unacceptable worship is a huge one, and I can't do it justice here. But realise that it is possible for God not to accept your worship, God is not obligated to be pleased. If you sing worship songs but the object of your focus is not God (for example, if your focus is on your voice, the music, or your image), then that is idolatry and God is not pleased.
Conclusion: worship done right
I remember many times in the past, when I have had a particularly tough week, I manage to hold it all together until the worship starts. When the music starts, and I am reminded of how great God is, His love sweep over me and the tears flow. It feels like a burden taken off your shoulders, as if God Himself is saying: "welcome home. Leave your burdens behind, and come sit at my feet."
Worship does that. It reminds us of our place in His salvation, turns our hearts towards the cross, and leads us to His courts.
This responsibility and ministry of worship was given to Aaron and his sons, taken up by King David and the psalmists, and now given to you. In the end, it is all about Jesus.
