THE MINISTRY OF A WORSHIP LEADER

Psalm 100

The worship of God is every believer’s highest pleasure and responsibility. The components of worship, however, are easily and often misplaced. It is a mistake to think that worship rests upon the style of music, lighting, drama, or the use of hymns or choruses. The chief instrument in the worship of God is the human voice.

There is a great misunderstanding in many churches as to the purpose of music in worship. Some churches advertise that their “life-changing” or “dynamic” worship will “enable you to enter the presence of God and change your life.

The problem with this kind of advertisement is that these kinds of promises reveal a significant error. Music is viewed as a means to facilitate an encounter with God; it will move us closer to God. In this schema, music becomes a means of mediation between God and man. But this idea is closer to ecstatic pagan practices than to Christian worship

Today there is a popular but mistaken notion that music and the worship experience are means by which we enter the presence of God and receive his saving benefits. There is simply no evidence whatsoever in Scripture that music mediates direct encounters or experiences with God. This is a common pagan notion and far from biblical truth. There are consequences to viewing music as an encounter with God. Every worship leader should be aware of this and take great care when it comes to worship.

Our assurance is threatened if we associate God’s presence with a particular experience or emotion, what happens when we no longer feel it? We search for churches whose praise team, band, or music produce in us the feelings we are chasing. But the reality of God in our lives depends on the mediation of Christ, not on subjective experiences.

We've often heard it said that the role of a worship leader is to "set the table" and "invite" God to join us as we assemble in His name. It's a wonderful picture of yielded saints, totally given to Him, cleansed, prepared, and confident that the Lord will "visit us in this place." The expression sounds and feels good. Unfortunately, it is not accurate or biblical. The truth is much more humbling and profound. The truth is that God is already at work before the service starts. It is He who invites us to join Him.

As a worship leader, some things set you apart from the congregation. You have a unique call in your life. Not everyone is called to lead worship. Those who are called to this kind of service may be especially talented or gifted musically. But gifts, ability, personality, and experience together do not constitute a unique call. The call is, knowing in your heart that God is already at work and that He has called you to lead the people into His presence with music and singing that exalts and glorifies Him.

For those with a heart for God, for those who have said yes to His call, serving as a leader in worship is a humbling yet thrilling experience, knowing that you are being used by God to enable worship among His people. In ancient Israel, the musicians, and the worship leaders, ministered primarily in the temple where God was. The people were without the benefit of experiencing that opportunity for worship. But at the cross, the temple veil was rent, and God, through Jesus Christ, invited all who would come, to come. And we, the worship leaders, as the Holy Spirit moves in us, are allowed to prepare the way.

Music is created by people, yet it also seems to flow from the hand of God in all of creation. Praying is not music, but music can become a prayer. Preaching and teaching are not music, yet music can preach and teach in ways that are hard to explain. Music is not only heard; it is also felt, sometimes with a quiet warming and sometimes with "walls of Jericho" power.

Many sounds resonate. But music is made up of sounds that resonate in ways that affect us, even transform us, forever. And music, as we perform it, is seen. Our joy, our sense of thankfulness, our tears, our prayers, our praise, our posture, and our ministry of presence are seen by the people of God and seekers in our midst. Our hearts are visible in our expressions as we worship. Music is shared, especially when inspired hymns and choruses are sung. God is exalted, and we are transfixed by His glory, humbled by His grace, surrounded by and enveloped in the sound of praise.

Scripture is full of exhortations to God’s people to sing and make music to the Lord. God has been gracious to give us this means to worship Him. But it is important to understand that music in our worship is for two specific purposes: to honor God and to edify our fellow believers.

How wonderful it is when music in our services is not done as a performance to highlight the talent of the musician but as a message about the glory of our God. We need to be careful that music, the lyrics, and the musicians have as their goal to praise God. In so doing, those who hear the music are made ready to receive the Word that will be preached. Music and preaching are not in competition in worship; they are complementary to each other and allow for Christ-honoring worship.

As a worship leader, you have a unique perspective. You don't have to seek to believe that God is at work; you can see God at work as people respond to His presence. The congregation is looking forward. We are looking at the congregation. As a worship leader, you actually see people under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We observe others feigning indifference or perhaps weeping. We see people laboring in earnest prayer and those shouting for joy. We see some people fidgeting and other people listening with great intensity. You are called; you have been given a part of God's mind and heart to see into the minds and hearts of those you lead and to intercede for them before the throne of grace. What a privilege and a responsibility.

As a worship leader, you are uniquely positioned to support your pastor. In Exodus 17, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses stood on the top of the hill with the staff of God in his hands. As long as Moses was able to hold up his hands, the Israelites were winning. When he tired and lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win. Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses and steadied his hands. God's people prevailed. In the same way, a worship leader is called to come alongside the pastor, to support and encourage him as he ministers the gospel and tends the flock.

You are engaged in ministry, acting in obedience to His call. If no one heard, if no one responded, you still would know that God was present because He is faithful to inhabit the praise of His people.

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power… Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalms 150:1, 6)