Greetings Worship Team Members!
.
Thank you guys so much for praying for Nick. NICK: We've got you covered in prayer, brother...Hope your interview goes great! Our time of worship was sweet last Sunday. But, hey, nothing new, right? We always have awesome times of worship. Thanks again to the team that went to Church! At Bethany this last week.
.
I've been thinking about things these last few weeks I have with you. I know that I've been able to, at times, hand down what limited knowledge and experience I have gained in the area of leading worship over the past year. And I would like to give you all a little more, if you don't mind. I have come to learn that there is a definite difference between leading a time of singing, and engaging people through Spirit-filled, Spirit-led worship leading. In one sense, you can pick up a guitar or a microphone, recite lyrics off of a piece of paper and hope that other people follow along. I felt this way quite a bit, to be honest, when I first was thrust into being the worship leader at a small church in Hayward, California. I was 21 years old and had only been really playing guitar for 2 years. Believe me, it was a struggle to barely get through the set of worship songs, let alone to be able to get a feel for where the congregation was at. In fact, there was probably some sense of disconnect between my logical mind and with my heart, soul and spirit. My logical mind was usually consumed with things like, "I am playing the right chord," or, "Does my voice sound good or lousy," or, "Gosh-dang! That stinkin' drummer better start getting it right." The logical mind can be a real hindrance to engaging people in true worship. These are things that were, in part, due to my immaturity in leading worship. But I think that they could have also been, in part, due to my everyday worship experience or lack thereof. Believe me, when you struggle to find intimacy with God during the week, you're going to struggle with bringing others into that intimacy with God on the weekend.
.
Engaging people through Spirit-filled, Spirit-led worship leading is more than an art. It's a lifestyle. A good question to ask yourself, whether or not your are the worship leader or a worship team member is this: Am I leading people to the feet of Jesus through my life-style on a day to day basis? People who I have met that are some of the most anointed worshippers, worship team members and worship leaders have been those who it is refreshing to be around. Their hearts beat in unison with God's heart. They are people who have a direct line to God- not that we all don't have that access through Jesus...but with these people it is very evident. This is what we should all be striving for. I believe that Galations 5:16 refers to this as, "Walking in the Spirit," or in another version, "Living by the Spirit."
.
Sunday mornings, or whenever else we are involved in a congregational worship setting should simply be an overflow of this lifestyle. On a practical level, singing the songs that are on a sheet in front of you from your heart, and not just from your memory, will help you in your worship of God as a worship leader on a Sunday morning. If you, as a worship leader (by the way, all of us on the worship team are worship leaders) are connected with God as you are singing, playing, etc., I believe that the next step is that of a priest. The job of priests in the Old Testament was to take God's hand, and take the hand of the people, and join them together. Being connected to God ourselves is the first step. Understanding where the congregation is at, and knowing how best to connect them to God through leading worship can be a bit more challenging. This is where the Holy Spirit must be counted on for guidance. I believe that an acuteness to the Spirit of God in worship leading is something that can be nurtured. If your spirit is aware of what is going on in the spiritual realm, it often enables you to get a good pulse of where others are at around you. Sounds pretty "spooky spiritual," I know. But this is true. I think that asking God for this sense of things would be a profitable in this...both on Sunday mornings as well as at all times. Here are some other practical things that help with this (not logically minded...practical): Try not to be overly tied to the music in front of you (becoming more familiar with the songs and chord progressions...this will help you to look and see what is going on...although this at times can trip you up as different people worship in different ways. Don't count on this...just be free enough to be aware of your surroundings). Also, don't be so overly concerned with your voice or instrument that worship becomes more of a performance. If God wanted that He would of created clowns to put on an act instead of angels and people that worship in Spirit and in truth before His throne. A lousy, off-key voice or instrument can definitely be a hindrance in leading a congregation in worship...even a lousy sound mix can be. But again, if you are more into what is going on spiritually, rather than physically, I find that this stuff tends to fall into place. It does also take some practice. Singing and playing are gifts given by God to be developed.
.
You know those Sundays where it seems as though you, the rest of the worship team and the congregation were so close to the Father during the worship time that you just don't want to leave that place...you want to hang on to that moment. That is what I'm talking about. These aren't formulas that I am giving you. Again, these are just things in my limited experience that I have been able to glean. Hope these things make sense. If not, sorry. I am also limited in my grasp of the English language in regards to spiritual things at times. I love you guys so much and it has been an honor these past years to be involved in the worship team ministry at Whipple Creek Church.
.
Catch up with you on Sunday.
.
Grace and peace,
Christian
