Band, Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Players, Worship Leading
Connecting the Church in Worship (as a Team)
#Connect2God (Video Below)
Are they just songs? Does it just “happen” when the church gets it and sings? It can be a challenge to engage the church in worship, but how are we doing it? It may not be that the church is not connecting, but it may mean that as a team we aren’t connecting.
Little do we realize, your worship team is the largest collective group on stage to help influence and inspire people to worship. As a band, we know our music, love our music and love to play and sing.
The question is: are we so into the music part, that we are forgetting the leading part?
How does your church engage in worship?
Over the past week, several worship leaders have asked the question above. They are struggling to find some magic key or nugget that will instantly change their church to worship at 100%.
The difficulty here is that 100% worship is more of what Heaven will be, not so much here on earth. However, this doesn’t mean we give up. It means allow God to help us dig deeper to better serve our churches. They way we live life off and on stage says to the Church and world, what we believe about God. As we lead our churches in worship with a transparent heart, the music becomes a by-product.
When we choose what is right in how to live by Christ, our actions speak louder than our songs. “I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.” Ps. 22.25 I believe this verse above is a great caption for worship leaders. So how do we better serve God in the presence of His people?
Are You Paying Attention to the Church?
During the worship time, do you check around the room to see who is singing? We use to dub this as “role call.” It’s normal to see the faces in the church of those who are singing. What’s not healthy, is when leaders get thrown-off or frustrated when they see people not singing. Our focus does not need to be on the scowls and frowns, but on the Lord Jesus Himself. Do you pray for those who look downcast during the worship?
How can God help you see Him through the people and lift them up? Keep this in mind, each of us have our own responsibility to God and to His worship. This goes for us as leaders as well. Our responsibility is to serve God while facilitating worship in the church. Let God have the frowns and glares – not you.
Are You Watching Your Team?
As we play/sing our music, focus of our eyes, faces and ears make a vast difference. If singers bury their heads in the music stands or lyric displays, they are not connecting with the church. Let’s face it, the church does not assemble together to hear the music. They come together as the Body to sing the music unto God. The most simplest way we can connect is through the lyrics and the melody.
Our job is to make the vocals stand-out front to make it easier for them to sing. Singers and band members alone need to keep their eyes, faces and ears up and out of the music. When faces are staring down at the stage, it does not encourage them to look upward in praise. To engage is to be open and free, to be open and free is to engage in worship. Confidence is another major issue.
If team members are not comfortable in what they are doing on stage, the church will not be either. Have you ever watched someone get nervous in public speaking? Did it draw you in or disengage? Same is true when we lead worship. Music equipment are barriers as well. Put the music stands and monitor mix stands to the side – not in-front of your bodies. It’s a visual hindrance to those you are leading.
Even microphones and stands can block the leading/following of worship – you know, when people hide behind the mike. [ctt template=”10″ link=”fuFW9″ via=”no” ]Singers and musicians need to develop the confidence they need so they can truly sing a new song unto the Lord.[/ctt] Removing all the above distractions will help you lead your church and it will help the church follow in worship.
Does Your Band See What Your Church Sees?
This is HUGE. More than you realize, but your church is watching the people in your team. Your band is a reflection of not only your worship leadership, but they also reflect what they believe about worship as well.
If you have team members arguing about microphones, grumbling of each other and unsettled because of who they are standing next to, clearly, they are reflecting that the worship of God is not as important.
Your church sees this too. Musically speaking, musicians and singers need to use good eye and ear contact. This is visually communicating among the team. For example, when the drummer and bassist are looking at each other, they are paying attention to what’s happening musically. Plus, it’s another way of getting their eyes up and out of the music. Same is true for the guitarists and pianists to communicate visually as well.
This doesn’t mean using hand signals, as if they were trying to land a plane. It means that they simply look around the band, using their eyes and ears to be in the flow of the musical direction. When the church sees this, they also see the connectivity in the team. There is more of a spirit of unity and fellowship. Share this perspective with your team. Help them be aware that people want to see their faces, not hiding them.
They want to be led, so lead them. Encourage your team to do as unto God, and not to man. (Col 3.23). Also, remind them that their attitudes, character and teamwork makes a strong solid connection with the church. The church looks to you – as a team – for worship leadership.
Love Your Church More Than Your Songs.
When you love the people in your church more than the music, you help and enable worship leading to be in its truest form. The microphone, instruments, sound and tech equipment are tools. They are devices for worshipful expressions, at the same time vehicles to enable participation. Be mindful of how they are used. Leading worship is about leading relationships. Making music is about making great melody in your heart by Christ.
We teach these cornerstones at every WeekendWorkshop and Mentoring session.
Engaging people in worship begins by engaging them by fellowship. Remember, you do not need to be behind a microphone or instrument to minister. You are a musical minister everywhere you go by the way you connect with others. People see how you live your life and how you lead by your character off stage.
When they see you on stage, they have more trust in you as a leader to lead them in worship. When you make it more about the people than the music, you also make more of living out the first and second commandment. Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matt 22.37-39 So connect, engage and make music by the heart of Christ. As you lead people through relationships and making melody – as a team – you’re connecting relationships to God – as the Church.
@BranonDempsey @worshiptt 
Called to serve? Know your next step? Want to go to the next level? We can help you discover how God is leading you, so you can lead others. Learn more: wttu.co/mentoring
Copyright 2017 Worship Team Training®
2 Comments
Dan Collins
Wow! There is about 12 “worship leader sermons” in this post. Favorite line: “Love the people more than the songs.” And that includes the obnoxious guitar player who jumps around in stage I hope? Not that I know anyone like that.
branondempsey (Author)
Thank you Dan for the kind words! We’re all learning together, the challenges implementation.