Quality Worship Leading

I think that one of the most important qualities a worship leader needs is humility. No one wants to follow a worship leader who is more focused on getting attention or showing off. Of course we should be using our God given gifts to glorify God, but it doesn't glorify God if we make worship about us. Also, character has a huge role in making a quality worship leader. How a leader acts in private reveals their character, and their character is a reflection of where their heart is. Another important characteristic is spiritual maturity. My worship leader once told me that you cannot lead someone somewhere you have not been, so we have to constantly be pursuing a deeper relationship with God, so that we can lead others to deeper relationships with Him.

Matt Crocker, one of my favorite worship leaders, is a member of Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship. He is well known for writing a lot of music for Hillsong. One of my favorite things about him is that even though he writes a lot of amazing music, he does not take much credit for them and even though he is greatly talented, he does not specifically write music with the intention to sing it himself and gain attention. Matt is humble, even when he performs, by simply focusing his worship on God and not trying to show off, even though he is a greatly talented singer and instrumentalist. He is willing to simply play guitar or keys instead of being up front singing for everyone to see him. Another quality Matt has is character. Not only does he uses his talents to perform, but he also, when traveling with the band, goes on missions trips. Recently, he traveled to Israel and worked with Syrian refugees. I think this shows a lot about his character, because he is willing to serve God, even when the spotlight is off of him. I also like how when he leads worship, he is expressive and moves with the dynamic of the song, but is not distracting to the worship experience. He genuinely seems to be engaged in worship himself, and this makes him a quality worship leader.





Open Heaven

I Surrender

The Missing Element of Worship by Tom Kraeuter

The Missing Element of Worship by Tom Kraeuter basically talks about how worship also should include love. In this book, Kraeuter challenges worshipers to love one another as a form of worship. He argues that true worship comes from loving God and loving your neighbor as well, and that the basis of all worship is relationships.

One point I found was interesting was that Kraeuter starts the book with a scene before church. There are multiple people being judgmental and criticizing each other for petty reasons, such as what someone is wearing or being annoyed that sermons are taking longer than usual. Kraeuter asks if this is a situation in which God would want to be worshiped, when there is ungodly characteristics being reflected. He talks about how loving each other and having a good relationship with other neighbors and God is key to having genuine worship. He talks about how our relationship with God and people is interconnected because you can't love God if you don't love others. Our love for each other affects our worship.

Another interesting point that Kraeuter had was that often we are too comfortable with the way we worship. Sometimes we get angry when someone changes the arrangement of a song or does a new song we don't like. However Kraeuter argues that although we might not like a song, it might affect another person differently. He claims that mature Christians are willing, out of love, to let go of their preferences to bring other people in the worship experience who may not be as mature in their faith. He talks about letting go of our selfish interests and comfort to love others by letting them feel included in worship.

The Gift of Worship

The video the Gift of Worship talks about the importance of worship. Often times we are more focused about what we get out of worship and what worship can do for us, rather than focus on giving ourselves to God thorough worship. Worship is not about us but rather thanking God for the cross. During worship, we should be giving everything God, including our brokenness, and worship God with everything we are through keeping our focus on him.

I think this video was a good reminder that God should always be the focus of our worship. Worship is not about how we feel about the music or if we think the music is somehow benefitting us. Worship is surrendering ourselves to a loving God who sent his Son to die for our sins. It is so easy for us to criticize worship and find ways to blame the music or the worship team as the reason we didn't have true worship, but actually we need to examine ourselves and remember that our focus should be on God, not the music.

Guiding Principles for Worship

Worship is a Dialogue 

When we worship, we are talking with God. He reveals himself and we respond with gratitude.

Worship is focused on Christ

Our focus when we worship is Christ.

Worship is Contemporary

We should worship God in ways that reflect the age we living in.

Worship is Traditional

Our worship can also pull from past music, as past music can still provide insight into who God is.

Worship is Wholistic

Every part of us should be engaged in worship, intellectually, emotionally, with your sense and with you body.

Worship is Participative

Worship should aim to include as much of the congregation as possible.

Worship in Inclusive

Worship is inclusive of all people, and works to include anyone in a stage of life.

Worship is a Balance

Worship is a balance between remembering God is distant but close, order and surprise, and greatness and intimacy.