Vocally Lead Worship
I did something on Sunday night that I would not usually do at church. During an up tempo song, I encouraged people to put their hands together and clap along. Why did I do that? I’m not sure, but I did feel like we needed to unite together and feel like we were corporately participating in worship. When this happened, I really felt like something broke in the room that night and it gave people permission to participate and feel a part of what was happening. It was a simple thing but it felt like it was needed to set the tone for the rest of the night. It made me think about how we involve our congregations when we come to worship together corporately. Is it wrong to vocally lead people? I’m not talking about giving a 5 minute sermon during the worship, I’m talking about encouraging people to join in by clapping hands, lifting hands, dancing, singing out etc.
I was at the Hillsong London Conference last weekend and went away really inspired by the way they lead worship. They would constantly encourage people to clap, dance and lift up their hands. When all 12,000 people’s hands were in the air and we were singing ‘I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned’ there was real sense of unity and of togetherness. We were all agreeing by the act of corporately lifting our hands and singing that song as a response. I was really struck by how much they would give a vocal lead and instruct people to engage with worship. After a 20 minute set of worship, it felt like we went on an amazing journey and we didn’t need 45 minutes of worship to ‘get there’ because everyone was engaged and participating right from the beginning.
Now the danger of leading more vocally is that it can easily become about ourselves and wanting people to respond in the way that we think they should. Also some people won’t want to be told what to do when they worship and that is completely valid. Finally, it should not be used as a formula to hype things up. But I don’t think this should hinder us as worship leaders if we are being prompted by the spirit to take more of a lead and to encourage people to participate.
Anyways, this has been going around my head over the last few days and I would love to hear your thoughts.
Do you take more of a vocal lead when you lead worship? How has that effected your times of worship? Are people more engaged?
Do you think it is wrong to take more of a vocal lead? Does it get in the way?
How can we encourage our congregations to be a participator and not a spectator?
At the end of the day, I just want to see our churches vibrant and passionate when we come to worship our Saviour and not just read some words on a screen.
Though I do it mostly with "bullet points" and "sound bites", I find that corporate singing is a GREAT teaching time, in the midst of songs - I think one needs to know their congregation to know what will be the most effective, but if the Bible encourages certain responses, one can't be criticized for quoting Scripture during worship, can they? ;-)
Thoroughly agree with this, Ben. I'd definitely fall into the 'vocal leader' group, and whilst there's always the danger of being told you talk too much, I think the opposite is true for 'non-vocal leaders'. I find worship leaders who never talk to the congregation, appear to engage with them or give vocal cues and encouragements very difficult to follow. In fact, are they really leading at all or just singing songs in front of people? As with all things, a healthy balance is needed.
I used to be the guy saying "don't tell me what to do" standing in the congregation. Not sure if it's been a heart change or not but gradually my respect and trust for the worship leader has allowed me to follow their lead more openly. I'm trusting their encouragement to "lift my hands" or "sing out my praise" as they're obedient to where the Spirit is leading them.
Like you say, we can be held back and reserved, and in some ways we have the right to make worship personal between us and God. But something DOES happen when we lay down our ideas and "where we're at" to follow the leader, trusting him or her, going forward together when worshiping God corporately.
I don't tend to lead vocally but this has got my wheels spinning, thanks Benny
Hi Ben! I would address this based on the "congregations DNA". Every congregation is different. Some are very "loud and active", while others are more "passive and solemn". Probably a more "active" congretation would need less encouragement and the "passive" more, but all of them really need to understand that the purpose of a Worship Pastor/Leader is to create a "way" to get all the congretation in front of God's throne with THEIR worship. It's not a performance. It's not a concert. It's a meeting where the People of God get together and one of the main purposes is to collectively worship God with all their heart, mind and strengh.
If that's accomplished, then having to "lead" them would become second priority. Always do "whateve" gets your congregation involved in collective worship, even if that means to jump off the pulpit! :)
God bless you all,
Luis
Good post,
This is something that a lot of Worship Leaders struggle with. I think the importance is as you said, not hyping things up, or as I once heard it called, "cheerleading". But certainly if we are offering ourselves as an instrument for the Lord to use, and we feel that he is prompting us to say something, that invitation to raise your hands or clap can be incredibly freeing, especially to a congregation that is not used to doing such things. Where the Spirit of the Lord is their is liberty! I think if we respond to the Lord's prompting He will be faithful to bless that time and not make it awkward.
Blessings,
Daniel
Here in Mexico people in church, or maybe worship ledears tend to simply get people to dance and shout really loud, and clap for any reason. Maybe it started as a genuine move of the Spirit, but suddenly turned into a bad custom.
In our church what usually happens is that someone reads, comments, or simply says something to focus our worship to God, or pray, but we don't normally invite people to clap or dance, or shout. Just sometimes raise their hands, or pray, but that's it.
I think that leading vocally is important for us to engage as the Church. We need to learn to do it in the power of the Holy Spirit.
blessings
On first thought, I'm immediately caused to wonder if this is one of those "both and" situations. It's certainly key to be aware of where a congregation is at and how they are led most effectively - just as it was mentioned previously as the 'DNA' of a church. I know a great many worship leaders will prefer to simply work through the songs with as little direction and talking as possible, and that's going to come down to personal vision, experience, and personality.
Ben, it's really nice to hear your story; there are so many times when I feel prompted to lead a congregation in a more daring direction but often bottle it. That said, it's so encouraging when a risk is taken and it really works.
As a final thought, over the last years the term 'worship leader' seemed to become something people begame to avoid or skirt around, which I think is a shame. To lead others in worship is a significant task and calling - those of us who do it should recognise what God has asked them to do, stand strong, and lead - 'vocally' or not - with vision and passion.
Chris
I never used to be that vocal, but was once told by my senior pastor to give more encouragement, even instruction. To be fair, the congregation I lead regularly is often rather 'flat' so they need it - which I suppose points to how it may well depend on each congregation.
But, the bottom line for me is that I think us as leaders of sung worship need to be secure and rest in the authority we have - authority given us by the church leadership as a whole, of course, but ultimately authority given to us by God. As long as we regularly examine our hearts and motives, and can honestly say that when we give any kind of instruction we are certain it comes from the throne of God, then it's healthy. I think it can also go a long way to help avoid the consumerist approach to church - encouraging people to participate rather than spectate.
That's an interesting point, Neil:
"As long as we ... can honestly say that when we give any kind of instruction we are certain it comes from the throne of God, then it's healthy."
Call me heretic, but I'm not too sure about that. Obviously we have to be careful that we do not lead out of our own strength and instead by the Spirit, but should I refrain from saying anything (or for that matter, refrain from choose a song) unless I specifically think God has asked me to? Not sure.
I think worship leading is simply encouraging people into the presence of God. There are two sides to this that can act in tension. On one hand, the prayer and preparation put into leading worship can help us to 'see' the bigger picture and journey we take in worship before everyone else. That's generally a good thing - we need leaders with vision and a sense of direction. On the other hand, that preparedness can lead to frustration: "Why isn't the congregation as up for this as I am?"
I'm not trying to denigrate the asipration of all worship leaders, which is to lead authoritatively and in line with where the Spirit leads. But equally, I think God uses natural giftings, talents, personalities and ideas in the Kingdom. If, whilst I'm leading, I encourage the congregation to "respond to Him in tongues, or English, or raised hands" (whatever it is) it might not be because I felt a direct call from the Lord to do that. It might just be that given the preparedness of my set, the direction I'm leading the church in, and the feedback (both spiritual and visual) I'm getting from standing at the front, I feel that it would help people to step out that bit further. In other words, I've had no direct revelation from the Lord to encourage people to do something, I've just suggested it as an idea given how I see the worship is going and what God is trying to do through it.
Perhaps I'm being pedantic and you didn't mean that, Neil, but I'd be interested in your thoughts.
New Song
Nieuwste forumberichten
good post ben,
i think sometimes we need to be more light hearted about stuff like this and have fun with it. someone said to me recently that worship leaders often look too serious and glum when leading, esp if they dont speak, so interacting with the congregation can really help this. i think like most things if done sparingly can work really well.
God bless,
Gav.