Worship Matters: The Leader

WorshipMattters: The Leader

Thoughts?  Comments? 

Five commenters will be randomly selected at the end of this four day series.  Those selected will receive a copy of Bob's book courtesy of Crossway Books and will be featured on a follow-up post at worship.com. 

Comments

[Zack Migioia]

Bob is a humble man and loves his Saviour. How encouraging it is to see a man who loves God and seeks to worship and glorify Him in all that he does. Worship is not limited to just music or simply church settings. We worship God continuely and love Him whereever we are and whatever we are doing

Zack Migioia
Knoxville, TN

[lemmingz]

Thank you so much for this series. "Worship involves our entire lives!" - this is so true. Too often we focus away from the cross.

[Ryan]

What a fantastic overview of great teachings on worship. We all know that "worship" is a huge topic that encompasses so much more than just music or a service at a church. Bob has such a fantastic way of communicating the broader scope of worship in a completely Biblically AND relative way. Good stuff.

[Josh Deng]

love it! Bob is a gifted man.

[Dion]

Thanks for sharing. I have enjoyed Mr. Kauflin's posts e-mails etc greatly over the years. I am looking forward to reading this book.

[Richard Owen]

Good thoughts by Bob from God's word. I appreciate his observation that “worship leader” is not a biblical office or even a NT role per se. He sees worship as a function or activity for all to enter into, and a “leader” of some kind, such as regarding music/singing, as a practical necessity which is also perhaps an expression of spiritual gifts and/or “one-anothering” (e.g. Col. 3:16) in esteeming the Lord in spirit and truth.

[Aaron Geist]

Great thoughts. I talked about similar things at our High School retreat this weekend. I shared a story of my worship leader friend who had someone come up to him after the service and say that the song was a bit slow. He responded, "That's okay. Do you think Jesus minded?"

Who are we worshiping? It better be God.

[Brian]

Ha!

The last line said it perfectly. I don't feel remotely adequate to the task, but I know that He's using me all the same, and doing mighty things!

Thanks for the video, and I'm looking forward to reading the book!

Brian
Waconia, MN

[Chris Smith]

Great video from Bob - gives us a flavor of what the book (hopefully) will address in greater detail - how are we as "lead" worshippers to view our calling? The title "worship leader" is in and of itself problematic; there is no NT support for this position and I would argue that the senior pastor/leader should be the worship leader. Being a "lead" worshippers is indeed a holy responsibility and it's encouraging to hear Bob wed the need for skill (the art) with the need for spiritual authenticity (the heart) in this role.

I will be attending the WorshipGod 08 Conf. and am looking forward to Bob's session "The Task of the Worship Leader"

[Matt]

Wow, that's such a challenging video from Bob. It is easy to get caught up in making worship what we want instead of what God desires.

I find myself getting distracted by what songs are picked instead of just enjoying the opportunity to worship an amazing God.

Bob's challenge is one that is so needed and I'm looking forward to hearing more of what God has placed on his heart. :)

[Bruce Mackenzie]

Thanks again Bob! I have appreciated your passion for God and your desire to make much of Him. That is what it is about - isn't it! Sometimes I fear that we have so professionalised worship that we leave God out and yet it is really about Him. May God continue to bless you and use you!

[Terrance Yu]

Thank you Pastor Bob Kauflin for your exhortation. You know, I feel like the worship leader you described: strumming the wrong chord and missing the notes.

I really do want to make Jesus number one. I tried everything: reading books by praise leaders like Matt Redman, listening to your past sermons from worship seminars, and finding the right songs to fit the sermon of the week. But the truth is I still feel inadequate. Yes I know. This is the best place to be. In fact, I tell my praise team that. But more often than not, I feel powerless. I didn't practice enough this week. I didn't pray over the songs like I hear that other praise leaders do. I can't feel free to share and speak in between song transitions because I'm afraid to mess up the chords.

But I love magnifying God! I get so excited just hearing God's Word not to mention studying it in depth. Seeing how the Word reveals the supremacy of Christ fuels my passion. So every Monday I get excited to reveal Christ through the upcoming songs. Then, work and other responsibilities (including other church tasks like preparing Bible study, etc... I'm in several positions because I'm in a small church) creeps in and the next thing I know, I feel like I didn't give my best on Sunday Service for the God I'm deeply in love with.

I'm excited to hear what the next 3 videos are about. Please pray for me, all of you who are reading this blog... as I hope most of you are also praise leaders who can relate to my experience. :)

[Emily]

I'm grateful for the reminder that worship involves your whole life, not merely a "warm-fuzzy" feeling on Sunday morning.

Bob is a gift.

[Aaron Steenhoven]

What a great video about worship! Everything that Bob said in that video really rings true in my experiences and my life. Being a worship leader is more than just being a great musician, but along the lines of giving God our all- practicing many hours and striving for excellence in the area of musicianship isn't all bad either. It is simply remembering why we are striving for excellence, and that is because we long to make a great name for Jesus- not for ourselves. Going back to the story that was told at the beginning, how many times do we "worship leaders" sit under someone else's leading and actually focus on worshipping God? We are usually so focused on the secondary things like song selection, pitch, and tempo that we miss God completely during that service. May God humble us all as we seek to bring Him glory!

[Bryan]

Thanks for the great reminder that I am inadequate for the job of leading worship. Looking forward to your book.

By the way, a weekly email I send our worship arts family is called "Worship Matters." Love the title. Check out the weekly email we send at http://tinyurl.com/5we74z

[Ronk]

I am so thankful to God for Bob Kauflin and his ministry. If you haven't heard him speak then do yourselves a favor and go to www.sbts.edu/icw and click on "Previous Lectures" to hear some more of Bob's wisdom on worship. You can download these Worship Lectures from his visits to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Bob says: "God is seeking worship leaders who make Jesus look Great." He practices what he preaches to the praise of God in Christ.

[Brian Bailey]

What a insightful video. It is certainly a message that the church needs to hear. Worship is our whole lives, and not just what we do on Sunday mornings. The addition of "worship" as a genre in Lifeway and Mardel certainly has imbeded in our minds that worship is only associated with music. It is so much more than that. When we live life in such a way that worship is not what we do, but who we are, then our times of corporate worship will become so much more meaningful as a result of what we have experienced in our own daily walks with the Lord.

"The glory of God is always and in all ways the issue."- Dr. Gordon Borror

[Paul Hayes]

These God honoring comments by a godly man remind us that "it's all about you, Jesus". All that we do in worship is for Him. This is easy to forget when practice is going long, the monitor doesn't work, the tenor is flat and I'm frazzled. Thanks Bob for reminding us why we do this each Sunday! Paul Hayes
Gig Harbor, WA

[Becky Foster]

What a great reminder. We are indeed called to be great sinners proclaiming the we have been redeemed by a Great God!

I have been convicted for some time that worship is a lifestyle, not an event. Too often we think that worship is either the hour we spend in church on Sunday, or the music that we use in the hour we spend in church on Sunday. But the bottom line of worship is to live life in the recognition of the presence of God at all times. To give our lives to the one who gave his life for us.

When I lead worship I insist that our team pray together at the begining and end of each rehearsal (for personal and corporate needs) as well as before we get up to lead. Our prayers are that the congregation would see Jesus before seeing us and that we would be instruments in the hands of God to draw God's people to himself.

I too have struggled with the judgment of teams and leaders. More often than not, it is because I have not prayed that God would search me and know my heart. At the same time though it is important for us to be aware of the theology behind someone's leading. Sometimes it is right for us to not enter into what they are doing. But it is something we can only know when we are living in worship and so closs to God that the whisper of the Holy Spirit is very clear to us.

May the prayer of the heart of everyone who would lead worship be that we would have God's eyes to see, ears to hear, heart to love, mouth to speak, mind to think, feet to go, and hands to reach out. Only when we have totally submitted ourselves to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are we able to give ourselves up and allow God to lead worship through us. Ultimately, he is the only one able to do it anyway!

Thank you Bob, for calling us to be less about ourselves and more about the God we serve.

[Damian Southard]

Bob,
I really enjoyed your clip on worship. I have really struggled with balancing humility with leadership as well. My passion for leading worship has been to point people to the Cross. Your comment about "Trying to look impressive and making Jesus look impressive at the same time" is so true. Your words have been extremely encouraging to me.

[Jason Delgado]

Wow, that is a good reminder. I look forward to seeing the other videos and even getting to read the book by Bob. His worship music from SovereignGraceMusic has changed my whole perspective on worship. And for that I thank God.

Soli Deo Gloria!

jason d.

[Greg Mazunik]

That gets at the heart of what we should be doing in our worship times. When I am able to visit other churches, I do the same things Bob talked about in the beginning of the video: judge, pick apart, and form opinions in my head...all the while missing the opportunity to exalt Jesus in my soul. I thank God that Bob has a platform to speak these truths into the lives of worship leaders all over the globe. He combines theology and methodology in a Christ-exalting way. Can't wait to read the book.

[Bethany]

I really appreciated some of the words of encouragement Bob shared here.

"We can't try to look impressive and make Jesus look impressive at the same time."

"If you don't feel adequate for the task, you're in the perfect place for God to use you."

[Susan Good]

This video was excellent. It reminded me where my focus should be. It's all about Him, not me.

[Morris Driggers]

Great words of advice to us who seek to give excellent praise to God and to serve our faith communities as worship leaders. Technical skill is important ... hugely important; but a heart tuned to (and by) God's heart is far more important.

[Brance]

I agree that we should focus on worship, during worship. But I don't want to see worship leaders who don't work on their musicianship. We are to do all to the glory of God, and that means playing to the absolute best of our abilities.

As someone who has both lead worship, played in a worship band, and sat in the pew while others led, it is hard to worship if he music is faltering and fumbling. The band, including the leader, should work to improve their skills during the week and at practices. On Sunday morning though, that should not be the focus. The band should be rehearsed to the point that they don't have to dwell on their performance, but can freely worship.

Two things get in the way of the band freely worshiping:

1. arrogance: just as Bob said, worshiping their own abilities, worshiping their own opinions, reveling in the praise of men for their own abilities, etc.

2. lack of skill and preparedness: not having practiced and rehearsed enough, or not having sufficient skill, will cause members of the band to focus on their playing rather than on Christ.

Members of the congregation are aware of the worship leader's, and band's, focus. If they are not focused on Christ, neither will the congregation.

So Bob is correct that humility and an intense passion to worship Christ are necessities, but so are skill and practice.

[Don Fields]

I'm really looking forward to getting Bob's book. This Sunday I found myself struggling with leading in worship and realized that the problem was me. I had come to worship unprepared spiritually. It had been a couple of days since I had spent time with God. God felt distant because I was distant and it affected my leadership.

[phil simpson]

"We can't try to look impressive, and make Jesus look impressive at the same time." Amen! How often do we consider more what people are thinking about us, rather than being in awe of the God Who has stooped to bring sinners to Himself at the cost of His own dear Son!

Thanks, Bob, for those words. You are a great encouragement to us all.

-Phil

[E]

Great video! I think I will purchase his book

[Matt Singleterry]

Several years back I felt a call into ministry, specifically music or worship ministry. I felt entitled to lead worship, I mean God had called me. When to opportunities were not there I swelled up and arrogance took over. It took a close, Godly, friend to call me on it and break me down. I still deal with wanting to play music well, and have an awesome band, but I know that God has the power to break me free from my pride. I fight hard against that so as to not destroy my opportunity to take part in something that God really doesn't need me for. I am lucky to be able to serve Him and His people.

[Peter]

Definitely an area in which I've struggled. I can so relate to his opening story. I've worshiped my opinions of worship all too often. I still struggle at times when I've had a rough start to be an effective leader. I don't "feel" like worshiping, but it's not about my feelings, it's about Him.

I've appreciated Bob's writing for some time now and was very glad to hear that he had an opportunity to write a book. I'm sure that it will be a blessing for many worship leaders and worshipers.

[Sara Phares]

"Being a worship leader isn't meant to be a hobby or a way of fulfilling my musical aspirations. It's an opportunity to proclaim that I'm a great sinner who's been redeemed by a great Savior and to invite others to celebrate that reality."

I appreciate that Bob focuses more on the heart and attitude of the worship leader than skill and the right song choices. If our hearts and attitudes are in the right place, the other things will follow.

[Juan Cruz]

I can definitelly relate to worshiping my opinions instead of God. I am 20 years old and play guitar for my church (a sovereign grace church). God delt with me to show how I was focusing on my skill and sound of our band more than whether our people were being encourage to worship God. Listening to messages from the WorshipGod conference helped me to see my motives and attitude towards worship. By the grace of God, I am experiencing the freedom of worshiping God, because my focus now is on Christ. He is the ultimate worship leader and his faithfulness and obedience and example remind my serving that is not about me at all. But about his attoning death to bring us to the father.

[Sandra Faber]

Thank you for pointing me to this wonderful video "The Leader". I'm serving in our church as Worship Coordinator and it's my intention to use this video as I have interviews with people who are interested in getting involved with the Worship Ministies of our church. The video says it all in a nut shell!! It's not about the music but it's all about God and His working in your life. Thanks so much.

[b/]

Worship is a natural result off an expectant heart that has been satisfied in the presence of God. Outwardly, it looks like a sacrificial life that is offered in response to the redemption found in Christ. Inwardly, it is manifested as genuine desire for authentic transformation. If that desire is not there, most likely it is the result of a life lived for self rather than sacrificially for Christ. If this is the case, worship will not be a natural result and will only "feel right" when it satisfies our needs rather than being satisfied in who He is.
When people ask what worship is, I say it is a life that models the above.

[Ruth Moran]

"Worship involves our entire lives!"

That statement, while it could be considered chiefly instructive, serves as one of the greatest encouragements I'll ever know.

Deformities and alterations caused by several cancer surgeries removing my jaw, facial muscles, and part of my throat have eliminated me from being the "ideal" Praise Team member, though music remains a passion and I miss singing. I've testified that, though I'm not able to sing like I did before cancer, my heart still sings.

Thank you, Bob Kauflin, for the reminder that "The life that I live is the song that I sing."

[Joel Lee]

He's right on the ball. The year or so after I bought my first guitar (which happened to be prior to my conversion), I always believed that worship and praise were synonymous. To me, worship was singing songs and worship leading was just singing the same songs with a microphone.

Bob really nails what it means to be a worship leader. Anyone can be a worship performer, but to truly have a heart to give up your own glory so that His name would be lifted high and to lead others to see the magnificence and beauty of our God: that is worship leading.

This video was great. Thank you.

[Michael King]

I think Bob Kauflin is the best. There is no pretension in the way he leads worship. It is obvious that he is focused on Jesus himself, not just trying to get others to do it. His heart toward worship is infectious and others are drawn to join him in giving glory to Jesus.

He maintains a great balance between excellent, quality music and musicianship and and simply loving Jesus Christ as a way of life, every day.

He said, "If you don't feel adequate for the task, you're in the perfect place for God to use you." This is very encouraging for us who do what he does. I am glad God uses even me to help others worship him. Thank you Bob Kauflin.

Michael King
Myrtle Beach, SC