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

[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