Comments on: What does a worship leader really need to know?

By: Milton Goodwin

Milton Goodwin — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:33:52 +0000

God’s Will for us in Worship: to worship Him in Spirit and IN Truth -
In Spirit - as believers washed in the blood of Christ and seeking His return
IN Truth - knowing our own nakedness before Him.

By: Milton Goodwin

Milton Goodwin — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:31:30 +0000

Luke has it directly: when you ask for a recipe then you are missing the point - a life surrendered to worship is exactly that - no more and no less. There IS no formulae nor is there a script. When I come to worship I come naked before the Lord - completely ashamed of who I am and expecting His Grace to wash me clean. We come WE the worship leaders COME to the Lord EXACTLY as everyone else comes with the exception it is our privilege to be the first to plunge into the stream and help others to gather at His throne. It is all this that is what it MEANS to be humle in worship. IT is exactly this and nothing more. Remember Martin Luther when he told the world that it is Grace plus NOTHING that equals salvation? Well it is GRACE plus NOTHING that equals leading in Worship. NO plan NO strategem NO method! When you see that then guitars and keyboards and vocals mean nothing they are nothing except the avenue for touching the Heart of God. Yes YES YES it is hyperspiritual but what did the Lord say? what did He say: True Worshippers will worship in Keyboard and guitar? NO NO Spirit and Truth. He also says in His word that you must be of the spirit to discern spiritual things that these are rubbish to those who are perishing but life to those whose lives are being BEING saved. WE who lead MUST understand the Heart of the One we adore far before the method and the method will take care of itself if we will learn the Heart alone. God’s Heart IS the power of Worship. What should a worship leader really know? Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and Resurrected! When we look into His face we will know exactly how to lead others to His feet!

By: Dan Price

Dan Price — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 14:46:29 +0000

Good response Luke. I totally agree man.

By: Luke Wilson

Luke Wilson — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:16:38 +0000

First off, i really appreciate the original post as well as everyone’s comments thus far. I think that the practical aspects of leading are so important to share with each other.
Here’s maybe why some of us are missing each other (maybe not). Most of us on here are from Great Commission churches. We either know each other, or know of each other. We also know that, as a movement, we are totally committed to God and his Word. not only that, but we understand that as a GC worship leader we are held to a higher standard than other men and women. Not to brag (ok well maybe a little) but we are unique. and the men that have passed down this responsibility of leading our churches in worship were unique. God did great things with them and continues to do so with us.
I think (and these are just my thoughts) the reason this post of “what does a worship leader really need to know” involved practical aspects was because there is an assumption within Great Commission that leaders are people with a passion for Gods word, a heart for the church and the lost, and who are CONTINUALLY filled with the spirit, amongst other things.
and i think that when we talk about worshiping in spirit and in truth, we are talking about worshiping with our lives. We know that its not just a sunday morning event. And hoping that the holy spirit moves thru you just before the service just doesnt cut it. Our life is what worship is. Its our daily surrender and our growing love for God. When we lead, it is an overflow of our love for Christ and an overflow of his spirit in us. I think that as we grow in spiritual maturity, we will grow in our worship both in our spirit and in truth.

Would you guys agree, or am i off. talk it up

By: Chris Grebner

Chris Grebner — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 18:38:07 +0000

So what is God’s will for us in worship? As worship leaders? As worshippers?

I have struggled with this in a lot of ways. Of course God wants us in Spirit and in Truth, I know this. But how is that done? I have a hard time thinking that we can just enter into worship with that “mindset”. He doesn’t ask us to have the “mindset” of Spirit and Truth. It seems that this is something that isn’t just understood, rather something that is. Something that is in our hearts, our souls. It seems that this isn’t something we aquire over a period of worshipping or leading.

And I know He wants to humble our hearts or to come to Him humbled. But what does that mean? Yeah, ok, I need to bring myself before Him with all my crap exposed, but then what?
Understanding that if I humble my heart in hopes that that will be a worthy of Him, and in turn those that I’m leading and worshipping with following in that act.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

peace,
c

By: Milton Goodwin

Milton Goodwin — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 13:21:18 +0000

What a great concept: the Worship Team (here I speak of more than the band) should be a small church a small version of who you believe the body you are leadng ought to be. That is a great idea Justin and I thank you for that clarity. The power of transformed lives on display is incredible. Yet you must be seen as authentic so you should be seen as who you are not a construct of who you should be. When I come to worship I speak of my sins and sinful heart. I speak of my pain and my passions and those things that are not lovely. Then I remind our people there is one who is lovely who is wonderful who has majesty who is Life who brings Hope and who Is Redemption and the Resurrection and His care for me is overwhelming and over powering and REQUIRES worship. Requires it because of His Nature and not my readiness. When your Team is doing that all together then the church must and will worship and desire for the Lord will be evident because they see hearts given to Hope In Christ and sold out to Him even in pain and in lack and mistaken hearts. Those who Love the Lord must Love Him in Spirit and In Truth - this IS who I am please Lord cleanse me and make me whole to do Your Will!

By: terry

terry — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:43:44 +0000

this conversation reminds me of what i was reading earlier at http://worshipmatters.com/ about “what does a worship leader do?” Jan 31 if you were interested….

By: Milton Goodwin

Milton Goodwin — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:47:33 +0000

I believe that all are good points and have their place yet the ingredient(s) that we all need are found in the Word: where He speaks of being teachable and full of grace and loving one another and believing God and remembering Grace (unmerited favor)and the power of His Resurrection and shed Blood. All of that wrapped in a blanket of Hope creates the Heart of Worship we need. You have blessed me my brothers.

By: Justin Meyer

Justin Meyer — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 22:29:51 +0000

Good work on here guys. Thanks for all your thoughts. I want to throw out the idea that something what a worship leader might need is just a willing heart. I am not sure that when I stated leading, I had the passion or the skill required but I looked at it abit more like Isaiah 6:8 where God asks who shoudl go tell people and Isaiah says, “I’ll do it.” Our ministry in Des Moines, Iowa a few years ago had about 12 people and I started playing at that service because there was a need for someone to sing and my leaders asked me to. For a while we asked people to be in the band because they were the only ones we could fine. (not the best strategy ever) Now it is different but I wanted to share that I agree with everythin everyone has written above but in practice for us, God used our weaknesses and developed us with time. He continually is using our music to humble us in the band and in the local church.

Quick last thought. I believe very firmly what I think was the last point of the 5, I think the band is the most visible grouping of people in the physical church and if true community and humilty doesn’t happen there… you may not be leading your church in (real) worship because it is not the music that glorifies God but our obedient lives that glorify Him. I have commited to viewing the band as a miniture church that we can put into practice every command for the church. Then in turn, the church will see an example of love, forgivenness, leadership, encouragement.
Peace,
-Justin Meyer
Please feel free to email me with thoughts or questions. I may have miscommunicated here.

By: Ben Tipler

Ben Tipler — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 21:33:36 +0000

Dan McG, (if i can call you that) I for sure appreciate your thoughts on this topic. I think it is really helping define a few things. I agree with Matt, I believe we all are in pursuit of authentic, genuine worshiping in spirit and truth, if I did not work under that assumption I would have not skipped to the practical, being that the biblical basics of worshiping in spirit and in truth are far more important.

I doubt any of us are trying to write our own book on theology or create a new doctrine but one the aspects i love about this medium of communication is that we can get perspectives from everyone across the globe. at 10 years of service I have less than half your experience, though I’m sure we’ve faced many of the same struggles and situations.

I do agree with you that us leaders must TAKE THE LEAD, too many just let things slip by and stand on the sidelines and then wonder what went wrong. I look forward to hearing more from you.