Let’s start with what we mean by “worship leader”? Worship leaders are the people who stand before our congregation and sing, pray, read, and speak each and every week. Whether you've lead worship before or whether this is the first time, it's good to remind ourselves what we are doing when we volunteer to lead worship.

YOU ARE A WORSHIP LEADER

Whatever role you play in our worship service, the most important thing you can do is recognize that you are a worship leader. Both of those words are critically important. First, you are there to worship. You are not just a guy reading a few verses because someone asked you. You are not a woman just singing a song because someone asked you. You are worshippers. Which means that everything you say and do is aimed at honoring God as our Creator and Deliverer and King. What you do isn’t for the congregation. It is for God. In order to be a worshiper, you need to get your head and your heart in the right place before you step on the stage. It’s hard–because sometimes we get asked at the last minute. Or sometimes we’re walking into church with a lot of junk going on in our lives. Maybe you need to pray with the pastor. Maybe you need to read some scripture. Maybe you need to go sit in our prayer nook and just unwind a bit. Before you get on that stage, you need to give yourself to God. You need to be reminded of who he is. You need to realize his love. In short, you need to find a way to take the attention off of you and your life and focus it on him. If you, as the worship leader, are only performing, and not worshiping, then it’s harder for others to worship, too.
That leads me to the second point: Yes, you’re there to worship, but you’re also a leader. A worship leader connects with the congregation where they are at and takes the congregation with them in worship. In order to lead them, you first need to go get them. Chances are, they’re showing up just like you did that morning. A little unfocused. Angry. Discouraged. Distracted. They need you to stand up there and remind them why you are all here: to proclaim the worthiness of our God.

This may seem like a small point, but it’s really important. Because you get on the platform to do your thing because someone else asked you. So you just do your thing and sit down. We need to shift from the mentality of “I’m just up there to do my part” to “I’m up there to lead people.” In the case of a scripture reading, let’s call these two mindsets the difference between being a reader and a leader. Let’s say I’m going to do a Scripture reading of John 3:16. In the first mindset–where I’m just doing my thing–I am going to read the verse ahead of time because maybe I’m a little nervous and I want to practice it. Then I’m going to get on the platform and just get it out. There, I read it. My job is done. The problem with that reader mindset is that you can do all of that without any people being in the room. That’s not leading worship, that’s reading out loud. If you’re leading worship by reading that scripture, then you start by taking responsibility for the congregation. You will read the verse ahead of time to make sure there are no unfamiliar words. When you arise before the congregation you will communicate clearly what book and chapter you’ll be reading from. Give people time to get there. Encourage them if they cannot find it. Look like you’re happy to read from the Bible. And when you read, read with conviction and feeling. But let’s say the congregation just isn’t feeling it. A worship leader doesn’t say, “I did my job. I’m done.” A worship leader might say, “Friends, let me read it again–and this time let’s read it together.” If you’re reading that great gospel passage, you cannot dare to let it be heard without an amen in response. A reader thinks his job is done when he reads the words. A leader thinks her job is done when people receive the words.

INCLUDE PEOPLE IN WORSHIP

A worship leader is not a king of their minute on the platform. You don’t have to preach a sermon or drag things out. You simply have to take responsibility for your part in worship by rousing the congregation to meet you where you are. This is done best when it is done simply.  

Now, if you watch non-denominational churches, the worship leader is usually a musician. Or maybe it’s a pastor on staff. But I believe everyone who is on stage during worship is a worship leader. I’ll say it again: that doesn’t mean you need to turn your part of the service into a sermon. But what it means is this, and I’ll give you a few examples:

If you’re reading scripture, then read it as if you mean it. Invite people to turn in their Bibles to follow along. Then read it like you mean it. Like you believe it. Like you want others to believe it, too. Read it as if God is present.

If you’re singing, then sing to the Lord. Invite people to join you. If they don’t know the song, then teach them. Your goal isn’t to just do your part and sit down. It is to lead people in worship. Who cares if you mess up. This isn’t a recital. You should practice and do your best–but it’s not American Idol. It’s worship. It’s real. It’s from the heart. It’s for our God.

We are surrounded by performances. Whether it’s a kid on a piano or a TV show or someone on TikTok. So let me just make it clear here at the end that leading worship involves some performance–OK, you’re going to have to practice. You’re going to have to smile. Sometimes you’re going to have to get up there when you don’t feel like it. So while leading worship involves some performance, it is not mere performance. Worship is real.

WORSHIP IS THE GOAL

The congregation is called to worship. Worship is good in and of itself. The goal isn’t to hear an interesting sermon. Or to enjoy good music. It is to worship. In the best churches, a congregation feels full before they even get to the sermon. Churches are called to other things, too, but worship is the most important. It is through good worship that good Christians are spiritually formed. I don’t know if you ever realized that. In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, says: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” As we behold our God each and every time we assemble for worship, we are being transformed. That’s why we shouldn’t be afraid of showing some emotion. I know Adventists sometimes talk like they want a purely cerebral faith, but the fact is that worship speaks to every part of us: to our minds, our emotions, our spirits, and our bodies. As worship leaders, you are inviting the whole person to join you in contemplating the Lord’s glory; in being transformed into his image. As we sing, “Holy, holy, holy” we, too, are becoming holy. So being a worship leader doesn’t mean you have to get up there and do evangelism or do discipleship–we are called to do those things, too, but worship is absolutely vital for its own sake. If all we do on Sabbath morning is worship then mission accomplished.

One final word about leading worship: When every person who is leading worship sees themselves as a worship leader it strengthens worship. Let’s say one Sabbath the songs of the praise team just aren’t connecting with people. No worries: the person praying or reading Scripture can help get people focused on worship. Even though they are leading different parts of the service, worship leaders are leading together, complementing each other, supporting each other. We are a team!

So thank you again if you’re watching this as a worship leader. The next video is on how to get yourself into a worshiping mindset before you get up on the stage. The other videos are broken down into different parts of leading worship: reading scripture, praying, singing–so go check those out as well. 
Now that you've learned some worship principles,
it's time to talk about how to worship:
How to Worship