I am currently leading worship with my husband at a church plant in Southern California. I stumble and fumble along the way … it’d be great to not be alone =) hope we can revive some discuss.

For now, I am planning our Christmas Service, and it’s a bit different, since we are a church plant, we have a very limited congregation (so that means limited peeps, resources etc, etc.) but we’ll be doing some stuff with the kids ministry and our youth band, so excited about that … looking for Christmas music that’s NOT cheesy and can be easily replicated all acoustic style ~ if anyone has any suggestions I’d love to hear!

Thank you for all you do for the kingdom! Let’s do this together =)
love, a.

What’s our role as the worship leader?

Matt Craig writes:

“[The worship leader's] job is to bring order (when needed) and provide the best possible opportunity and environment for us to worship.”

In a previous paragraph, he reminds us that we as worship leaders:

• Cannot lift the hearts of those taking part in the worship to God
• Cannot refresh their souls
• Cannot satisfy their thirst for God

Only each individual can do that with the Holy Spirit’s enabling.

As worship leaders, we must focus on what God calls us to do, but nothing more. No sense in carrying burdens we weren’t intended to carry. There is freedom in knowing and living that, praise God!

You can download the rest of Matt‘s document containing these quotes here. He also has other resources available on this page.

Share your thoughts here.

What is worship? This is a question that has been weighing on mind for quite a while now. I have been pondering writing down my thoughts on it for some time also, but was unsure until confirmation to my doubt on this subject came recently.  My personal quest for intimacy with God has caused me to come face to face in my own life with this question regarding worship and what exactly it means. And after having my mind renewed regarding this topic, and some researching on the subject,  here are my thoughts.

First of all, I believe that the church today has a confused outlook on what it is. Actually, many have put it into a box, and created nothing more than a  man-made ritual of what it is, what it looks like, and how one should go about it. So, in saying this I am going to share my thoughts on what God has revealed to me personally on what worship is, as well as what it is not. Let’s start with…what worship is not.

1. Worship IS NOT a “music style.” For those whose music tastes do not turn towards the more modern day approach to worship such as contemporary Christian, and praise and worship this is affirmation to you that this does not necessarily make you any more or any less of a worshipper. Although my personal preference regarding my love for praise and worship music itself could cause me to have a narrow minded approach to those who do not share this same taste; I realize, however, that God did not create everyone to love the same things, but He did create us all to love and worship Him.  Whatever way He leads us to do so, is between us and God.  Remember, we are seeking to please HIM.

2. Worship IS NOT an outward emotional experience. A ”worship experience” indicates a short lived span of time in which we sometimes could be prone to and be in danger of have nothing more than “an emotional experience” with ourselves. Does worship require us to be emotional? Certainly, there may be times when offering up worship to our Creator with a pure and sincere heart will cause our emotions to rise and tears may overflow as a result. But is this an indicator of a heart turned towards God in worship? Must there be this “outward show” in order for us to feel like we’ve been with God? My belief is simply, no. This is not always an accurate indicator. Nor should it be a gauge. The church today and the “worshippers” have once again put worship in a box. Tagging those around them as “worshippers” or “non-worshippers, “spiritually mature and non-mature” simply based upon what they see with their physical eyes. How much they jump, shout, cry, fall on their face…. the list goes on and on.   For some time I struggled with viewing my role in a worship service as somewhat “constraining”. But the Lord has removed my conflict by showing me that my worship IS my instrument and my songs to Him.  He, more than anyone else knows my heart. He knows that my desire  is to lavish Him with the praise and the worship that He so deserves.  And He, also, is the one who gave me the abilities that I have to use to the best of my ability in my role.

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT  - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Mark 7:6 NLT Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you,” for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Isaiah 29:13 NLT And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”

Matthew 15:8 NLT “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

3. Worship IS NOT something that’s only done on Sunday in church. Some take pride in the fact they or their church puts on a good “show” in worship. They want to appear as though they have a intensely deep relationship with God by going out the their way, even morphing into a different personality than the one given to them by God to convince others around them and I believe sometimes themselves that they have “arrived” spiritually.  I am amazed at people who claim to be Christians,  some of which that take great pride in their “worship face” but sometimes I wonder. How do  they “worship” with their lives the other 6 days and 23 hours a week? Do we live worship, or has it just become a Sunday morning experience? If so, it’s not enough. Are we living a life of worship through holy lives? The church today has forgotten about holiness, God still requires it in order for us to be pleasing to Him.

1 Chronicles 16:29  NKJ Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!

Psalm 29:2 NKJ    Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

4. How worship should be carried out IS NOT absolutely defined:

Worship: Function: verb
transitive senses
1 : to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power
2 : to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion
intransitive senses : to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship .

This definition of worship gives us an overview of what it means to worship. Which certainly does involve some form of outward expression at times; but it does not give a definitive way that is should be done by each person. Everyone has their own way of expressing worship to God. However, almost every time the Scripture gives reference to worship it does involve the raising of hands. The church should be careful not to turn worship into a show or performance. Sometimes depth can be found in quietness, humbleness, simplicity, and most of all realness.

Now in stating what it is not, let’s get to the good stuff! What it IS!!!!

Worship to me IS something that first of all begins with a heart that is turned toward God desiring not only to worship Him in outward form, but it first must begin with a heart in complete surrender to God, and God alone inwardly. That’s one of the reasons why in Scripture the raising of the hands is a sign of worship because the raising of the hands signifies surrender. To worship…you must have surrendered yourself completely to God. This is the first step.

I firmly believe more than anything WORSHIP IS A LIFESTYLE. It is not an experience, or something only done on Sunday at church. It is how you live your life for Christ all the rest of the time. When you are obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading about a personal issue in your life that He has convicted you of and you deal with it, THAT is worship. When you are given an opportunity to minister to someone else in their need, whatever it may be, and you obey, THAT is worship. When you love others unconditionally with His love, THAT is worship. When you daily surrender your mind, thoughts, words, actions, and choices to His control, THAT is worship.

When all these things are in line and functioning in our daily lives, worship on Sunday, or anytime for that matter will no longer be an issue. It will flow. Not primed and pumped, not manufactured, nor stale…it will flow as pure, unadulterated worship. I refuse to let my worship to my God  be cast into a religious mold, I will, in fact, keep my heart pure, surrendered, and pleasing to God only at ALL times so that my worship when it comes forth will be a sweet fragrance to my Father. For me, worship is my life and the way I live it, my heart being turned towards Him, my instrument, my voice lifted to Him,….simple, pure, worship. So, just a little food for thought for today…… How do you worship?

I want to hear your opinions, Leave your comments!

Once an aspiring symphony orchestra conductor, Story didn’t even know she could sing – much less write songs – until she was in her early twenties.

The start of Laura Story‘s life in music & God’s call on her life reminds me of my own story, at least thus far, as a flutist being turned into a worship leader & wondering how God will glorify Himself next…

Laura Story wrote the worship song Indescribable (also recorded by Chris Tomlin), and can currently be heard singing Mighty To Save (Hillsong) on Christian radio.

Next week she’ll be leading in worship at the choral festival I’m attending & I look forward to it. I love hearing what God is doing & has done in His children’s lives!

Just wanted to ask you to check out the main blog page & see what you think! We’ve changed to a new layout, & would love to know what you think!

Also, if you have something to contribute to the weblog, please do! We’d love to hear from you & that’s what this blog community is for – to have “community” we’ve got to share & relate, & I’d love to get to know all of you better & hear about what God is doing in your lives.

If you have any questions about posting, this post may answer them. Also, if you aren’t a member but want to get involved, check this page.

May God bless you as you continue through the week!

I’ve only been leading worship for a short time, but I’ve already learned that being organized makes worship planning much easier! Some things that have worked for me that fellow worship leaders may find useful:

#1. Use dry-erase boards.

A good way to keep post-its & such from cluttering your workspace! Use it to write down song ideas for upcoming worship services & even use magnets to hold chord charts for quick review. When ideas for services other than the one being planned come to mind, this is where they can be written them down for your next planning session.

#2. Keep your sheets organized.

Keep chord & lead sheets in a filing cabinet or binder sorted alphabetically for quicker access. This can also save printing from CCLI (or other services) when you can access sheets printed for prior use.

#3. Utilize spreadsheets.

Our previous worship leader had a great system for keeping track of songs by title, hymn # (if applicable), key, dates used, & CCLI number. You can even color-code for things such as tempo, seasonal, song prospects, or to note which instrument you play on certain songs. (Be sure to make a color key though!)

#4. Make use of document templates.

Another idea I’ve inherited from our previous worship leader: Make a layout for the service or services you plan, then save as templates in Microsoft Word or OpenOffice. When planning services, you can simply open the template & enter the song or hymn titles for that worship service. Copy/paste into email for your worship team & you’re ready to go!

#5. Stackable documents trays = less clutter.

Many already use these for filing papers & such, & they are great to prevent paper clutter on your desk. You can use more or less depending on your need. I use 3-4 stackable trays in this way:

• 1: Current week’s music on top (for both Sunday & Wednesday choir rehearsal)
• 2: Music for future rehearsals/Sundays
• 3: Song prospects for review
• 4: Miscellaneous (upcoming conference/festival literature, music to purchase, etc.)

Did this help you to become more organized or give you other ideas? Share some tips of your own in the comments!

What music or drama specials are planned, or special events or services at your church?

ht: cries of the heart

What resources do you use to get printed music for your ministry (printable via online sources or not; chord charts, lead sheets, choral arrangements & anything else)?

I know many use CCLI, as does our church, but want to know what other resources are used by those of you either instead of or to supplement it.

I look forward to your input!