Tips for Worship Leaders
by Jason Thompson
I am from time to time asked about how I lead worship. Of course, everyone has their style, and each tradition has their own values for musical worship. I simply wanted to share practically some suggestions and tips for worship leaders, whether in a small group context, or those that lead at a Sunday morning church service or in larger groups.
Spiritual Preparation: Prayer and Discernment
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Take time to pray and give thought to a theme for the time of worship. This could be rooted in a verse or passage in the Bible . Ask the Lord what songs to do that are appropriate and connected to the theme of the gathering and/or knowing where people you will be leading are at (spiritually, physically tired, excited etc)
Beginning the Time of Worship
Give people space, to prepare their hearts. You can ask a question (ex. What are you thankful for? How have you seen Jesus working in your life? ) or you can give an encouragement here. While people are reflecting you could play a simple chord progression in the background, as people pray or are silent. This could be as simple as playing two chords back and forth (G - C for example)
Space for Prayer, Scripture Reading, Prophecy, Spontaneous Singing and/or Instrumentals
Ephesians 5:18b-20 Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Give people space during the time of worship to pray, prophecy, read scripture or just sing their own melodies and hearts to the Lord. As well, allow for the music to develop spontaneously with just instruments playing and creating new melodies. This could be a simple as just finger picking on the guitar or playing a melody with accompaniment on the piano.
Challenge
John 1:29 The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
As you are led, call people’s attention to what they are singing or just sang, have them be engaged, not just passively singing
Repeating Chorus(s) or Line in a Song
Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Sometimes you may want to repeat several times a chorus or sentence in a song.
There are times when I will do simple choruses from different songs one after the other that people know, so that they are able to reflect deeply and for a longer time ponder and pray from what they are singing in response to the Lord. This is particularly helpful if people do not have the song lyrics in front of them.
Silence
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Make space in your time of prayer and worship for silence. This can go for as long as you feel like the Lord is leading.
Dynamics
Have times of playing loud, have times of playing soft. Have times where just the voices are singing and no instruments are playing
Same Key
Keep songs in the same key, or in related keys. This helps people to not be distracted by capo changes or abrupt key changes. As well this helps to keep a flow going musically and makes it easy to go to other songs in the same key. Of course it’s ok, to do key changes during worship, just be sure to have a plan how you will do it…either musically, or you could have people pray or be silent as you make changes. Gently ease people into key changes, another example could be quietly begin playing or simply strumming the root chord for the next song. Be sensitive
