Lead It Like You Mean It

My last post was from the CMS@Overlake session "Worshiping in Brokenness". This post continues with my notes and additional thoughts of my own from the session "Lead It Like You Mean It" lead by Overlake's own Worship Leader, Jesse Butterworth.

Jesse began by asking who had read the book "Worship Matters" by Bob Kauflin, and urged everyone who hadn't to add it to their reading list. He had eight main points to share with the group on leading worship; they are:
1. Let the Holy Spirit Lead
2. Lead by Example
3. Lead to the Throne
4. Lead with Authority
5. Lead with Authenticity
6. Lead with Passion
7. Lead with Humility
8. Lead in Your Strength

1. Let the Holy Spirit Lead:
* Before any worship related activity, in prayer, beg God to lead. "More of You, less of me."
* Remember to bring God into planning sessions and rehearsals too.

2. Lead by Example:
* Be a "permission giver". As worship leaders, by our prompting and our example we are giving the assembly permission to do what it is you are leading them to do - sing, shout, dance, clap hands, raise hands, whisper, cry, and keep silent.
* You should not only verbally give instructions, e.g. "clap your hands", but the team nees to do by example. When the worship leader leads the assembly to do something, the rest of the team needs to be attentive to that and follow suite too - give them permission to follow too.
* God cares about the quality of _worship_, not the quality of music.
* God doesn't call everybody into leadership positions.

3. Lead to the Throne:
* As we lead people to the throne of grace, as much as possible, eliminate distractions so as to make straight the path way for the assembly to approach and dwell in God's presence.
* Powerpoint projectionists need to be rehearsed, prepared and vigilant.
* Look out for typos in projected lyrics.
* Worship leaders do verbal callouts for the team and Powerpoint projectionists to follow.
* (Jesse suggested checking out the web application, "PlanningCenter.com" to help with planning and team coordination).
* Rehearse - goes without saying. The more comfortable you are with what you're doing, the freer you will be to lead and worship yourself.
* For rehearsals, have the team show up prepared:
- listen to how exactly you want the songs to sound/be arranged by sending MP3s or links to Internet resources like YouTube.com. Even if that's not how you'll end up singing the song, at least you start on the same page and you can evolve together in rehearsal.
* Learn the concept of "Complementary Keys". He asked us to Google it and the phrase "Circle of 5ths". Here's a link to one of the web pages I found useful: http://www.folkblues.com/theory/circle_5ths.htm.
* Too much talking between songs can have people disengage.
* You carry the banner of your church, your ministry and Jesus everywhere you go. How you behave and look outside church is just as important as in church. As a leader up in front, people recognize you even if you don't them.
* Wardrobe: "Ladies we don't want to see you b**bs", so be mindful of your cleavage, midriff, and hemline. Men, watch what's on your T-shirt: some T-shirt messages and band names are inappropriate.

4. Lead with Authority:
* If we're not leading, then we're just a performing band or doing karaoke. You need to lead with authority so that people can follow.
* Authority does not equal dictatorship. Don't do "Bad Dog" preaching.
* Be "Seeker Intelligible/Sensitive". You don't know who walks through those doors on any given day, give directives for people who are new to your church, don't assume that everyone knows what to do just because we've been doing it all along. e.g. in the Catholic mass: when to kneel, stand or sit.

5. Lead with Authenticity:
* Don't always have to put on your "Sunday Face". Not everyday is a sunny day in Seattle :)
* If you're authentic, you give permission to others to be also.
* People can sniff out inauthenticity .

6. Lead with Passion:
* Ask yourself honestly, is leading worship something you're passionate about?
* People are going to question you, even flame you at times; stay focused on God and His anointing of you to do this.
* Again, if you're passionate up front, it gives permission to the assembly to be passionate.

7. Lead with Humility:
* Jesus is the high priest, we are all members and co-laborers of the same body, not matter what role in the community you play.
* Treat everyone with same respect.

8. Lead in Your Strength:
* (Jesse's suggested reading: "Strengths Finder" by Tom Rath)
* Ask yourself, "Am I designed to do this?"; "Is that me?"
* If y ou're a hand and you're trying to be a nose, you're making us [the body] look ugly.
* Don't get sucked into the "model" template of what a worship team/band/sound should be; find what your strengths are in your team, and capitalize on them.

The point that is most sticky for me is that as worship leaders we need to be "Permission Givers"; giving people the permission to fully and actively participate in the liturgy to worship an inviting, loving and intimate God.

Peace and joy be with you in your ministry.