The Inspired Response - R U Drawing or Lifting?

When you lead worship do you find yourself needing to give a lot of instruction or commands to get people to do certain outward actions or 'acts of worship'. Is there a lot of prodding involved? Lord knows some days with some groups it can be more like 'plowing' then others. But I'm not personally one for giving a lot of commands in worship or requesting specific actions... and here's why:

My thinking is: I'd rather INSPIRE a response than request it.

As worship leaders of course we all want people to be engaged. And of course there is a whole debate possible about whether we can really judge "true worship" by outward actions in worship. (Many evangelicals are programmed to display these now regardless - so outward actions don't always signify true inward worship) But, lets take a 'standard' Biblical act of worship like raising your hands... Would you rather have someone raise their hands because you said "come on everybody, let's raise our hands in worship now" or because you were simply directing people's attention to God and someone caught a glimpse of who He is that made them want to respond to God that way? Obvious answer really. - So since the hand-raising isn't my endgame but rather the heart-response is, I'm going to focus my time and attention when I'm leading there.

People worship in response to revelation. Our worship is a response to the light in which we understand or fail to understand who He is. Big revelation will result in big worship. Revelations 4 gives us a picture of this and it's what we have in store for us before long. For most of us though here and now, God is often drowned out by the world around us and too small and therefore so is our worship. Our job as worship leaders is to help with the revelation part - not skip to coercing the response.

In John 12:32 Jesus said "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" Of course here Jesus was referring to his death on the cross. But I believe He was also referring to another kind of lifting up as well. As we lift up, remind, display, proclaim, simply who He is - HE will draw people to himself. Who He is is SO AMAZING people can not help but be drawn to Him! We love because He loved us first. There is nothing else in existence that holds a candle to Him and there is a deep call built into each of our DNA for exactly this. We just need a true picture of Him to start the sparks flying.

If we focus on drawing men, or jumping straight to the desired response we miss the point altogether. If you seek to be a better worship leader, seek to be a better REVEALER of God rather than a motivational singer. Inspire people again with God's greatness and love and grace for them. When people catch again who He really is you'll get your response - and it will be real! Choose songs and exhortation and scriptures that reveal Christ. Leave room for the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ. Sing testimony and truth that paint who He is. Lift him up - and let Him do the drawing!

Baby Steps

In order to effectively lead the people we seek to lead in worship - whether at home or ministering elsewhere we have to adequately know a couple things: 1. Where are we now? 2. Where are we headed? 3. How far in that direction can we get today?

If I set out to lead my 10 month old son on stroll across the park to the swing-set I would need to pace the way I led him or we would never make the journey with me. He can already walk a bit but still needs some hand-holding for balance. If I took off across the grass at the pace I could personally make it to the swings he would get left in the dust. He'd either lose his balance and land on his derrière or he'd get distracted along the way and start wandering towards the sandbox. So out of my love for him and my desire for him to get to those swings -and all the promise of good things they hold- I will consider his needs and lead him at a pace he can handle.

It is one thing to get to the top of a mountain, but it is another thing altogether to lead a group to the top of a mountain. It's a much slower process as care and concern is given to the needs of those you're leading. Have you ever been in a worship service where the worship leader is having a grande-old-time up on cloud number nine but no one is with them? Everyone is just watching, waiting for them to be finished. It's a tricky thing to balance leading by example with getting too far out in front that your followers lose heart or become frustrated or lost. Instead you need to assess where the group is at right now, and take them one or two steps in the direction of your final destination.

If you're new leading worship in a given situation for any reason you already have that working against you. Try as best you can to not throw another natural obstacle into the mix by doing too many unfamiliar songs. Why try and 'fight' on multiple fronts at the same time? Do what's familiar and win them over to you first. Then maybe they'll be willing to follow you into the unfamiliar territory of a new song.

If you're making changes in your worship repertoire, style or form, do in in bite-size pieces or "baby steps". I believe it was Lincoln Brewster's Pastor, Glen Berteau, that told him once "I think you could paint the sanctuary bright pink if you did it one square foot per week."

It takes time to lead people well and if you're passing through you might not get to see the fruit. But that's okay. "The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work." 1 Corinthians 3:8. Trust God to turn the purposeful baby steps you lead people towards Him with into a fruitful journey over the long haul.

I thought I'd leave you with a clip you might remember from a good 'old' movie. :)

Caught in Between

"This is your life. Are you who you wanna be?" 

~ Switchfoot

When I listen to that song (and I love that song) if I'm truthful I have to answer, "no".

On so many levels, no I'm not.

I want to be so much more across the board.

In the "independent artist" circles I move in, as well as the other worship leaders I meet at churches and events and even "signed" artists I'm friends with I find commonality. We're all aspiring to reach bigger things, the next level, the bigger stage, the higher heights, the wider audience. 

When I was a teenager I really thought that if one day I could just lead worship at a youth convention that would be the pinnacle and I'd be so happy. Well, guess what, I've led worship at many youth conventions now, and it's been great and I still love it, but as soon as I was done I wanted bigger things. The bar just automatically gets reset higher at a new goal. Its human nature I guess and it doesn't change no matter what "level" you're functioning at right now - unless we change US.

R.T. Kendall, in his great book The Anointing - Yesterday Today and Tomorrow, says, "We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God's purpose for us. In fact, His purpose may be entirely the opposite." He goes on to say, "What we see as only the process  of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself." and "His purpose for me is to depend on Him and His power NOW. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me."

There are so many Biblical examples of people who had dreams that they had to wait for years and years to see come true. There were about 20 hard years between David being anointed King and when he finally actually became King. Joseph had about 13 years between his dreams of greatness and when they finally came true. In these examples their dreams actually came true in God's time because they really were from God. With us, though, there is always the question: "Is my dream really from God - Or is it my pride and ambition fooling me." (Although I'm sure David and Joseph had those exact thoughts too!)

Maybe the only good answer here is to take our hands off of the dreams we think God is leading us to and stop focusing on the end-game. I find myself constantly having to give my dreams back over to God and trust Him in the process rather than how long I think it's taking me to get to my endgame. If God is taking me there He'll take me there. I just need to be who He wants me to be TODAY. For Him my endgame is not His ultimate goal. His real goal is who He's making me along the way. 

His real goal is who He's making you along the way. 

Now to do something I NEVER thought I'd do. I have to quote a new song my Miley Cyrus: "The Climb" written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe.

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

It's All In The Eyes

It is such a unique thing to walk into a church or any worship-leading opportunity as a guest and complete stranger trying to assess where the group is at spiritually and what God is doing right in that moment. If you've been praying about it ahead of time - and hopefully you have - you may be fortunate enough that God has given you an advance sense of how to lead in that particular setting. Or maybe it'll come on the fly. Or maybe both. :)

Leading in a familiar setting with familiar people, like at your home church, can take some of the guess-work out of where the body is at in that season. But then, it also carries it's own share of pitfalls. Being overly familiar can dull people's sense of expectancy (Mark 6:3-5) and it can lull a leader into complacency or to assume too much. 

In both cases the 'trick' comes down to the same thing: Leading as we follow the leader - The Spirit of God. In John 5:19 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." We are simply to be like Jesus. The Father sets the agenda and we follow. It's supposed to be that simple. Our job is to learn how to discern what the Father is doing and then just jump on board with THAT game-plan.

I love Psalms 32 verses 8 and 9 where God says He wants to guide us with His eye rather than have to jerk us around like a horse or a mule with a bit in it's mouth. (KJV) The idea here is that we would stare into the face of God and know Him intimately enough that we could see in His eyes what He wants next. We'll "just know" because we know Him so well. This is echoed again in Psalms 123:2 "...just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." 

That is our job. Not to rush around like a busy servant trying to accomplish what seems like the good next thing to do for our master; but to simply stare in His face, let Him set the agenda and then move according to what He is doing in the room. When we're in synch with His purposes we'll have the full backing of Heaven to accomplish them and -wow- that's a good place to be! Thanks be to God He actually lets us participate with Him! What a privilege.

The End of 'Me'

Do you ever feel like you're the last person that should be leading worship today? Ever feel like a failure with nothing to offer of value? Have you ever been just about to walk on stage to lead and had to pray something like "God you've GOT to help me here because I feel like I have absolutely nothing to give anyone."?

I have.

I've actually been having sort of an "I suck" type of week this past week... Dunno if you've ever had that. Thinking back, I'm not sure I can trace its start to any one thing even. No specific failure in this instance; maybe more of a "hope deferred" thing. (Pr 13:12) But the end-result-feeling is similar to other times when my failures and inadequacies have brought me to a low place that seemed like an unfavorable starting point to lead others in worship from. But I know enough now to know that that is not always the case. Sometimes it's when we've come to "the end of ourselves" that we're the most ready to truly lead God-centered worship in His way and in His strength.

See, on a 'good day' it can be so easy for us to waltz up on stage and confidently lean on our own strengths, talents, and know-how. We do what we know well, what's worked in the past and what gets the response we want. There is always this danger before us of leading purely out of reservoir, talent, and flesh. Danger is the operative word here if we're looking for more than the motions and show - for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (Jm 4:6) We should not put too much stock in our abilities. (Ps 20:7) What has always worked will not always work. There is no formula to experiencing God's presence except humbly seeking Him with sincerity. So we do well not to assume too much when we seek to lead others to His throne room.

Sometimes I believe God allows us to unravel a bit for our own good and the good of those we lead. A set-back can be a set-up; and when we come to the end of ourselves and realize our own smallness we're ready to truly see His bigness. In our weakness we finally get a glimpse of how badly we've always needed Him; finally allow Him to be strong as we lean on Him; finally let Him truly call the shots and lead us; finally GET BACK TO BASICS. In that humble, honest place we find our King smiling and waiting for us - and so do those we bring along. 

God will do what He has to to get us all there.

When you're having one of those days, come to God in absolute humility, honesty and repentance and He simply takes you the way you are first and works on you after. If it's sin that has tripped  you up bring it to the cross and expose it to the light. No human is perfect this side of heaven - we are ALL in process. God has invited us then to boldly approach His throne of grace that we might find mercy in our time of need. (Heb 4:16) We love Him because He loved us first and the one who has been forgiven much loves much! (Lk 7:47) Harness that gratefulness and express your love to God in your leading. It will be contagious! When you're feeling low -for whatever reason- run to Him not from Him; and bring the ones He's entrusted you with leading along!

Who's The Boss?

Whether you are a worship leader who travels and ministers itinerantly or one who leads primarily in one place there is one all-important concept you absolutely need to understand: 

Authority.

Failing to understand the biblical concept of authority, especially as a worship leader, I believe, is a death-wish for your ministry; and poison in the place(s) you minister. How many church splits and conflicts have been rooted in worship leaders failing to submit to the vision of their pastors? Some would argue theologically that Lucifer himself is the precedent for this: Article: Is Lucifer Leading Worship In Your Church?  

Here are the basics: The entire basis & root of sin is rebellion to God's authority. And as John Bevere writes so well in his book Under Cover (Highly recommended reading): "We cannot separate our submission to God's inherent authority from our submission to His delegated authority. All Authority originates from Him!" (U.C. pg.11) "For there is no authority except from God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2)

So here's what this means for you and me: The authority of the pastor you serve under, whether you're visiting or resident, traces back to Jesus himself. 

Take that in for a second. It's pretty big.

That means what they want goes - whether we like it or not and no matter what we're "feeling led to" at that moment. "We cannot bypass delegated authority and declare ourselves subject only to God's" (U.C. pg.158)  If we submit only when it lines up with what we think at the time then that's not submitting at all.

So here comes the obvious question: "But what if they're WRONG???"

Are you ready for this?...

Not our problem!   :)

Here's the thing: We don't have to assume the pressure on ourselves of discerning if the Pastor is right. The Pastor's authority comes directly from Jesus and if they're wrong it's on them and not us. All WE are responsible for is to submit to THEM. If we do that, under God's appointed plan, we're covered and we did the right thing. That earns us a "Well done my good and faithful servant" on that assignment. - Freeing isn't it?   :)

"There is freedom in submission and bondage in rebellion" (U.C. pg.11) Knowing this really helps make our way a little easier as worship leaders. Our job is not to steer (or rock) the boat. Rather, it's to paddle on command. "We must keep before us the fact that a person can be more gifted than his pastor, yet the pastor who stands in the office of authority is over the gifted person." (U.C. pg. 184) 

Maybe your pastor "just doesn't get it" on worship. That's okay - they're still your pastor and they're the boss! If they're open to a private discussion later about the vision for worship at your church then that's awesome. Humbly share your heart. If at the end of that talk there are still conflicting visions go home and pray. But if you can't wholeheartedly submit to the authority of your pastor:

A. You should not breathe a word of dissension - ever. Remember: their authority traces back to Jesus!

B. If you can't submit you shouldn't be the one leading worship there

If you're traveling and ministering as a visitor somewhere find out the leadership's vision and do your best to serve that. In doing so you're aligning yourself with God's vision. If and when God want's something different there he'll change the leadership or he'll change-out the leadership. If you're leading worship at your church do the same. Our path as worship leaders becomes clearer when we trace appointed authority backwards and realize it all comes from Jesus!

Masks off - It's TRUTH time!

You walk into church and greet acquaintance after acquaintance. "How are you doing?" is the question repeated. "Good! Good! Doing great!" is the response back and forth over and over. We shake hands, smile, polish the mask, wear it well. It's our culture. It's 'how we do'.

Hopefully we all have someone at church that we're close enough with to let them see the real us so we can unload what's really going on and get help and support if we need it. Someone to laugh or cry with whatever the season may be. That's part of being a family and The Body. (1 Cor 12:26)

Being a part of a body like that is one of the big reasons my wife and I decided to forgo traveling full-time with lose roots in favor of plugging-in to a great church and only traveling to minister part-time. We felt for us it was a healthier model. We were all created to be a part of community - not lone rangers. I digress...

Sure in our western culture we wear the "everything's great" mask a lot of the time. When it comes to ourselves, it's a defense mechanism and it's pride. Then, when it comes to others we're often uncomfortable with people spilling their emotions all over the place. Who wants to see that?

Well... God does.

Read the psalms. The psalm-writers spill their guts all over the place continually. Good, bad, happy sad - they don't hold back, they let it all hang out. There are no masks. No niceties. Just raw emotion.  They petition God to violently wipe their enemies of the face of the earth in retribution; they gush tears about how close they are to dying of grief; they dance on mountaintops in unbridled exhilaration. There doesn't seem to be a filter. The walls are down. It's just how they truly feel and they're not afraid to tell God about it plainly.

Could this be part of what it means to worship God in TRUTH?

Could it be that God isn't interested in our social rules and would prefer we openly take off the masks He sees through anyways and confess to Him how we really feel? Do we maybe forget sometimes that He is not one of us and we can let down our guard with Him? 

It's safe. 

He knows we need Him. 

He wants us to know it and admit it. 

He is attracted to our need. 

Not our fronting.

He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)

If you're a worship leader, approach God in honesty yourself. He knows anyways. Model it. Then lead people into worship that encourages truth between them and Almighty God. Make room for people to be real before Him. Nudge them towards it because you love them. 

There is freedom there. There is healing there. 

There is grace and forgiveness after confession.

And the TRUTH will set us free.