The Key To Success As A Worship Leader
I was helping our pastor pick up some used subwoofers and speakers for our church. We pulled up to a storage container, and our tech friend, who was selling them, greeted us with a smile.
The speakers we were buying were all the way in the back of the container, so he had pulled a number of things out in preparation. Spools of thick cables, old soundboards, pallets, a Roland keyboard in its flight case, lighting gear, speakers… all sorts of equipment used for live sound reinforcement.
Now came the fun part. Carrying the two Mackie Fussion 3000 speakers out. They EACH weigh 246 pounds. After going to the chiropractor in between speakers, we…just kidding.
But one thing in particular caught my eye.
An open container holding probably 100 keys.
There have been several times I’ve seen a container full of keys. I always want to label them, throw out the ones without a purpose, and put them up on a board with nails for easy access. I’ve never done said thing, but believe me, I’ve daydreamed.
Those keys feel like a picture of our lives as worship leaders.
Is this the key that will make me feel fulfilled?
Is this song the key that will unlock more congregational singing?
Is this team member the key to making us sound better?
Is this new pastor the key to a sense of traction as a staff team?
Is this new soundboard the key to reducing feedback?
Is this conference the key to keeping me from burnout?
And maybe the biggest question: What is the key to success as a worship leader?
Rolled up in that question is a lot of the American Dream, Western Christianity, and simply normal desire to do something that matters.
But it’s really the wrong question. As I like to quote Rosaria Butterfield, “It’s impossible to give a good answer to a bad question.”
Here’s the underlying problem. Ministry success is not our goal. Ministry success can be fine. But it’s the fruit.
The fruit of what?
Relationship with Jesus. That’s the ultimate goal. Ministry just happens as fruit.
Caution!
We don’t pursue a relationship with the Father so that we can do ministry.
We don’t read scripture to get something to share.
We don’t have a quiet time to qualify for ministry.
We don’t worship throughout the week to be ready for Sunday.
We worship because He’s worthy, we love because He first loved us, and we build relationship because that’s the very thing we were originally designed for...walking with God in the cool of the day.
Darash is a Hebrew word that basically means “to seek Him to find Him to love.”
Nearness. Fellowship. Konionia. Oneness.
These are our aims, our goals.
Now, is it ok to understand how to improve and be more influential as we lead? Well, of course. But it can’t be our goal. Knowing Him is our ultimate goal.
I’ve recently found a beautiful, free resource for both worship teams and congregations. I was talking to Robbie Seay from The Worship Initiative, and he shared his passion for equipping both worship leaders AND everyday worshipers. “Sing” is a 15-minute, daily devotional that incorporates a song (singing as a needed daily discipline). It’s not highly produced. And it feels like you’re just being with Jesus.
The other day, the scripture they shared was John 13, where Jesus washed His disciples' feet. Verse 8 says,
“If I don’t wash you… you have no part with me, you won’t belong to me, you have no share with me, you have no place with Me, we can have nothing to do with each other, you cannot be involved with me, you will have no inheritance with me, you can’t be part of what I’m doing, you will not be able to share life with me.”
Oof! 💔
Friends, part of a relationship with Jesus is receiving from Him. Again, not receiving for doing ministry. Receiving for the sake of glorifying the Giver.
I want us to stop trying to be successful in ministry and just be intimate band mates with the Maker. Let the affection run deep. Have the Lord as your magnificent obsession. Drop the facade and run into His arms day after day. That’s the invitation. That’s success.
-Dave Helmuth
Author of the Five Faders and Founder of Ad Lib Music
The Key To Success As A Worship Leader (Nº 453)
