Why Are You A Worship Leader?

My friend Adam once said, “I’m not a psychologist because that’s what I do. I’m a physiologist, so that’s what I do.” In other words, his chosen profession doesn’t make him what his job title says. His calling and bent made him who he is, so he chose that for his profession.

So why are you a worship leader? Are you a worship leader because that’s what you do, or are you a worship leader so that’s what you do?

Sit with that question for a few minutes. Ask the Lord to speak to you about it.

Here are the five main characteristics of a worship leader.

Always On

Oh, I don’t mean they don’t take breaks. But we’re the ones who, at a gathering of friends, say something like, “dare me to start a song.” And an hour later, we haven’t looked back. It’s like there’s a Jesus party just below the surface, and “for no apparent reason,” we let it rip. There’s that old song, I’ve Got a River of Life? (From John 7:38 “For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”) We embody it.

And here’s what I mean. If you just show up every time you’re on the schedule to lead worship, this does not make you a worship leader in this sense. It’s that you can’t wait to sing to Jesus again. And again. And again. Until forever. We are worshipers. This is a habit of the Priest Fader.

The Craft

Everyone is “into” something. Worship leaders deeply understand the tool of music. But there’s a purpose in the music. More than being a musician, the worship leader is a psalmic minstrel. What is that? The psalmist loves to sing songs to the Lord, and the minstrel loves to touch the strings of an instrument, and both release the atmosphere of God’s presence. Think of Paul and Silas singing until the earth quaked (not to make it quake, but to praise God) and David playing before Saul, changing the spiritual atmosphere and the mood of the possessed king. I want to get great at using the powerful tool of music to make tangible changes wherever I sing or play. Like 1 Corinthians 14:12 reads, “Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” This is a habit of the Artist Fader

Towards People

There’s a saying that worship ministry is more about people than it is about music. For someone who has had to learn to raise his Shepherd Fader, that’s a good challenge. But there’s a foundational principle in the Kingdom of God that instructs us to be “towards people.” In other words, our heart posture must be for others, for their best, to give the same level of love and forgiveness that we’ve received from Jesus ourselves. This is a high standard! But it’s what we’re called to. This is a habit of the Shepherd Fader.

Beyond Music

Music is our primary tool. We care deeply about it. But the way I treat my kids, the way I love my wife, the way I show up at work, the way I honor my authority, the way I spend my leisure time, the way I care for my body, the way I develop relationships with people far from God, the way I steward my finances, the way I guard my heart and thought life, the way I…live is more important than my music and worship leading. Call it the lifestyle of worship if you like. All these things can be worship unto the Lord, and if my off-stage life doesn’t match my on-stage life, something is wrong. Character matters. Lord, please don’t entrust to me leadership influence beyond that which my character can handle. This is a habit of the Educator Fader.

Intentionality

No worship leader naturally fires on all Five Faders. Planning is definitely not my superpower. But if I don’t do it, that choice hurts those around me. The art of planning can be summed up in the word “intentionality.” Do it on purpose. Think through it from beginning to end. Understand your context - don’t lead songs at the nursing home the same way you do at youth group, or lead a Sunday morning service the same way you do a 2-hour set at a house of prayer. We’re liturgists and cantors weaving songs, scriptures, prayers, and encouragements to create spaces where people can meet with God. It’s a sacred trust not to be approached willy-nilly. We must be intentional. This is a habit of the Producer Fader.

I want to raise an army of true worship leaders, who are primarily worshipers who wholeheartedly and “wholelifedly” give our King the worth due His Name. And I want us to be appropriately balanced in all the ways that make us truly excellent. What is the one area you’d most like to strengthen?

-Dave Helmuth
Author of the Five Faders and Founder of Ad Lib Music

Ps. Yes, that picture is me in my college days, playing guitar in a hammock at an Intervarsity camp. Yes, that’s my real hair and yes, I still hold my two fingers on the guitar to fingerpick.

Why Are You A Worship Leader? (Nº 461)