Signs of a Lukewarm Worship Leader
So Craig over at Swerve had a great post up today.I’m blatantly ripping it off for the sake of this community and rewording it to fit me and my own experiences and others I know.
A lukewarm worship leader:
- Prays more on stage than off stage.
- Cares more about how many songs he or she is leading than the overall shape of the service.
- Is overly sensitive to criticism.
- Is jealous or critical of someone else that God is blessing.
- Spends little if any time in the Word preparing to lead His Church.
- Sings more songs on stage than in personal worship.
- Spends more time mimicking other worship leaders then being shaped into the worship leader they were made to be.
- Says things on stage that his or her family NEVER hear them say off stage.
Keep adding your own bullet points here…
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
Cares more about the production and the melodies than he does about the hearts in the room.
Cares more about other hearts than his/her own.
bro, that is so true. those are questions we should ask ourselves often.
cares less about theology than music theory
Is more concerned about how the singing went today than if the church is making disciples and reaching the world.
cares more about being center stage than reserving that spot for Christ…
has not stepped one foot towards the place he wants to take people…
cannot stand asking these questions of himself….
Yawns inbetween songs.
Great play off of Craig's post. My only comment is regarding the dependent on other songs to sing… I'm not a song writer, so I do depend on other song writers to help my voice. There is, in my opinion a calling to be a song writer and a separate calling to be a worship leader.
Ouch on a couple of points there.
they put on a 'sincere' voice on stage that they never use anywhere else in life…
when they hear you singing a worship song outside of a 'service' they tell you to stop singing because you cant sing
Is there a difference between a sermon writer and a sermon deliverer?
Just playing the other coin. LOL
What about… Is not searching for songs within his own community?
How about they don’t make the music/song ‘their own’. AKA they’re more concerned about it being played how they hear it on the radio vs. prayerfully leading worship.
B/c often sermon writers don’t get everything out of their own head. They’re pulling from scripture, from other preachers, quoting other people etc.
Puts on such a great show that the worship declines.
Performs for the crowd instead of leading towards God.
i think that there CAN be a difference between the sermon writer & sermon deliverer. Not necessarily the MOST healthy, maybe, but we all know preachers who haven't preached a sermon that was THEIRS in years…or ever. sometimes the gift is in delivery, not creating the content itself, but the delivery ensures that the content IS received well.
not saying it's what i do, but i don't see that big of a problem there…
Good point. I think it is more not looking for songs out of their community. If there are gifted worship leaders, there must be song writers in the church as well.
We get lazy and fat when we should be wrenching out songs from where we are at.
I'm kinda with Christopher on this one. The realit is there are lots of great songs out there that often say what needs to be said where we're at. the way it plays out in the current local church is much different in my opinion that the sermon. We're not comparing apples and apples there, imho.
Don't get me wrong. I have been challenged by the call to write songs. i think it can be a great thing and some great songs come out of a need to express a thought that isn't already written into a song. But I don't think it's fair to call that person luke warm.
And I'm not sure about the lazy part either. I think smaller churches are at 2 disadvantages when it comes to wrenching out songs. One is simply amount of people. In a congregation of 100 people, it's very possible that there is not yet a gifted songwriter. Then the question comes in balancing the beauty of personalized worship for the congregation with quality writing and music that will we are often aiming for. That's could be a tough balance on both ends.
The other one is less staffing. It may not be a matter of laziness as much as time. As much as I'd like to be more involved in looking for songs from people and really pushing artists, it does become harder when Worship isn't a pastor's sole responsibility. I don't want to make excuses, but just recognize the time that gets eaten up for me when I am practicing my craft, putting together sets, running life groups, overseeing tech teams, preaching on occasion, organizing events, and leading a short terms mission trip. I'm not trying to whin, I just am always wishing I could do more. But if I do, I will get luke worm cause there's no margin for my own soul. kinda make sense? Or am I just rambling?
• Ripoff the list of other people's post 'for the sake of his community' instead of creating his own.
Hahaha… sorry, couldn't resist.
To add on to the songwriting thing… I think there is also skill and time involved in knowing what songs written by “outsiders” are right or wrong for your church. It's so easy to just go with the popular music or with what you've always done… ~:-)
Hi, my name is Rosy. Just wishing you a sincere Merry Christmas and for you to check out thegiftrevolution.com website =)
When they sing little song ad-libs, and they act like it's heartfelt and a spontaneous passionate thing, but you can tell they only do it because that's how it is on the record version of the song.
Feels the need to write his/her own songs/music because existing worship “isn't good enough”.
So.. I agree with Los when he said “Is not searching for songs within his own community” along with Tracey when she said “It's so easy to just go with the popular music or with what you've always done.” I've experienced the “we need to do as many popular songs as we can to keep it fresh and exciting” mentality. Just because Its a powerful song and its a new song doesn't mean its the RIGHT song. THINK before we LEAD
On my long morning drives I normally pick songs to listen to and sing that are going to connect with me and whatever state my soul is in at that time. If i'm felling defeated or weak maybe I'll listen to The Stand by Hillsong. Maybe I'll even listen to it over and over on my 45 minute drive. I may even sing that same song all day long. And I'll do that because THAT is the song I needed to sing.
“What song does my church need to sing?” is the first question I'll be asking and praying before I ask about popularity.
I'm guilty of missing the mark on some of this stuff.
Thanks for the sweet awesome post Los!
i have to respectfully disagree with the thought that if there are gifted worship leaders, there must be song writers….
i worship at a small church (usually no more than 50 on a typical Sunday morning). we have an amazing worship team. out of the 7 on the team, maybe 3 can sing on-pitch for any length of time. those who can't will fully acknowledge that they can't. however, they do know how to get into God's presence. that's why they're on the team. we use CDs and Powerpoint or the iWorship DVDs, and we have had amazing times of anointed worship. much prayer goes into the preparation each week, and because of that prayer and preparation, we are still able to be open to last-minute changes as Holy Spirit prompts us.
Looks like the topic at hand is getting a bit skewed.
But we'll go with it.
Ha. Sorry bud… didn't mean for it to take this tangent.
is Tired, Worn Out and Ready to Throw the Towel In. . .
#1 treats worship as a performance instead of worship
#2 It's all about the solo and no The One
I still think there are songs God wants for your tiny iWorshipping
church.
Not that what you are doing is not obedience.
But I still think they are there.
Trust me
-thinks he/she can shoulder the burden of leading worship by himself/herself
-doesn't recognize the necessity of worship leaders in the congregation helping to create an atmosphere of praise.
* – is more concerned about preparing his/her cool hair style and stylish clothes than preparing his/her heart
ok…so what about the underlying assertion that the “temperature” of the leaders has a direct bearing on the “temperature” of the congregation? It seems to me that the music part of worship is always the easy target. The music itself is probably the least important part of worship….lets examine our own approach to leadership….it's what our congregations need more than particular songs.
This is a great post Los..thanks for putting it up…or ripping it off
I am as guilty as the next WL of losing sight of the reason we worship….
my prayer…God keep us connected to you so that we can server you the way you designed us to!
I miss you friend. And I know you check your blog comments more than your email, so I'm posting it here.
I miss you.
# Is almost exclusively dependent on others songs to sing than writing songs for where their local church is at.
that's a bit self-righteous, no?
Only as self righteous as leaving a comment with a fake email.
performs rather than leads
- personal time means 1 hour at the coffee shop every morning trying to look cool
The way I look at the whole “writing your own songs” thing is that it can very easily become a source of pride and arrogance toward older songs. The gospel has not changed, and some songs are timeless. I am not against writing songs for your congregation to sing out of where you are currently at, but I am concerned that the focus easily becomes where we are at. God hasn't moved. Worship ought to take us to Him.
Again, I see the point of writing some songs from where we are at, but most good worship songs and hymns start at where we are always at, sinners in need of grace, humbly bowing before a gracious king.
Bottom line, I'm fine with writing new stuff. But I'm also fine with singing the old stuff. It's just as discerning of me as a leader to know that a particular song fits where the congregation is at as it is to write a song that fits. And often the song already written fits better, is easier for the congregation to sing (because they already know it), and takes the focus off of me.
Hey – I could use your opinion on my post from last night… it's not directly correlated with your post, but it's definitely related.
Just kind've a realization about leading and fully using the gift God's given you (singing, song-writing… or anything for that matter), but in the way that he intended it, not just the way that is comfortable and easy or safe. And I believe a LOT of worship leaders struggle with the balance between singing what the church is used to and singing what is true and needed by their local church. Becuase people don't like change, even though they say differently and say they want a “touch from God”… they don't want the change that comes with it.
Anywho – I could use another opinion… Thanks much!
- quotes the same verse every time they lead cause it is the only one they know and only know it because they heard another worship leader use it
- chills somewhere other than the auditorium after the set and never bothers to actually listen to the sermon/message
- never says anything about the songs they are singing because they don't really know what the songs are about
and if I may comment about the songwriting sidebar…should not the one leading the music spend at least as much time writing/preparing/arranging the musical message as the speaker/pastor does with the spoken message? so what if the song is not a top 100 radio hit or sung by any other church then the one you are leading at. If it helps communicate the message God has given the pastor/leader of the church, then write, sing it, and help your people get it.
i think that is the point Ben. Some songs already written work perfect. But considering the nature of the message God has given the pastor and each congregation's unique culture and circumstances, there may need to be a song written that says what needs to be said exactly like it needs to be said and no one else has had the foresight to write that song saying it the right way to say it.
- he or the “worship team” can't be found during the message.
- hoping his/her talent will be enough for people to experience God
- is performing worship not leading worship
Great post. It's easy to keep doing what you know will work, instead of follow God's leading for your church.
It's easy to copy other guys styles, it's hard to allow God to grow you into what HE wants you to be.
Ouch!
That's the other side of the stick alright.
* Using the current church as a means to simply get to a bigger/better church.
Ouch! The chilling part…
Just out of interest Los, what is the percentage of home-grown songs vs. borrowed songs used in a typical service you are taking part in?
Maybe half are written by our NP worship leaders.
At Sandals maybe 1/3
What's funny to me is that the most popular and “powerful” worship songs are songs written by someone for what their local church is experiencing.
I'm not a “worship leader” so to speak, but I do lead worship in our youth services currently. I also rap and my wife has been saying that I need to leave my comfort zone, escape my fear and write songs of my own for worship. This post just pushed that envelop a little bit more forward.
Oh, and another sign of a Luke Warm Worship Leader: uses preset sets of music for the song list and rotates them from week to week. Set A week 1, set B week 2, etc.
YES…brilliant!
Enjoys the stage more than they fear it.
“Is almost exclusively dependent on others songs to sing than writing songs for where their local church is at.”
i totally agree with this post with the exception of this point. While I really do value local writing, I also think it's a gift, just like being proficient at guitar or singing. The art of writing a song is not given everyone who can lead worship in my opinion. Great post though! We all need these reminders.
Well said, Kasey. I also disagreed with that statement, however, I do believe if it is in your heart's desire to write songs for your local church or even if just to write one for just you and jesus, then God has put that desire in there. We can trust Him to empower and inspire us to birth songs that will be timely and precisely what our church needs to be seeking God for. And if a worship leader simply cannot or does not want to write, he/she can empower the creative artists within his/her church to assist them in that process
Bobby I feel you bro… sometimes I get so angry (for lack of a better word) at all the song-writing inspiration I get and all the desire in my heart to write… because no matter how many ideas I have and how hard I try, I have not yet been successful in attaining to the level of writing I know I am called to live at… so far maybe 10 songs.. but there are literally over 200 on my voicemails, dictaphone, and notepads that I have had inspiration for but not adequate time to nurture and finish. :/
thankfully LOS recommended a book recently and I am reading it (”Getting Things Done” by David Allen) and learning how to create some time with all the demanding ministry responsibilities I have other than Worship – I believe our songs are coming very soon… be encouraged. And don't be afraid to delgate or dump things you shouldn't be doing… (I am preaching to myself as well)
- forgets that his lead pastor is actually the worship leader of the church… and that the Holy Spirit is the Worship Leader of the Church at large…
– worships more “from the chart” than “from the heart”
– prefers his words to be without heart over his heart to be without words
– doesn't show up for a worship service he isn't scheduled to lead or play/sing in
– is critical of other worship leaders rather than supportive and partnered with
– forgets about the people he/she is serving
– doesn't purposefully challenge his heart on a regular basis like David did in Psalm 139:23
– uses this comment feature to criticize others rather than to personally grow
I'd say that, whether the music is original or covered, if your sermon writer or deliverer is repeating the same 10 sermons over and over they're a bore. if the analogy held up, worship leaders would be required to have fairly unique sets week after week.
And YES… this is way better: “Is not searching for songs within his own community”. Now THAT I can be chastised by.
Interesting… I'm constantly on that razor edge of “what we know” and either something I've written specifically for that week, or a new cover. Since being given strict order by Sr. Pastor to only sing “what we know,” with the exception of only ONE song per week — the selection of that ONE song is crucial. Sometimes I feel so constricted by that requirement — and yet, it makes me so much more seek the Lord's guidance to construct a set that will convey His heart. I have arbitrarily decided that doing a song one time removes the “new” limitation, so I am able to introduce variety, albeit at a snail's pace.
We're not 'allowed' to do songs I have written becuase there is no “sheet” music and only “chord charts.”
Gauges success on outward emotions of, instead spiritual growth of the church body
If the worship does not lead to life changing encounters with God?????? That's a sign!!
Dishes out more criticism than he/she is willing to take.
Ok so i've heard a lot about people preforming instead of leading people into worship. I am a worship leader, but I'm still fairly new at it. So i still have a few questions. I can get up there and sing and play my heart out. But I've heard that I sometimes leave people behind. So how do you bring people with you into worship. How exactly do you lead them to go with you on the trip? I know about preparing and praying and staying in the word, but what about while your up on stage?
When packing up the gear, the first thing you're dying to ask the friend attending the service is "how'd it sound in the house!?".
Doesn’t draw other worship leaders through!! Or more broadly, doesn’t display any fruit!
Cares more about what the people on the team can do for the team than what he can do for them.
Great post. We all need to do a gut check from time to time. If what we are doing is empty, it is the same thing as the Pharisees. We are merely putting on a show, rather than shepherding our people. Whether that involves writing new original songs, or finding the songs that give your church body the words with which to worship, I think we ought to have a little grace here. Not everyone writes well, or feels comfortable sharing their music in public yet. Let’s pray for each other that we can truly LEAD our people and not merely perform for them.
I have a feeling this list would be much shorter if each person posted how they themselves have fallen short : )
Thanks for posting this. There’s a mirror in here for all of us.
Yup. These are just mine.
A lot of these point are true, but we need to be careful not to cast judgement on worship leaders! Yes, they do have leadership responsibilities, and yes they need to be held to a higher standard but worship leaders are prone to mistakes just as mush as any of us. What if instead using frustration toward our worship leaders, that we reach out to them and ask them if every thing’s alright?
Most worship leaders that hurt people are usually hurting themselves, and its important to reach out to them before making the assumption that there selfish rock-stars.
Writing songs… Being what I consider pretty young to have the job that I do, I find that many, MANY people my age, the “up and coming” worship leaders feel compelled to write songs because that’s what they see worship leaders do. I have struggled against my own fleshy desires to write for the sake of having a new song– not for my congregation, which is a very under-developed group of worshipers.
** Luke warm worship leaders don’t have the spiritual tenacity to wait on God, but want people to worship their way, their time.
@Chris Day: If absence of sheet music is a holdup for musicians on your team you can help them out. Learn basic music theory for free at: and also download a sheet music writer at God bless as you push your knowledge and skills as a Worship Leader
Ecc. 9:10, col. 3:23, 1Cor. 10:31.
musictheory.net
finalemusic.com
…will be the first ones to come up with some new ones regarding this post because they feel they need to try and convince themselves they are not the very thing they will write here.
guilty.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
A QUESTION to the experienced leaders out there: I’m the “back-up” worship leader at our small church — not a vocational ministry, and nothing I studied for or planned on!
God’s teaching me as I go.
Your postings re: writing music intrigue me & I would love your advice.
I began hearing songs at about dawn — like 5 a.m.-ish when I’m half asleep/half awake — several years ago. In the last year, it has begun happening more frequently.
Almost every early morning as I am half-asleep/half-awake, trying to will myself awake, I hear music.
I didn’t realize that these songs might be something God wanted to communicate to others…that maybe there was a responsibility or calling to get them down & submit them to my leader/s?
Reality though? What I hear far exceeds my ability to write on staff paper or even sing into a voice recorder when I’m half-asleep.
But since God isn’t dependent on my abilities, out of obedience, I started taking a voice recorder to bed with me. When it happens, if I’m awake enough to realize it, I try to resist the desire to go back to sleep…but roll over & grab the recorder instead, to try to sing what I’m hearing.
Even if I can’t get down everything I hear, minimally, I can write those one-line melodies on staff paper — and I have a good friend who is excellent with chords/arrangements.
What else would you recommend to me in responding to whatever God is doing here?
I feel very unprepared — like God is putting something in my hands & I’m staring at it going, “I have no idea what to do with this, Lord.” I’m willing to take a class or whatever people recommend for being better prepared.
Blessings to you from Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Sorry this was so long, but I don’t know who to get advice from on this on my end of the world!)
Walks off stage and asks everyone to evaluate their offering without thinking to ask God what He thought of your offering.
YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND IT SHALL SET YOU FREE!
GO:
http://web.me.com/rthorne2/Site_2/TRUTH_REVEALED_MINISTRY!.html