Worship Leader Guidelines
When we arrive at church, we often have many different things on our mind: the events of the day, work and/or school projects and deadlines, family issues, etc.
Worship Leaders
Often when we arrive at church we have many things on our mind;
the events of the day, work, family, responsibilities, school, etc. It therefore takes time and effort to turn our attention to God.
This is the sole purpose of a worship leader, to focus our attention on the Triune God. This is done through a short message and leading the congregation in song. In short, the worship leader invites and draws the congregation into worship. The worship leader’s message should never be preachy or long, nor is it a time for jokes or stories. It should never be a “pre-sermon” to the sermon. The message can be based on a short Bible verse, the song that is about to be sung, or an attribute of God. The names and attributes of God are foundational to worship and the more we become acquainted with His nature and person, the richer our experience will be.
The worship leader should work closely with the minister and music team to fully understand the selection of songs and the flow of the worship experience and then seek to enhance both.
Worship leaders must also keep in mind who they are speaking to, and figure out how they can best connect with the congregation. Since the goal is to lead the congregation in worship, there should be nothing that distracts or disturbs. The worship leader should be mindful that they do not become the focus of attention. All of the focus is to be on God.
In conclusion, a worship leader is a tool in the divine service experience that focuses our thoughts on God when we enter His house. Only when we turn our attention to Him and express our worship and adoration to Him, can we fully prepare for His word and sacrament.
Worship Leader Messages / Hymn Stories
In an effort to support our worship leaders, we have included message examples below that we can be used in worship (as part of the divine service experience), or for congregational worship evenings. They can be used either as templates, or as written. Also included are "hymn stories" that highlight the background stories behind many of the beloved hymns of the church. These can be used as message examples for worship, or for personal study, worship, and moments of devotion.
The Three "W's" of Worship Leading
WHAT: a person who helps the congregation turn their focus to God in preparation for His word and sacrament. This can be done through the delivery of a concise message and through leading the congregation in song.
