Throughout this article, “worship” doesn’t refer to (a) glorifying God in all of life or (b) singing in church. Instead, in keeping with the Reformed tradition, by worship the author means our Sunday gatherings or church services.
To succeed in our task of leading the congregation in corporate worship, we must remember that our role as a service leader is twofold. That is, we’re there to:
- Glorify God
- Serve the congregation.
1 Peter 4:10–11 considers that our gifts are given to serve one another that in everything God may be glorified. This is especially true in our gathered worship, and is worked out in three key areas of service leading: our clarity, our presence, and our personality.
We serve as those who serve by the strength God supplies.
It is important to succeed in these practical areas, but it is even more critical to remember that, as Peter puts it, we serve as those who serve by the strength God supplies. These things cannot come from our own strength. We must depend on God for his help and glorify him through his gifts. This is how we lead worship that both glorifies God and serves the congregation, as those empowered by God’s generous grace.
Clear Leading for Worship
Firstly, whether you have the luxury of a microphone or not, you must speak loudly and clearly. Project your voice. If you have a microphone, speak directly into it. As the service leader, you want to bring everyone with you. When Peter preaches in Acts, he lifts up his voice so the crowd can hear him (Acts 2:14). Speaking loudly and clearly is an act of love; you’re enabling the congregation, from the youngest child to the oldest person with the weakest hearing, to participate in worshipping God.
Speaking loudly and clearly is an act of love.
For this reason, every person with up-front responsibility in a worship service should be equipped to use a microphone competently. We don’t want to be putting needless obstacles in the way of people’s worship. Do a mic-check before the service starts and mention any concerns to the sound technician. If you speak softly or often look away from the mic, the technician will have to increase the mic’s sensitivity. This sometimes works. But it can lead to feedback, which can damage the equipment or your congregation’s hearing.
If you notice a loud thudding when you speak, particularly when you say p’s and b’s, the easiest fix in the moment is to talk just past the grille of the mic instead of directly at it, so those bursts of air don’t get picked up.
Lead, Don’t Impede
Secondly, as the one leading, you are part of the worship service. In 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul speaks about different parts of worship but concludes, “Let all things be done for building up,” a phrase which is repeated several times in the chapter. As service leader, this is true of your efforts: your words are part of the building up of God’s people.
You’re there to guide the congregation through the service, not hijack it.
To continue our metaphor from the previous article in this series: as the ship’s pilot, you need to confidently take the wheel. When you walk to the front, don’t feel rushed or pressured to get out of the way so that the service can continue. Your leading is part of the service. Perhaps you need to explain something or make an announcement. Don’t be afraid to do so. Take your time, speaking at a reasonable pace.
That being said, you’re the ship’s pilot; so don’t be a pirate. You’re there to guide the congregation through the service, not hijack it. Every action you take and every word you speak in worship leading should be fit to purpose; contributing to the overall shape of the service as you worship God together with the congregation, serving and building them up.
You Needn’t Lead Like Someone Else
Third, and finally, God made you as an individual. As you lead the congregation’s worship, recognise that God has made you unique. The scriptural writers, moved by the Holy Spirit, all wrote while expressing their unique personalities. As service leaders, we may not be inspired in the same way. But as we lead worship we can use our peculiar personality, abilities, and talents that God has given us to glorify him.
We are given gifts as stewards of God’s varied grace, so that in everything God would be glorified.
However, this freedom comes with guide rails. We are free to lead a service without changing our personality, but we must remember the worship structure as well as the purpose of the service. Think back to the verses I quoted above, from 1 Peter. We are given gifts to serve one another as stewards of God’s varied grace, so that in everything God would be glorified. Is expressing our personality glorifying God and serving the congregation; or is it distracting from these goals?
Worship that Involves and Invites
In conclusion, to most effectively fulfil our role as service leaders, we must be:
- Clear, in order that all can participate
- Present, considering our words and actions part of the service
- Personable, authentic to the personality God has gifted us with.
In all this, we glorify God and serve the congregation, leading worship that both involves insiders and invites outsiders.
