Comments on: Worship Mythbusters 4.1: The Role of a Worship Leader http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html A conversation on faith & culture for creatives, leaders & influencers Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:18:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rodge http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1757 rodge Sun, 04 May 2008 18:08:32 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1757 i've been leading for worship for about 11 or 12 years. I can sing and play really well, and can pull together some great arrangements and run a team well etc etc. I have been involved in tons of great services and have seen many great times when people worshipped their hearts out and it's been fantastic. I still have many sundays when I'm sweating about how it's going to go, wether things are too fast, too slow, song choice, am I leading the team right, etc etc is Jesus being lifted up... I love what I get to do but it takes many hours or work to bring it together and it's 10% fun, 90% hard work I think. i’ve been leading for worship for about 11 or 12 years. I can sing and play really well, and can pull together some great arrangements and run a team well etc etc. I have been involved in tons of great services and have seen many great times when people worshipped their hearts out and it’s been fantastic. I still have many sundays when I’m sweating about how it’s going to go, wether things are too fast, too slow, song choice, am I leading the team right, etc etc is Jesus being lifted up… I love what I get to do but it takes many hours or work to bring it together and it’s 10% fun, 90% hard work I think.

]]> By: Rich Kirkpatrick http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1756 Rich Kirkpatrick Sat, 03 May 2008 22:29:30 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1756 Mr. Narniaman, I am so glad you have experienced powerful worship at these two large churches. Of course, I think we have freedom to have 1 or 1,000 on the platform. If that helps you to have not worship leaders on stage, great. Now, for the rest that have great worship experiences from having more than 1 on the stage, it really is a wonderful thing to be led by people gifted and called to help us in worship. We need to appreciate the 1 or more people who God has placed there, and not somehow think less of them than we do any other leader-servant in our body. Mr. Narniaman,

I am so glad you have experienced powerful worship at these two large churches. Of course, I think we have freedom to have 1 or 1,000 on the platform. If that helps you to have not worship leaders on stage, great.

Now, for the rest that have great worship experiences from having more than 1 on the stage, it really is a wonderful thing to be led by people gifted and called to help us in worship. We need to appreciate the 1 or more people who God has placed there, and not somehow think less of them than we do any other leader-servant in our body.

]]> By: Narniaman http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1755 Narniaman Fri, 02 May 2008 14:53:22 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1755 I can understand why the worship leader would have to be up prominently displayed before the worshippers. But why do the musicians and choir need to be on the platform in prominent display? Is it because they want to be on the platform in prominent display? The churches with the most power praise and worship services I ever experienced only had the worship leader up front -- all the other support cast was sitting down with the congregation. Granted, they were miked (at least the singers) so their voices stood out from the crowd. Of course, maybe these churches weren't really with it. The first one grew from about 25 to 10,000 over the course of 15 years, and the other grew from 16 to 13,000 in about 18 years. All without the worship team prominently displayed on the platform. I can understand why the worship leader would have to be up prominently displayed before the worshippers.

But why do the musicians and choir need to be on the platform in prominent display?

Is it because they want to be on the platform in prominent display?

The churches with the most power praise and worship services I ever experienced only had the worship leader up front — all the other support cast was sitting down with the congregation. Granted, they were miked (at least the singers) so their voices stood out from the crowd.

Of course, maybe these churches weren’t really with it. The first one grew from about 25 to 10,000 over the course of 15 years, and the other grew from 16 to 13,000 in about 18 years.

All without the worship team prominently displayed on the platform.

]]> By: Jan Owen http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1754 Jan Owen Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:08:25 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1754 I have had other ministers tell me, "Well serving on praise team doesn't really count because they are just getting to do what they like to do - it's just fun for them". This usually comes from someone who is disgruntled because they don't have enough people in their area to work. This is demeaning to the whole spiritual discipline of worship. It's commanded by God and leading worship is - according to scripture - a spiritual responsibility. As all of you know, our vols work hours each week to prepare. I am the ONLY staff member, currently on sabbatical, and an all volunteer team is doing it ALL while I'm gone - two services each Sunday, week in and week out with all the tech stuff too. (including leading worship) People don't understand how much time it takes to prepare, how long it takes to become at all proficient and that there is so much more to leading worship than the music. Thanks for writing about a pet peeve of mine. It is hard work, but we do love it, because it is how God fashioned us! I have had other ministers tell me, “Well serving on praise team doesn’t really count because they are just getting to do what they like to do – it’s just fun for them”. This usually comes from someone who is disgruntled because they don’t have enough people in their area to work. This is demeaning to the whole spiritual discipline of worship. It’s commanded by God and leading worship is – according to scripture – a spiritual responsibility. As all of you know, our vols work hours each week to prepare. I am the ONLY staff member, currently on sabbatical, and an all volunteer team is doing it ALL while I’m gone – two services each Sunday, week in and week out with all the tech stuff too. (including leading worship) People don’t understand how much time it takes to prepare, how long it takes to become at all proficient and that there is so much more to leading worship than the music. Thanks for writing about a pet peeve of mine. It is hard work, but we do love it, because it is how God fashioned us!

]]> By: Rich Kirkpatrick http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1753 Rich Kirkpatrick Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:07:06 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1753 JVo is my hero! We need to feel free to be in our own skin just like the preacher, the youth leader, the greeter, the bulletin folding crew...you get it... JVo is my hero!

We need to feel free to be in our own skin just like the preacher, the youth leader, the greeter, the bulletin folding crew…you get it…

]]> By: JVo http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1752 JVo Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:34:01 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1752 Honestly, man . . . I am way past the point of apologizing or getting defensive about worship leading motives. I think you have some great things to say. It seems like it should go without saying it at all doesn't it? Years ago, someone sent me a picture/drawing of how I should arrange the stage so it would take focus off of me. I told them I would gladly do it if our senior pastor preached from the same corner they put me in. Ha! I am not joking. Since that time, I feel good in my own skin--"performing" my duties before God as the temple priests did--with lots of practice, lots of determination, a passion for excellence, etc. I LOVE what I do. People will judge us no matter what. They feel like they have that right for some reason. Me? I am completely okay with jumping around, enjoying what I do, and getting sweaty in the process. Our team worked really hard this week to have some kick booty music ready to rock. Practice blew my mind. And I am going to enjoy every rocking moment. When it is done, I am sure people will say the music rocked. And, I will not feel bad. It should sound great. The team kills themselves to make it happen. They LOVE Jesus. When people compliment them, they will say "thank you." It's okay to do that. It is not necessary to follow up a compliment with "thanks, but it's all about Jesus" or, "don't thank me--all glory to God." Duh. God gave us the ability. We know. And . . . The Holy Spirit who works spontaneously to make great things happen in the worship service is the same Holy Spirit that works through the band throughout the week in the 20 hours they pour into making the music great. I think I just crossed the line on the "length of comment" unspoken rule. Ha. I love what I do. I am smiling. I think God is smiling as well. Love you. Thoughtful post. Honestly, man . . . I am way past the point of apologizing or getting defensive about worship leading motives. I think you have some great things to say.

It seems like it should go without saying it at all doesn’t it?

Years ago, someone sent me a picture/drawing of how I should arrange the stage so it would take focus off of me. I told them I would gladly do it if our senior pastor preached from the same corner they put me in. Ha! I am not joking.

Since that time, I feel good in my own skin–”performing” my duties before God as the temple priests did–with lots of practice, lots of determination, a passion for excellence, etc. I LOVE what I do.

People will judge us no matter what. They feel like they have that right for some reason. Me? I am completely okay with jumping around, enjoying what I do, and getting sweaty in the process.

Our team worked really hard this week to have some kick booty music ready to rock. Practice blew my mind. And I am going to enjoy every rocking moment.

When it is done, I am sure people will say the music rocked. And, I will not feel bad. It should sound great. The team kills themselves to make it happen. They LOVE Jesus.

When people compliment them, they will say “thank you.” It’s okay to do that. It is not necessary to follow up a compliment with “thanks, but it’s all about Jesus” or, “don’t thank me–all glory to God.” Duh. God gave us the ability. We know. And . . .

The Holy Spirit who works spontaneously to make great things happen in the worship service is the same Holy Spirit that works through the band throughout the week in the 20 hours they pour into making the music great.

I think I just crossed the line on the “length of comment” unspoken rule. Ha.

I love what I do. I am smiling.

I think God is smiling as well.

Love you. Thoughtful post.

]]> By: Mark Jaffrey http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1751 Mark Jaffrey Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:05:20 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1751 Well, it's certainly a topic that I discuss with my team regularly, and I totally agree with you about the most skilled artists being humble people. We have hosted Brian Doerksen and his band and Graham Kendrick + band and without exception they are the nicest and easiest people to work with. Servants, not Divas. Well, it’s certainly a topic that I discuss with my team regularly, and I totally agree with you about the most skilled artists being humble people. We have hosted Brian Doerksen and his band and Graham Kendrick + band and without exception they are the nicest and easiest people to work with. Servants, not Divas.

]]> By: Sean Pritzkau http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1750 Sean Pritzkau Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:33:53 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1750 Great post Rich. Pride in worship is a problem but those with a calling to lead don't deserve persecution for leading. i love to lead. leadership drives me forward. Great post Rich. Pride in worship is a problem but those with a calling to lead don’t deserve persecution for leading.

i love to lead. leadership drives me forward.

]]> By: Rich Kirkpatrick http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1749 Rich Kirkpatrick Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:27:25 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1749 Yes, we need to check out motives, but not beat ourselves up so much that lose our joy--or let others do that for us. It's really OK to love and enjoy leading worship or using our gifts. Yes, we need to check out motives, but not beat ourselves up so much that lose our joy–or let others do that for us. It’s really OK to love and enjoy leading worship or using our gifts.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbus-5.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1748 Bryan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:48:53 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/04/worship-mythbusters-41-the-role-of-a-worship-leader/ #comment-1748 Thanks for this great post. It's something that I struggle with weekly. I don't really want to the be focal point - but for whatever reason God has put me in a place of leadership. I wish I was simply another invisible worshiper not worried about getting in the way. Bryan Thanks for this great post. It’s something that I struggle with weekly. I don’t really want to the be focal point – but for whatever reason God has put me in a place of leadership. I wish I was simply another invisible worshiper not worried about getting in the way.

Bryan

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