The (He)Art And Science Of Leading

I believe our job as worship leaders is to create spaces where people can meet God. Therefore, everything we do must filter through that purpose. 

And there’s an art and science to it.

Think for a moment about a sound guy. Many church audio techs don’t understand the full job description. Most of them think that a sound tech is a science. 

The science includes: acoustics, EQ, choosing the right cables and mics, starting the live stream, staying within certain dB limits, doing line checks, hearing the lead vocal... things you can measure.

Now some churches act like God has suspended the laws of physics in their sanctuary, but of course, He hasn’t. So the laws of physics still apply. 

So you have to think like a scientist. 

BUT far too many church techs are just that - technicians. They are computer people or office network or telephone people, the do information technology for a living. Their approach is scientific, logical, technical, which is needed! 

But what about the art? Is your sound tech a musician? Does he or she LOVE music? Do they geek out on the way things feel and sound? Are they worried about the way the lead electric guitar solo sits in the mix? Are they listening with delight for the tension and release of the different sections of the song? Or are they just trying to avoid feedback? 

Do they LOVE music?

If not, there will be something sorely missing. This isn’t a Fertilizer about sound techs, but I wanted you to feel that something is missing. 

Because as accurate as it is for sound techs, it’s even more real for us as worship leaders. There is an art and a science to leading worship.

What’s the science? 

Once again, things that are measurable. Tempo, scheduling in PCO, song rotation, recruiting, staying within time limits given, getting through the song, songs lyrics that line up with church’s theology, keys... 

But the (he)art is...your heart.

How is your heart? You bring it every Sunday. And you don’t just take it off the shelf and bring it that day. You bring your cumulative heart. The way you’ve lived all week.

If my heart is far from God, my worship leading is far from God.

If my heart is angry, my worship leading is angry.

If my heart is faking it, my worship leading is faking it. 

If my heart is a mess, my worship leading is a mess. 

One thing, the first love

If I can ask one thing, it’s that you take out your instrument regularly and meet with God without planning, rehearsing, writing, or preparing. Just meet and worship. 

Hear these scriptures in that context. 

“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. (Psalm 27:4) 

“I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:2-5) 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

What do you need to work on more, the art or the science? 

-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)

The (He)Art And Science Of Leading (Nº 286)