What Kind of Worship Leader am I at Rehearsals?
What kind of worship leader am I at rehearsals?
What is it like to be at one of your rehearsals? We’ve gone to many rehearsals to serve as coaches, helping teams be the best version of themselves musically, spiritually, and relationally. How do you hope your team experiences your leadership at rehearsal?
It could provide helpful insight for you to reflect a bit on this. You may or may not decide to write a list of descriptions, aspirational goals that you review as you plan and prepare for each rehearsal.
You are free to borrow from mine.
Passionately worshipful
More than anything, I want to be a model of the kind of worshiper the Father seeks. I’m not going to let the fact that it’s “only a rehearsal” keep me from honestly worshiping the LORD. Dive right in, friend!
Lightheartedly playful
As a leader who has long not taken himself too seriously, I want the simple joy of creating music and enjoying people to permeate our time. I want to be appropriately silly, and I’ll bring my best dad jokes. Here’s the latest one I learned: I went to the library and told the librarian, “I’d like a burger and fries.” “Um, this is a library,” she quizzically replied. So I whispered, “I’d like a burger and fries.”
Artistically excellent
By the time I show up to rehearsal with my five smooth stones (one of them being a giant-killer), what process have those songs gone through? The songwriters have spent hours in study, prayer, preparation, worship, and begun the process of writing. An exceptionally rare song gets written in a single setting. Most take weeks, months, or years. Careful crafting is put into the arrangement, with painstaking recording and re-recording. By the time you Spotify it, considerable investment has been given to it. Do it the honor of the same.
Spontaneously creative
I get that you’re using tracks for a few of your songs. But don’t let the tracks trap your mind into rigidity. Spontaneous moments are life to a set. Work at this little by little, adding an unplanned moment where you do “something a little bit different.” It doesn’t have to be a huge deal or change. Just make sure that it’s different than just having played the recording.
Relationally connected
A sense of belonging will keep your team together indefinitely. Create space to connect as humans. Force yourself to small talk (if you hate it as I do). Do something afterward. Or blow their minds and bring dinner to share first.
Magnanimously servant-hearted
One of the highest compliments I received from one of my pastors was that I was magnanimous. The M-W defines it as showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit. Having a “great soul” in servanthood is what I want to model for my team. To those on our team, we are the lead feet-washers.
Spiritually sensitive
Help your team tune in to the greater Reality and Truth carried in the songs. Open the scriptures together and ask the Holy Spirit to bring revelation of His heart. Stop and listen to each other’s stories and bring the LORD into the conversation through prayer. Fan into flame the gift of God that’s in you by the laying on of my hands. (That’s like a direct quote!)
Thoroughly prepared
We’ve all been there…kinda prepared…mostly ready. But not really. Oof. My team needs me to lead the way in this area too. I want to know the song inside and out (or, in my case, English and Spanish!) There is ZERO chance you’ll be able to do what’s needed if you’re so preoccupied with getting through the material. Because that’s exactly all you can do.
So, this may be aspirational, but we’ve got to shoot for something worth hitting.
What is your list? Post it in the comments.
-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)
What kind of worship leader am I at rehearsals? (Nº 317)
