Worship (3)

Today I want so speak about the composition of the worship team.  I already mentioned that people should be evaluated not only on their musical or singing ability, but on their calling and anointing.

Many churches have a lot of people who would like to take part in the worship team and often, there are more than one player for a particular instrument and a lot of vocals.  This is nice since the worship team members also need a day off now and then so that they too can just stand in God's presence and soak up His goodness. Managing this is however not so easy.  Here is what I have learned through experience.

Try to make separate teams rather than having one team with just individual people taking turns.  The reason for this is not only spiritual, it's logic too.  A team needs to bond.  By playing and singing together as a team, they get to know each other's style of playing and singing.  It makes it easier on the team and on the worship leader.  They learn to read each other's body language and music.  The learn to trust each other.  That is very important.  The worship leader must be able to trust each team member's ability to hear from the Lord.  It's sometimes difficult to lead the team, focus on the congregation and still hear the Lord.  Often times the worship leader just doesn't cope - often times it's a team member who gets a nudge from the Lord to move in another direction.  If the hearts of the team members are knitted together, the worship leader will pick up on this and move with that member without feeling threatened by it.  So if you have a large group of people, divide them into different teams and alternate the teams instead of the individual team members.

Worship leader: you need to disciple people too.  Help members to grow.  Pray about it and ask God who you should train to lead worship.  Every team member is not meant to be a worship leader, but there will be someone that needs to grow.  Don't feel threatened by it.  You don't have to lead every single service.  Give it over to someone so that when you alternate your worship teams, you have time off as well.  You need it.

Worship team member: examine your heart.  Why are you there?  Are you there because God called you and you want to serve in His temple with a humble heart?  Or are you there because you love showing off your talent?  If it's the latter, your heart is wrong.  Worship is not a concert.  You are not there to be in the limelight and show off your talents - you are there to serve.  If you stand there with pride in your heart, you are going to prevent the entire congregation of entering God's presence.  God will resist your pride.  Get out of the team.  Sort yourself out spiritually before you go back.

If you are on duty on a Sunday and something is wrong in your life - step out for that service.  If there are unresolved issues between your and somebody else, don't get on the stage.  You will break the unit in the team, you will prevent Spirit filled worship.  Getting up there is selfish.  An open place on the stage with Spirit filled worship is far better than a full band and empty music.

That goes for the congregation too!  If you are reading this and you are not part of a worship team, make sure your heart is right before you attempt to worship God and enter His throne room.  You cannot go there with baggage of unresolved personal issues.  If you had a fight with your spouse on the way to church, sort it out before the worship starts.

We must remember that God is holy, and that we can only enter His presence when our hearts and hands are clean.


Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
 ¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
   Who may live on your holy mountain?
 ² The one whose walk is blameless,
   who does what is righteous,
   who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
   who does no wrong to a neighbor,
   and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
   but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
   and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
   who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
   Whoever does these things
   will never be shaken.