Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the parallels between what a preacher does on Sunday morning and what a music or worship leader does. What I’ve come to better appreciate is that authentic preaching is very much like authentic worship leading. Something I read in Preaching and Preachers, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, helped me see the parallels more clearly. In his chapter on “The Act of Preaching,” he identifies twelve characteristics of authentic preaching. I think they provide an excellent description of true, authentic worship leading.
- The preacher involves his whole personality in preaching.
- The preacher exhibits a sense of authority over the congregation.
- The preacher is thoroughly prepared, yet thoroughly free.
- The preacher derives something from the congregation; there is exchange.
- The preacher must be serious, never light or superficial.
- The preacher must be lively, never dull or boring.
- The preacher must exude zeal, gripped by what he is saying.
- The preacher must be warm, never clinical or cold.
- The preacher must have a sense of urgency – something eternal is at stake!
- The preacher must be persuasive, pleading with souls.
- The preacher must have pathos, a deep love for those to whom he preaches.
- The preacher must have power, since true preaching is God-acting!
So, too, I think it is true that:
- The worship leader involves his whole personality in worship leading.
- The worship leader exhibits a sense of authority over the congregation.
- The worship leader is thoroughly prepared, yet thoroughly free.
- The worship leader derives something from the congregation; there is exchange.
- The worship leader must be serious, never light or superficial.
- The worship leader must be lively, never dull or boring.
- The worship leader must exude zeal, gripped by what he is singing or saying.
- The worship leader must be warm, never clinical or cold.
- The worship leader must have a sense of urgency – something eternal is at stake!
- The worship leader must be persuasive, pleading with souls.
- The worship leader must have pathos, a deep love for those whom he leads.
- The worship leader must have power, since true worship leading is God-acting!
As Lloyd-Jones says, “Preaching is something that one recognizes when one hears it” (Preaching and Preachers, p. 81). So, too, let me suggest that authentic worship leading is something one recognizes when one hears or, perhaps better, sees it. And these twelve characteristics go a long way to describing more exactly, not just what authentic preaching is, but also what authentic worship leading is.
10 comments ↓
An interesting topic (prepping for the meeting tonight, I guess?)… I think that I can agree with just about all of the points that the Doctor makes about preaching and which you’ve adapted to worship leaders. The only one that I think I’m having trouble unpacking is #5, specifically the statement “…must be serious, never light…”.
I am having trouble reconciling the need for “seriousness” with the need to be lively (#7) and warm (#8). I suppose I’m reading “serious” as meaning “humorless”; if that is the case then I have to disagree. Personally, I have found tremendous value in leading worship (and being led by others) where there is some level of informality and occasional humor in the service.
In my estimation, it allows the worship leader (and, by extension, the leadership of the church) to be perceived as being approachable, and “one of the congregation” rather than some specialist who is “above” the congregation. In a society that is distrustful of powerful religious leaders, this approachability can make a worship service be more accessible to those who are new to a church setting. It also lends a sense of mutual participation: a contemporary worship service is not a concert, of course, and some degree of informality seems to allow the congregation to feel as though they are in some way participating in the creation of the worship environment rather than simply observing a worship service created by others.
With that said, any informality or humor should be within the context of the other 11 points! I think that it is possible to engage in the task of worship leading–and the understanding of the eternal seriousness of it–with some level of informality in its mood when executed.
Interested in the thoughts of others.
Really thought provoking post. Thanks, Todd!
Greg — my interpretation would be that I don’t think “serious” as it is used here excludes humor or other characteristics that promote approachability, openness and transparency. I think of it more in terms of the possible meaning of: “requiring much thought or work.”
I’ve also been struck how it can be just as distracting and damaging at times to building approachability when we are lighthearted or humorous for the sake of being so. I think people can sense this lack of authenticity just as easily as any other kind.
Knowing and doing what is appropriate in any given situation is a complicated and subjective ability. I think it needs to be nurtured and developed just like any other leadership quality. I think appropriateness is also related to the spiritual gift of “discernment” and also tied to the maturity level and quality of the relationship the leader has with those he or she is leading.
Just my thoughts…
Greg, thought the same thing. Helping everyone start thinking about the meeting tonight… Not a bad plan to lay some concepts out ahead of time to let them permeate a bit.
Anyways, what finally got the concept of how much responsibility is wrapped up in worship leading was actually stepping back and looking at the time allocation that a typical service spends on worship & preaching. It is nearly a 50 | 50 mix. Wow. When I put it in those terms it became a lot clearer.
It was this very simple fact that really changed and increased my awareness and preparation. To me, this added some needed pressure and burden to force me to approach worship leading in a more “serious” manner.
I’m definitely willing to go along with your notion of “requiring much thought or work” as a description of seriousness, Randy. In that definition I 100% agree with teh need for seriousness in worship prep and execution.
And I also think that your idea of being humorous for the sake of being so (what I would call “comedic”) can be distracting if it is play-acting, rather than the natural expression of one’s personality within a service (item #1). I think forced comedy is the same error as forced gravity: it presents a “mask” to the congregation, rather than an natural expression of the person of the worship leader (what we often call a lack of authenticity).
I hope you’d call me on it if (oops, I mean “when”) I ever devolve into one of the errors!
I think I’m inclined to interpret “serious” as being directly related to #3 (thoroughly prepared) and #9 (a sense of urgency). As with countless nuances of faith and life in general, there is a fine line. Can a “serious” person be humorous and approachable, and at the same time appropriate, authentic, and mature? I see no reason why not. As always, however, it’s much easier said than done.
I point out #3 and #9 speaking from more of a personal experience standpoint, but I think this at least holds some general relevance. I believe a thorough level of preparedness is crucial in lending authenticity and maturity to worship leading. And “good” preparation is serious, purposeful preparation. But I believe this same preparedness also allows the worship leader a level of freedom and comfort to approach and engage without being superficial.
The characteristic of “having a sense of urgency” is the driving force behind all of this. “Something eternal is at stake!” If we do not truly believe our worship leading, our preaching, our service to others, our words, or anything else for that matter have some eternal significance or implication, why would we bother with the other 11? I certainly don’t pose the question because I believe the answer is in doubt. Only to point out why I think it’s crucial that our preparation begins here.
Regarding “seriousness”, I think all I have to do is look at the above list of 12 things, and I realize that what we’re doing each week is a weighty and serious privilege, not to be taken lightly. It demands our very best preparation and careful, prayerful consideration. You can tell when a leader has thought things through, prayed about them, and has taken their responsibilities seriously, and you can also tell when a service has been thrown together and is off the cuff. I appreciate the authenticity of the former, regardless of the leader or the style/personality. More importantly, God is worshipped and His people are led well when that happens. Just a good reminder to us as leaders that that is what He expects and deserves. Excellent topic. I know I have of growing to do.
I might suggest one additional point:
13. The preacher (or worship leader) has spent quality time in prayer.
I understand this could also fall under point 3, but it seems so critical to me that maybe it should make the “A” list.
Hi! This is missionary Norm, from Barcelona, Spain. Someone mentioned this blog to me who knows that worship is my passion. Dangerous.
Dr. D. Martin Lloyd Jones was a (medical) heart surgeon before he became a (spiritual) heart surgeon. Medical heart surgery requires a table full (a whole list) of instruments and spiritual heart surgery often requires an entire list (or lists) of tools that narrow the definitions and specify exactly what it is that needs to happen (thus the Apostle Paul’s lists also). So with his list of qualifications for preachers, Lloyd Jones specifies who is a preacher (and by default who is not). Likewise, the list applied to worship leaders/leading. Real surgery for what ails us . . . beginning with me, I hasten to add. I would reword the sentences in the list to include the word “will,” as in “will involve her/his whole personality,” “will exhibit,” “will be” etc. etc. and I would end each sentence with, “because she/he is worshiping.” Example: “The worship leader will involve her/his whole personality in worship leading because she/he is worshiping.”
Worshipers will naturally lead others around them into worship, into the presence of God, into an encounter with God. (That is what the gift of leading/presiding is all about – Romans 12:8). All of us are destined to reproduce what we are. I speak with my parent’s accent. I didn’t choose it and had nothing to do with it. Nor did they. It just happened. So it is a formidable reality . . . . we (necessarily) reproduce who we are. Pray-ers enable people to pray, whether they intend to or not (by the way, historically, worship was done mostly through prayer(s), but now-a-days . . . .) Worshipers enable others to enter into worship. It is just the way we are wired. Now then, a word of encouragement. According to Hebrews 2:12, the ascended and exalted Jesus is our preacher and Jesus is worship leader. As we look deeply at what Jesus is doing, we focus on him, and watch, listen to, and hear him preach and lead worship. His very Spirit enables us to do this (2 Cor. 3:18). This is NOT just positional theology. It is a real, authentic experience, focusing on Jesus leading worship before the Father and participating with, in and through him (Remember Jesus did only what he saw the Father doing, and apart from him we can do nothing). So we can relax (and even make mistakes) while keeping our eyes on Him (Heb. 12:1), and that will enable us to lead worship, prayer, evangelism, etc. etc. (Unfortunately these thoughts are not original with me, but instead come from scriptures as explained by James B. Torrance in Worship, Community & The Triune God of Grace.) We are participants through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit in the great acts of relational worship before the Father. Heaven and earth are joined as we enter heavenly realities, and those heavenly realities enter us. As we rehearse the story of God and celebrate in advance the victory of God and the marriage banquet of the Lion-Lamb, we contemplate the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4). Now worship is happening, and the qualifying lists (above) are fulfilled and surpassed with glory (2 Cor. 3:10), power (2 Cor. 4:7), grace (2 Cor. 9:14), revelations (2 Cor. 12:7), and the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:8). Our hearts are united with their true home, the heart of God, and from there we are empowered to carry out the Kings mandate here and now . . . . to prepare the world/cosmos (study the word “world” in the Gospel of John) for the coming of the Christ and his kingdom.
Good grief, . . . so much passion all in one place! Hand me a towel!!! I can’t be superficial no matter how hard I try!
Stormin’ Norman! You’re great! Thanks for staying up late and contributing out of your passion! Now, go to sleep!
How about towels all around since worship is also an act of service! Thanks for contributing, Norman. This conversation should be cross-cultural!
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