Comments on: Poll: How important is the worship leader in setting the tone? http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:17:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Leigh http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-1465 Leigh Sat, 10 Jul 2010 21:50:02 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-1465 I'm not sure I understand equating the song leader during worship service with "worship leader". I guess maybe being in a small rural Oklahoma town has put me out of the loop, but I agree with Robert....I think. ;) I’m not sure I understand equating the song leader during worship service with “worship leader”. I guess maybe being in a small rural Oklahoma town has put me out of the loop, but I agree with Robert….I think. ;)

]]> By: Robert http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-1443 Robert Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:10:31 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-1443 If by "worship" we mean singing, the leader will set the bar for the musical aspect. The leader will show the assembly the expectations of what normally is done within the time together. And, the leader will set the energy level of singing. If by "worship" we mean life, the leader exists to give people the Story of which the community will be called to sing for the remaining 6 days and 23 hours. The participant can only echo the story authentically in song during the assembly if he or she has worked within that story all work. And, the leader can do very little about that. In regards to authenticity, the assembly can sense when the leader (however well he or she can sing) is not living within the Story of God. In the words of very wise men, "You cannot lead where you will not go, and you cannot teach what you do not know." (If you know music, you can have great singing. But, "worship" is another matter.") If by “worship” we mean singing, the leader will set the bar for the musical aspect. The leader will show the assembly the expectations of what normally is done within the time together. And, the leader will set the energy level of singing.

If by “worship” we mean life, the leader exists to give people the Story of which the community will be called to sing for the remaining 6 days and 23 hours. The participant can only echo the story authentically in song during the assembly if he or she has worked within that story all work. And, the leader can do very little about that. In regards to authenticity, the assembly can sense when the leader (however well he or she can sing) is not living within the Story of God.

In the words of very wise men, “You cannot lead where you will not go, and you cannot teach what you do not know.” (If you know music, you can have great singing. But, “worship” is another matter.”)

]]> By: Anne Silkman http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-1427 Anne Silkman Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:15:29 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-1427 Amen! Amen!

]]> By: Sharlan Proper http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-730 Sharlan Proper Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:27:37 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-730 We all know that leading the worship is important, but if we follow the money at most congregations, we find out the ministry from the pulpit is the most important to many shepherding or financing groups. We don't have money set aside for training young men for leadership or for scholarships to singing schools or leadership workshops. Seems to be secondary or third-ary, in the scheme of things. I'm glad that singing schools and leadership workshops are enticing enough for people to pay their own way just for their love of worship and singing. We all know that leading the worship is important, but if we follow the money at most congregations, we find out the ministry from the pulpit is the most important to many shepherding or financing groups. We don’t have money set aside for training young men for leadership or for scholarships to singing schools or leadership workshops. Seems to be secondary or third-ary, in the scheme of things. I’m glad that singing schools and leadership workshops are enticing enough for people to pay their own way just for their love of worship and singing.

]]> By: Andrew Battistelli http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Andrew Battistelli Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:40:44 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-206 I'm intrigued by all the people who voted "extremely important" on the poll, but have yet to put "why" it's so extremely important. I’m intrigued by all the people who voted “extremely important” on the poll, but have yet to put “why” it’s so extremely important.

]]> By: Keith http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Keith Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:43:41 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-174 Good point, Andrew. We need our very best, leading God's people. Good point, Andrew. We need our very best, leading God’s people.

]]> By: Andrew Battistelli http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Andrew Battistelli Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:30:04 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-170 Brad, that's a great way of looking at it. This is a reminder to churches that the leader can't do anything magical if they aren't doing what they are to be doing. It's a reminder to leaders, that if things aren't going like "they should" then maybe it's not your fault, possibly it's the people you are leading. It really comes down to everyone doing their part, whatever their part actually is. Paul was pretty good at explaining this in 1 Corinthians 12:14-18. As a musician, when I go to events and see people using their talents for the world... I always have a sense of "mourning" that their gift isn't sanctified (set a part) for the glory of God. Brad, that’s a great way of looking at it.

This is a reminder to churches that the leader can’t do anything magical if they aren’t doing what they are to be doing.

It’s a reminder to leaders, that if things aren’t going like “they should” then maybe it’s not your fault, possibly it’s the people you are leading.

It really comes down to everyone doing their part, whatever their part actually is. Paul was pretty good at explaining this in 1 Corinthians 12:14-18.

As a musician, when I go to events and see people using their talents for the world… I always have a sense of “mourning” that their gift isn’t sanctified (set a part) for the glory of God.

]]> By: Keith http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Keith Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:02:50 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-168 Great comments Brad. I like the airplane analogy, as I have seen many congregations that seem to be flying in circles, or worse, not even "getting off the ground. Thanks for sharing. Great comments Brad. I like the airplane analogy, as I have seen many congregations that seem to be flying in circles, or worse, not even “getting off the ground. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Brad Stanford http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Brad Stanford Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:15:30 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-166 It is the two wings on an airplane: one is a great leader, the other is a crowd that is doing what they are supposed to do all through the week. If you have both, you will fly high. If one or the other is imbalanced, you can still fly, albeit in a circle in the direction of the short wing. If you have neither, you can get some good ground speed, but no flight. This is much like the elder/congregation relationship. Elders should be shepherds, but congregations are also to make the elders' job easy. Worship leaders should lead well. Congregations should do everything they can to make that easy for him, including paying for training him, if necessary. A great worship leader has the desire to bring all people into the throne room of God with him as he goes - even those that are so down, they just barely made it to the assembly at all. This is more than musical training, it is spiritual training, well beyond "song leader". Unless we do that well, we're missing out on joining with heaven as an assembly. It is the two wings on an airplane: one is a great leader, the other is a crowd that is doing what they are supposed to do all through the week. If you have both, you will fly high. If one or the other is imbalanced, you can still fly, albeit in a circle in the direction of the short wing. If you have neither, you can get some good ground speed, but no flight.

This is much like the elder/congregation relationship. Elders should be shepherds, but congregations are also to make the elders’ job easy. Worship leaders should lead well. Congregations should do everything they can to make that easy for him, including paying for training him, if necessary.

A great worship leader has the desire to bring all people into the throne room of God with him as he goes – even those that are so down, they just barely made it to the assembly at all. This is more than musical training, it is spiritual training, well beyond “song leader”. Unless we do that well, we’re missing out on joining with heaven as an assembly.

]]> By: Jeremy Houck http://keithlancaster.com/2009/10/poll-how-important-is-the-worship-leader-in-setting-the-tone-for-worship-assemblies/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Jeremy Houck Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:15:36 +0000 http://keithlancaster.com/?p=452#comment-155 I want to say that the worship leader is vital, but ... well we have a guy that leads our worship and on a scale of 1-10 he is probably around a 4 or 5. He struggles to keep the right pitch and tempo. But we still have great worship. It seems to me that we meet early and fellowship and stay late to fellowship and worship happens in the midst of it. There are times that I wish we had a dynamic worship leader, but I am constantly amazed at what people can do when they want to praise God. <>< I want to say that the worship leader is vital, but … well we have a guy that leads our worship and on a scale of 1-10 he is probably around a 4 or 5. He struggles to keep the right pitch and tempo. But we still have great worship. It seems to me that we meet early and fellowship and stay late to fellowship and worship happens in the midst of it.

There are times that I wish we had a dynamic worship leader, but I am constantly amazed at what people can do when they want to praise God.

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