mike jones

This is the first in a series talking about what I’ve seen or experienced in my journey leading worship as well as what I am learning again. Sometimes it’s good to get back to the basics and remember some of the fundamentals in leading a church community in worship.

1. Connecting With God
   As a worship leader, I’ve found that my prep time and connection with God is the most critical element in creating an environment that allows others to connect with God. If I am not spending time just being quiet and listening for His voice, then how can I be ready to follow where He leads?  It is our prayer as staff at The Orchard that we will always hear God’s voice and then have the courage to obey Him.  A lot harder to do in a corporate setting if I have missed this crucial step in connecting and listening to Him lead before the weekend experience.How do you connect with God personally? I don’t know about you but I usually like to go to my journal and my bible.  Spending time praying and just being quiet, listening for what God has been saying to me over the last week.
   Where do you want me to lead your people this week God?
   What words do you want me to speak that will touch and influence your church in a way that connects them with Your spirit, Your plan and direction for their lives?
   What is in Your heart God that you desire to be on ours?

   These are the things that I journal about and listen for in my prep time before I even walk into rehearsal for the weekend.

2. Connecting With The Songs
   There have been, unfortunately, many times where I have chosen songs that sound great, are fun to play, but that I have not spent time trying to connect with myself. If I cannot internalize the song I’m leading, how can I expect to be able to interpret and connect others with the song?I try to spend time going through the lyrics of every song I am going to lead and try to determine:
   What is this song saying to me?
   How does this song impact me and move me?
   Is it theologically accurate (especially if it’s supposed to be leading us into a greater level of worship)?
   God, what are You saying to me in this song?
   What do You want us as a church community to learn, celebrate, proclaim or meditate on in this song?
   What do you want me to try to get across to Your people?

   If I cannot connect with a song and understand why I’m singing it, I can’t expect others in my church community to engage in it beyond just mouthing the words.

3. Connecting With The Crowd
   I have had great personal worship times and connections with God that I haven’t always taken into the weekend gathering.  It seems too personal.  What I forget is that sometimes these times are exactly what others need to experience as well.  Sure there are things that are still meant to be between God and I but there is a vulnerability that I have had to learn and am still learning to have in order for me to be able to connect with those I’m leading.  I want them to feel me and get to know me through those times.  That’s when they learn to trust me as a leader.  i think those are the times they see me most as a leader.  When I connect my pain, my struggles, my hurts my observations and journey with theirs – those are the times when engagement during the worship time is at its best.

This is obviously not all inclusive but this is what I’ve really been honed in on lately in my worship leading.

What about you as a worship leader?