Song leaders are responsible for setting the tone for much of a congregation’s worship. They select the songs that they believe will help a congregation to worship the Lord most fully, effectively and meaningfully. A song leader’s primary responsibility is to help worshipers to enter into the presence of God, and to acceptably and heartily praise God.
As with all men who lead the church in its worship, a song leader must remember that it is not about him, but about God! The songs that he selects should be appropriate to the congregation and to the worship assembly. The song leader is merely the conduit by which a congregation is led to worship the Lord in song, which means if the singing portion of worship is misdirected and focuses on him (for whatever reason) instead of on heaven, the worship is no longer flowing through him but is being impeded by him. That’s the last thing any sincere worship leader desires.
So, what about the singers? What about the worshiper? Too often some singers/worshipers spend more time criticizing and questioning the song leader (ex: his selection of songs, his style, his directing, his ability, etc.) than they do actually worshiping God. But the song selection and the song leading are not the worshipers’ job. Their job is to worship! Their job is to sing “with grace in [their] hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16) and to “offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips” (Heb. 13:15). So, as a singer, as a worshiper, how can I do my job of singing to the Lord and worshiping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) better? Try this:
1. Accept that the song which the leader is singing has been already selected…and move on. What does rolling your eyes or even stewing about it accomplish?
2. Set your heart on worshiping God in that song! That’s the whole purpose!
3. Capture quickly in your mind the overall theme of the song. What is this song about? Is it about praise, about Jesus’ love, about the cross, about the Christian life, etc.? Know what you’re singing.
4. Focus your heart on every word and phrase of the song, and truly contemplate and mean them when they come from your lips.
5. Try to sing parts. Try to follow along with whatever part fits you the best—i.e., soprano, alto, tenor or bass.
6. Listen to others as they sing around you and earnestly try to worship together and to sing to one another.
7. Remember that God is looking at and listening to your heart in every song. That’s truly what matters the most!