Question:
Hey all, let me introduce myself.
I just had the pleasure of leading my youth group in worship last Wednesday. I led the song "Tell the World" by United. (Our youth group does alot of Hillsong stuff FYI.)
I'm currently a freshman in high school. Our youth group has around 150 kids coming each week. We start every service out with about 4 songs.
I'm being eased into the responsibility of leading worship. One thing I hate is unpassionate worship. For a long time our youth group's worship has been "routine" and methodical. I'm a Hillsong United addict, and I love their dvd's. I try to bring that energy to our services when I'm playing (not leading), and recently as we have been playing songs off the newest United CD, the students have really began getting a grasp of passionate worship.
I guess what I'm looking for is any advice on leading youth worship in general, but more specifically, leading youth worship with energy that they will feed off of. Thanks everyone
Answer:
Don't forget God.
Answer:
That's my prayer every night when I play, is pure motives. It's easy to get caught up in everything and focus on yourself...too easy sometimes
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate Don't forget God.
+47
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate Don't forget God.
BEST.ADVICE.EVER.
Answer:
Originally Posted by rippinforjesus That's my prayer every night when I play, is pure motives. It's easy to get caught up in everything and focus on yourself...too easy sometimes
Indeed... but, more importantly, I think, I was really referring to focusing too much on the people you lead.
Not that focusing on the people you lead is a bad thing in and of itself, but what you're doing is not about them.
Answer:
When the worship team member that you love to sing with the most comes back from college and informs you that she is going to go to a different church because your church doesn't have a college ministry, and you feel like you've been punched in the gut, try not to do bodily harm to yourself.
Answer:
Originally Posted by psalm63adam When the worship team member that you love to sing with the most comes back from college and informs you that she is going to go to a different church because your church doesn't have a college ministry, and you feel like you've been punched in the gut, try not to do bodily harm to yourself.
*puts on "things to remember" list*
Answer:
Good advice so far...for the most part
Answer:
Worship isn't a music style, it's a life style.
You stated that you "hate unpassionate worship".
Exactly what is that to you?
Do you mean when the kids stand around and aren't participating or clapping or singing with closed eyes?
And if they were clapping and singing with closed eyes, would that then be passionate worship to you?
Is that what worship is?
Would God think so?
I like what John Piper says about worship: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him,".
A question; do you think that when we worship we give to God or do we receive from Him?
Answer:
Originally Posted by gtrdave You stated that you "hate unpassionate worship".
Exactly what is that to you?
Do you mean when the kids stand around and aren't participating or clapping or singing with closed eyes?
And if they were clapping and singing with closed eyes, would that then be passionate worship to you?
That's only one aspect of worship. I would say that that description is passionate worship, just like many other actions can be considered passionate worship. What bugs me is when people aren't passionately singing because they aren't passionate about God. It bugs me just as much to have someone passionately singing who isn't really committed to Christ that much. But IMHO, if someone is truly changed by God's incredible, indescribable, unbelievable love, they will not be able to help but passionately express their thankfulness to Him.
Answer:
Worship is giving to God, but the more you give to Him, I believe the more you receive.
I hate people who stand and talk in worship, wow I want to jump off stage and club them over the head with my guitar sometimes.
It's awesome seeing people really go after God, such as raising their hands, closing their eyes, physical signs like that etc. Even so, I know sometimes kids fake it to fit the "church-kid" role.
Some kids don't feel comfortable raising their hands, or even singing. But EVERYONE can be pushed from their comfort zone, no matter where it is. To some students, singing is a big stretch. To others, jumping up and down while singing fortissimo would be pushing it. It all depends I guess.
I'd just like some tips or ideas to help me lead them into a worship setting that would encourage them to go after God. I don't want our worship to be boring, I want kids to be excited each Wednesday night for worship.
Answer:
Originally Posted by rippinforjesus Worship is giving to God, but the more you give to Him, I believe the more you receive.
I hate people who stand and talk in worship, wow I want to jump off stage and club them over the head with my guitar sometimes.
It's awesome seeing people really go after God, such as raising their hands, closing their eyes, physical signs like that etc. Even so, I know sometimes kids fake it to fit the "church-kid" role.
Some kids don't feel comfortable raising their hands, or even singing. But EVERYONE can be pushed from their comfort zone, no matter where it is. To some students, singing is a big stretch. To others, jumping up and down while singing fortissimo would be pushing it. It all depends I guess.
I'd just like some tips or ideas to help me lead them into a worship setting that would encourage them to go after God. I don't want our worship to be boring, I want kids to be excited each Wednesday night for worship.
You say "Worship is giving to God, but the more you give to Him, I believe the more you receive."
Please clarify this for me...exactly what do we "[give] to God"?
What are we to give to the Creator of the universe and the Saviour of all mankind? What do we have that's the least bit worthy to give to Him?
To your last paragraph, I believe that if you want
"kids to be excited each Wednesday night" then you and they should be living a life of worship through the rest of 6 and 1/2 days of the week.
I'm not trying to bust on you but I really would like you to think about and research what it is you're asking about.
Do you just want a Hillsongs-esque emotional happy-clappy party or do you desire for people to recognize their broken, backwards, wide-path and wide-gate sin nature and to live a life of sacrifice and completely trust the Holy Spirit to draw out of them that which God put in them in the first place?
There are many resources available on "worship" from many sources taught from several perspectives so I encourage you to do some seeking and reading.
I, personally, really like John Piper's writings on worship.
It's straight shooting, imho, and taken right from God's Word.
Here's a link to just 1 of his 'sermons':
http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper97/11-09-97.htm
Answer:
No matter what word you use, you're giving to God when you worship. If you want to get technical and say you're not giving, you're returning to Him what's His anyways, then okay, whatever.
I don't want a Hillsong party for worship. The most powerful moments for me have come on the slower songs.
Answer:
Originally Posted by rippinforjesus No matter what word you use, you're giving to God when you worship. If you want to get technical and say you're not giving, you're returning to Him what's His anyways, then okay, whatever.
I don't want a Hillsong party for worship. The most powerful moments for me have come on the slower songs.
one of the best pieces of advice I was given when I first led (not so long ago incidentally) was not to lead LIKE this leader, or LIKE this other leader, but to lead AS ME, because that's who God made me as, and that's the worship he wants from ME. My style is different to other leaders in my church, and our church style in general is different to other churches, but hey, thats the way it's meant to be.
Dom.