Question:
Hi guy's and girls... just wondering if there are any worship leaders out there. If so,what are your favorite songs to do in your church and I'd like to know what do you think makes an effective worship leader? How do you guys define worship?
Answer:
There is a Worship Leading Forum, FYI.
Answer:
Originally Posted by RecordingGuy Hi guy's and girls... just wondering if there are any worship leaders out there. If so,what are your favorite songs to do in your church and I'd like to know what do you think makes an effective worship leader? How do you guys define worship? A healthy mix of contemporary songs, classic hymns (redone musically if you want), and Psalm-reading is cool.
It's really based on the group you are leading. If it's teens, then we (for the most part) prefer upbeat, contemporary songs (Undignified, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, etc.), slower P&W songs like You Alone, God of Wonders, etc. and P&W/hymn hybrids like Doxology, O Worship the King, and O Praise Him. Stuff like that. Older people like boring contemporary stuff. Really older people like hymns. Depends on the group.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Epaphras A healthy mix of contemporary songs, classic hymns (redone musically if you want), and Psalm-reading is cool.
It's really based on the group you are leading. If it's teens, then we (for the most part) prefer upbeat, contemporary songs (Undignified, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, etc.), slower P&W songs like You Alone, God of Wonders, etc. and P&W/hymn hybrids like Doxology, O Worship the King, and O Praise Him. Stuff like that. Older people like boring contemporary stuff. Really older people like hymns. Depends on the group.
Hi and thanks for the reply. I believe your paragraph falls under "Compiling a solid song repertoire"... It's interesting that there isn't a definition of "Worship" in the bible. It would be a good study for all of us worship leaders to do a study on "The Doctrine of worship", and to know what it means to worship God... The deeper you dig, you'll find songs are a very small part of worship unto God.
I've been doing a study recently on worship and here's what i've found so far...

WORSHIP IS WHAT????????
The first 3 commandments speak on worshipping God.
In fact out of the small amount of only 10 commandments God thought it important to dedicate three of those commandments to impress on the people that worshipping Him is first priority.
Exodus 20:2-7
Commandment 1. Have no other gods
Commandment 2. Instructs us to have no idols
Commandment 3. Do not misuse His name.

Worship is our reason for being:
A concept of worship can mean different things to different people.
Example: To some, the word worship brings to mind reflective moments sensing the reality of the presence of God. For others it can mean any one of various physical expressions (lifting hands, kneeling, dancing, etc.)
These and numerous other expressions, can be worship.
1 Peter 2:8 – Unbelievers stumble because they disobey the message.
1 Peter 2:9a – But you (believers) are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God…
1 Peter 2:9b – “That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of the
darkness and into His wonderful light”
Our reason for being is to declare His praises.
Worship is wholehearted:
It involves action on our part.
(2 Chron 20:18) – People of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord.
(Job 1:20) – Job fell to the ground.
(Psalm 95:6) – Come let us worship and bow down.
(Matt 28:29) – They came to Jesus, clasped His feet and worshiped Him…
(Romans 12:1) – Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and pleasing to God. This is
your spiritual act of worship.
(1 Corinthians 14:25) ..So he (an unbeliever) will fall down and worship God, exclaiming
“God is among you”.
(Revelation 4:10) Twenty four elders fell down and worshiped Him who sits on the
throne and worshiped Him….
A cool point to consider:
There are entire chapters in the book of Exodus devoted to giving minute details about the building of the tabernacle and its various articles of furniture. Why did God do this?
Why spend so much time focusing on the size and shape of the stands and of the poles? Why so much time describing such seemingly insignificant details? The fact is that each piece in the tabernacle represented something. I am convinced that such careful planning and details were to help the people to understand that a righteous, holy, all-powerful God did not want His people to be indifferent, lazy or apathetic in their worship of Him.
Here is an awesome verse that requires both Heart and Action.
(Hebrews12:28) – “therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shake, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Worship is a response of man when he
encounters either God or His actions:

When we encounter the reality of God, true worship is the outcome.
Case and point:
The encounter with Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
In front of the people of Israel, Elijah issued a challenge to the prophets of the false god Baal. “Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but do not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call the name of your god, and I will call the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire – he is God.” (1 Kings 18:23-24)
They did everything exactly as Elijah had said. Baal’s prophets prepared their sacrifice and called out to their god. From morning until evening they called out, but nothing happened. Finally, it was Elijah’s turn. As if to really prove the point he had his helpers pour large jars of water on his sacrifice. He then stepped up and prayed that the Lord would show the people that He was indeed God. And he did. The bull, the wood, the soil and even the water were all consumed by fire.
To me the response of the people really says it all.
“When all the people saw this they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD – He is God! The LORD – He is God!”’ (1 Kings 18:39) No one needed to tell them what to do or how to respond. Worship is the natural response when people encounter God or His actions.
An unbeliever comes into the church and people are speaking forth prophetically. He is convicted by their words, and he realizes that God is there. His response “ So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming God is really among you.” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25) in this scene Paul does not suggest that someone will need to show the man scriptural precedent for bowing in worship. It is the obvious response.
When you realize the presence of the Almighty God, the only appropriate response is worship.
True Worship is Costly:
The concept of giving to God as a part of worship can be seen throughout the whole bible. It seems to almost be a given that worship will cost something.
-Old Testament – people brought their animals, which they had spent time and energy nurturing and caring for, to offer as a sacrifice to God.
-New Testament – If you didn’t want to corral your own lamb to Jerusalem you could simply bring along some extra cash and purchase the appropriate sacrificial animal right the temple.
Either way, however, their worship still cost them something. It was either time and effort of raising the animal or the actual monetary value of purchasing an animal for the sacrifice. Their worship offered something of value to God.
A Prime example is laid out for us in 2 Samuel 24:18-23.
David understood the principle of worship being costly.
Here is 2 Samuel 24:18-23 broken down.
- David sinned.
- God caused a plague killing 70,000 people.
- David was devastated and cried out to God.
- The prophet Gad instructed David to go a man named Araunah and build an alter to the
Lord on his threshing floor.
- Araunah was flattered and offered it for free along with oxen for the sacrifice, and
threshing sledges, and ox yokes for wood on which to burn the sacrifice.
David, however, knew better. He understood that simply taking something from someone else to offer to God was not acceptable. David’s response back to Araunah was simple, “ No. I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David refused to offer up a sacrifice in which he had no real investment.
Sacrifice means “giving up something for the sake of another.”
A different perspective:
If someone gives you a gift would you rather receive a diamond ring or plastic ring,? A rusted out Pinto or a brand-new Roles Royce? The same is true for God. He doesn’t want cheap imitations or leftovers. He wants our very best. This goes beyond finances. The scripture repeatedly refers to giving glory and honor and thanks to the Lord.
Giving to the Lord out of a heart filled with gratitude and praise is truly an act of worship that God enjoys. Are we willing to sacrifice our time, our finances and even whatever is most precious to us to our most worthy God?
Answer:
The most effective worship leader, I have found, is the one that thinks he/she isn't.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate The most effective worship leader, I have found, is the one that thinks he/she isn't.
It sounds like a cool saying and all but
I hope I can be effective.. best way to be is to be in Gods word. Lord use us.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate The most effective worship leader, I have found, is the one that thinks he/she isn't.
I don't know man, worship leading is a responsibility that should be taken seriously. The responsibility, not ourselves.
Answer:
I'm not saying we should take worship leading lightly or not strive to be effective. All I'm saying is that God's strength is perfected in our weakness. The times when I have felt that our "performance" on Sunday has been terrible are quite often the times that numerous members of the congregation have come to me and thanked me for leading in worship that morning.
If I could just get out of the way more often and not think that the effectiveness of my leading depended on me, I think I'd be more useful to God.
In His love,
Nate
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Originally Posted by RecordingGuy If so,what are your favorite songs to do in your church I'm not good at these sorts of thing. I can never pick favorites.
and I'd like to know what do you think makes an effective worship leader? Well, thats a real tough question. What makes for an effective band leader is very different that what makes for a good worship leader. The guy volunteering to clean the toilets can be a very effective worship leader according to Romans 12:1.
An effective worship leader would be someone that gives their all in service to God as their response to who He is and what He has done.
An effective band leader HOPEFULLY is a good worship leader too. However, I don't really want to treat the terms that loosely as to assume they go hand in hand.
* A good praise band leader should be prayerfully dependent. They soak their ministry in prayer.
* Hopefully, they're organized and thoughtful in their managing the band.
* They play in a style relevent to their audience.
* They constantly scan for distractions and attempt to get rid of them.
* Musical
How do you guys define worship? Its a bit tough to define but the definition I've been using recently is:
Our response to who God is and what He has done.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate The times when I have felt that our "performance" on Sunday has been terrible are quite often the times that numerous members of the congregation have come to me and thanked me for leading in worship that morning.

That's very true. I've been so dissapointed with worship some Sundays, when it's plagued by elertical and equipment difficulties, and then people really worship God anyway... Sometimes we overthink things and realize that God can move how he wants to affect people minds and spirits.
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yea i would have to agree worship leadin is a responsibilty and also the group of talented leaders must be up to all challenges and spiritual battles as a group
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Originally Posted by kor3andrummer yea i would have to agree worship leadin is a responsibilty and also the group of talented leaders must be up to all challenges and spiritual battles as a group
amen, Lord help us all-Diving in!!!!