Guidebook for Worship Leaders

By Joe Ifah

Joe Ifah's Guidebook for Worship Leaders introduces worship as the defining coloration of the Christian's relationship with God, and pictures the worship leader as guide and pilot on the corporate journey that brings God's people into Divine presence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781105159992

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Copyright

Copyright 2011 by Joe Ifah

Guidebook for Worship Leaders

ISBN 978-1-257-64928-0

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be used without the written permission of the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts in magazines, articles, reviews, etc.

Dedication

To all those who love the Divine Presence,

Especially those called and committed to

Leading the Church in the worship

Of the King of Kings

Introduction

Having actively participated in corporate worship and worship leading for about two decades, I present this book as a product of observations and lessons gleaned from my experiences and those of others with whom I have worked. 

This book introduces worship as the defining coloration of the Christian’s relationship with his Maker, and goes on to explore the acts and attitudes that sum up to what we may call the lifestyle of worship. Building upon this foundation, we have proceeded to examine the requirements for effective corporate worship leading, following up with representations that picture the worship leader as pilot and captain on the corporate worship journey. The ultimate goal of the worship session, I believe, is to attain the divine presence. The worship leader’s crucial role entails stirring the people in smooth take-off, steering them through a heartfelt worship session that heads for and makes the Presence, and ensuring safe landing back.

This Guidebook portrays the worship leader as a key factor in the new order of priestly service of which every believer is a part, and affirms that a life of strict separation and consecration is required.

Finally, the book takes a look at the relationships between the worship leader and others with whom he has to work, including his pastor and other members of the music or worship team.

Table of Contents

Guidebook for Worship Leaders1

Copyright2

Dedication3

Introduction4

CHAPTER 1: BASIC FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP5

What is worship?5

Worship and Praise6

Praise as different from worship6

Praise as an element of worship7

Do the classifications matter?8

True Worship8

Why Worship?9

It's natural!9

Worthiness!10

Oil and grease!11

Benefits11

Personal versus Corporate Worship12

1. Worship Is a One-to-One Thing12

2. The Power of Corporate Worship13

CHAPTER 2: ACTS OF WORSHIP, Part 116

Singing16

Inhibitions/impediments to singing in worship18

Disguised Distraction?19

What has Tempo got to do with it?20

Dancing21

I will dance as David danced!24

Shouting25

Clapping27

Playing of Musical Instruments28

Play skillfully!29

Lifting of Hands29

Surrender and submission30

Seeking a connection32

CHAPTER 3: ACTS OF WORSHIP, Part 233

Kneeling33

Bowing34

Prostrating35

Giving36

Giving for love's sake37

Giving as a duty or obligation39

Giving out of gratitude39

Giving to secure favors or earn good standing39

Declarations40

Silence43

CHAPTER 4: LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP45

Understanding Submission45

3. Submission through affection46

4. Submission through respect46

5. Dependence46

6. Social stipulations and expectations46

We must submit to live47

Defining the Worship Attitude49

Lifestyle: Wearing the Color50

CHAPTER 5: LEADING WORSHIP54

The Worship Leader54

Requirements for Effective Worship Leading55

The worship lifestyle:55

The Holy Spirit:55

The Word of God57

Musical Talent59

Musical Knowledge and Skills60

Language and Communication Skills62

Boldness and confidence64

Humility64

Sensitivity65

Self-Control66

The worship leader is…67

CHAPTER 6: THE CORPORATE WORSHIP JOURNEY, PART 168

Destination: God's Presence68

Other Destinations?71

(1) The Drifting Iceberg of Self-Entertainment71

(2) The Shore of Exhaustion71

(3) The Hill of Ritualism72

The Worship Leader as Pilot72

Preparing for the Corporate Worship Session74

Pray!74

Rest and relaxation74

Routine 'maintenance' checks75

Fuel for the Trip: The Worship Leader and His Songs75

Choice of songs:76

Delicious fuel?79

CHAPTER 7: THE CORPORATE WORSHIP JOURNEY, PART 281

Take-off81

1.  Where are we?81

2.  Stirring the people to worship82

Pace and Navigation89

CHAPTER 8: THE CORPORATE WORSHIP JOURNEY, PART 393

Things to Avoid When Leading Worship93

1. Talking too much93

2. Scolding or showing displeasure93

3. Distracting jokes; stories that add nothing95

4. Needless gymnastics96

5. An apologetic air98

Safe landing98

Success?100

Assessing self102

Kingdom signs?103

The Fragrance104

CHAPTER 9: A NEW ORDER OF PRIESTLY SERVICE106

The Old Order106

The New Order:  A Royal Priesthood106

You Are the Temple!107

New Offerings and Sacrifices110

Living sacrifices110

Praise and Thanks112

Good deeds and giving113

Altars of the Heart!113

Drop the fork!115

CHAPTER 10: WORKING WITH OTHERS117

Working With Your Pastor117

Respect your pastor118

Accept your pastor's leadership119

Watch your tongue!120

Follow your pastor121

Assist your pastor121

Working With Your Head of Department122

Working With Other Worship Leaders125

Envy and rivalry125

Lone-star syndrome127

Working with Instrumentalists127

Team Spirit128

Acknowledgments130

CHAPTER 1: BASIC FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP

What is worship?

To worship means to ascribe worth to; to love and adore someone or something in the extreme; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration; to perform religious exercises in honor of someone or something; to pay homage. Worship in its ordinary meaning is not necessarily limited to God. One can worship anything. People worship people, money, power, fame, games, and other things.  Only God deserves worship, though, and to worship God means acknowledging and affirming his attributes, revering him and submitting our lives to his rule and sovereignty. Such attributes of God that compel our worship include his Power, Glory, Holiness, Omniscience, Mercy, Faithfulness and Goodness.

For the believer, worship is an appropriate response to an understanding of God's nature and character. It means recognizing who God is, and who we are in relation to him, and consequently reordering our lives' priorities.

Worship is meant to be the defining coloration of our relationship with God, the base of the substance that binds us to him. How else should one relate with his maker, the great one who made the universe? We, even as his beloved children, are so far beneath him in estate, stature and condition that only the gracious ladder constructed of truth-hewn beams of worship can readily grant us access to him.

Worship and Praise

What is the relationship between praise and worship? Do they mean one and the same thing?

Praise as different from worship

Praise is defined as 'expression of favorable judgment or approval, or commendation.' As a verb, the word could also mean 'to glorify (a god or saint) especially by the attribution of perfections'. These definitions aren't exactly what we stated earlier in respect to worship.

Consider the fact that you could praise someone without necessarily worshipping him. As an illustration, imagine that a 100 metres race has just been concluded. You walk up to the winner, someone much younger than yourself. You hail him, shake his hand, and commend his fantastic speed. You pat him on the back as you tell him you know he's on his way to becoming a world champion. The young athlete understands you're praising him for his performance, but he would be unwise to assume that you are worshipping him, even if he cannot quite read the tone of condescension in your voice.  Perhaps this is why God does not just inhabit praise;  anyone can praise anyone - he inhabits the praise of his people, that is, the praise of those who have already yielded themselves to his rule, and who worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:23,24)

But can we merely praise God like we would praise an athlete? Could I merely pat him on the back like I would my son when he does something commendable?  God is great could never sound to me like John is a great man. I cannot say God, you are wonderful with the same attitude or state of heart as I would say to my wife, Honey, you are wonderful.  Perhaps this is because differing images are invoked in the separate instances involving God and man. When we praise God we attribute perfections, which we do not associate with people or things when we praise them. This (attribution of perfections), to me, introduces a connection to worship. In other words, my praise of God tends to serve as part of my worship.

Praise as an element of worship

From this perspective we can see praise as the element of worship that has to do with appreciating and declaring God's deeds and ability. In this sense worship covers wider grounds than praise, and extends beyond confessing to demonstrating our submission to him. In other words, praise graduates to full worship when the element of submission comes in.  One can say therefore that whereas praise may terminate at the level of declarations and motions, worship embraces more, extending to an attitude of heart defined by submission. Praise looks at his deeds and his ability and says Wow! What a great guy! Worship goes further, reflects on his nature and character and adds, I submit therefore; I surrender!

To a true worshipper therefore, and most evidently to anyone who has truly adopted worship as a lifestyle, whose relationship with God bears the proper base color, praise becomes an expression of worship, not an alternative activity.

Do the classifications matter?

Our communication with the Father could be in forms of thanksgiving, praise, supplication, exultation or adoration, all these expressions coming through as interlinked elements held together in a unifying culture of worship. In other words, our expressions should wear a common color: worship. Worship should be the defining hue of my interaction with my maker. Besides, our circumstances and experiences often elicit expression in combinations that defy strict categorization. I would simply then say worship.

True Worship

But the time is coming and is already here when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23,24.)

In spirit: God is spirit, says the Bible, and spiritual things are spiritually discerned. (1Corinthians 2:14.) Only people whose spirits have been made alive through Christ Jesus can offer or experience true worship. (Hebrews 13:15.)

In truth: Jesus is the truth revealed. Our worship must be based on the truth about God as revealed through Jesus Christ. I am the way, the truth and the life, he says. No one can come to the Father except through me. All other forms and ways of worship outside the person and revelation of Jesus Christ therefore fall short of the standard of truth. Philippians 2: 9-11 says:

Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NLT)

Any form of worship that denies the supremacy of Jesus Christ falls short of the truth.

In spirit and truth suggests to me that it is possible to worship in spirit and still be in error. Have you ever seen a ritual performance by some juju priest? In spirit - yes, but not in truth. God is not the only spiritual reality seeking our allegiance and worship!

True worship is built on the fact that God is spirit, and on the fact that we cannot worship him acceptably without the spiritual connection he has put in place, or outside the truth about himself as revealed in Jesus Christ. 

True worship must be real, offered without pretense and coming from a sincere heart that feigns nothing before God.

True worship goes beyond words and phrases, antics and motions, beyond physical demonstration and singing of songs. It is first of all an offering reverently presented to God on the altar of a yielded heart. .

Why Worship?

I doubt if there is anyone for whom the acts of worship have never at any time seemed irksome. Haven't you ever wondered why you must bear worship as a life-long burden? Why shouldn't we merely acknowledge that God exists, and he just let us be? Why must we worship?

It's natural!

In the first place, the question is similar to asking why a particular car starts and