Worship Leader Blog

We get about an hour with our congregations on Sundays, and it's crucial that we make that hour count, which means every member of the worship team must be ready. Here are three ways you can make sure that you are ready to contribute when you get your cue.

1. Be "prayed up." Yeah, we all pray together before we go on stage, but I wonder what it would be like if each one of us spent time in prayer before we showed up to play, asking God to move in our hearts and the hearts of our congregation?

2. Be warmed up. For some of us, 9:45 (our first service time) is pretty early in the morning to be in top vocal (or even instrumental) form. We joke sometimes about our earlier service being the "warm-up" service, and even if we don't really mean that, if we're not warmed up when we get there, that's exactly what it is. Even a little singing in the car on the way to church can help. As a guitarist, I know it makes a difference when I've taken a few minutes before the service to play and get my hands and fingers loosened up.

3. Be prepared. Rehearsals for our team are on Wednesday nights, and it's a long time between Wednesday and Sunday, particularly when it comes to remembering any little details we work out at rehearsal. Prepared team members make notes on their charts and review their notes prior to the service. I don't know how many times I've failed to remember a break, or even how to start or end a song, just because I forgot and didn't review my notes before heading for the stage.

Following these three bits of advice will make a difference in your singing or playing, and it will help you be better prepared to lead people into the presence of God. Any other tips or suggestions out there? I'd love to hear them.