THE NIGERIAN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, OGBOMOSO

A SEMINAR PAPER ON

WORSHIP LEADERS IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

PRESENTED TO

REV. DR. E. O. OYEMOMI

BY

OJO, RACHAEL ‘FUNKE

MATRIC NO.10/0122
MCM II

ON

COLLOQUIUM IN WORSHIP ISSUES

CMU 585

NOVEMBER, 2011
 INTRODUCTION

Worship leadership is one of the sensitive aspects of church life. The type of worship

leaders of a church is always a reflection of the worship life and attitude of the church.

However, some worship activities has turned to be god as a result of the worship leader’s

style or approach. In some way, worship has turned to be human-centered and not God-

centered thus worshipping creativity instead of the creator.

The task of leading people in worship is a high honour and a serious responsibility. In

recent time, the role has become more open to laymen apart from the Pastor and Music

Minister. Others who are involved are choristers and instrumentalists. This work will

attempt to explain worship, discuss worship leaders in relation to worship further

elucidate the role/place or contribution of each worship leaders to worship experience and

explain how their relationships with each other affect Christian worship.

For proper understanding of this work, it is expedient that certain terms used be

defined and clarified. In the light of the above, the terms worship, leaders and concept of

leadership will be explained.

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Worship, as defined by P. O. Davidson is a dramatic, dynamic, dialogical encounter

between the triune God of the Bible and His people in which God speaks and/or acts to

reveal Himself and His will and God’s people respond in appropriate biblical ways. 1

Right from the garden of Eden, it is obvious that God planned to fellowship with man

(Gen. 3:8). The initiation comes from God and not from man and this He did as he speaks

or act to reveal Himself and His will to man. The dialogical concept of worship shows

that it involves more than one person and this happens to be God and His people.

1
P. O. Davidson, Come Let Us Worship. (Ibadan: Baptist Press [Nig.] Ltd., 2002).2.
 Martin, in his book “The Worship of God”, defines worship as “the dramatic

celebration of God in His supreme worth in such a manner that His “worthiness” becomes

the norm and inspiration of human living”. 2 This definition reveals that God is the central

object of worship and not the activities therein. The word “dramatic” implies that there

are some elements of drama apart from setting an episode that are involved in ascribing

worth to God, this involve praying, singing, clapping, dancing and even preaching.

Furthermore, Kendall, in his book titled “Worshipping God”, defines worship as “the

response to, and/or preparation for, the preached word”.3 This definition emphasize the

preached word and this is commendable because the word of God is one of the active

means by which God reveals Himself and His will to His people and without this, the

divine-human relationship will be absolutely incomplete.

Wardle in his own view defines worship as “a glorious celebration of God and all He

has done in creation and redemption. It is an act of adoration in which God’s people seek

to please Him with praise”.4 From the definition, Wardle emphasize praise as a means of

celebration and worship. This definition holds a contrary opinion to that of Kendall that

lay emphasis on the preached word. In Wardle’s opinion, preaching of the word should

not be highly esteemed than other activities that constitute parts of the worship

experience.

John Frame in his own submission defined worship as “the work of acknowledging

the greatness of our covenant Lord, to worship God is to bow before His absolute,

ultimate authority”.5 However, Frame was opposed to the fact that Christian worship

should be dialogical. His argument was based on the fact that many divine-human

2
Ralph P. Martin. The Worship of God. (Grand Rapids: William E. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982). 4.
3
R. T. Kendall. Worshipping God. (London: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., 1989). 2.
4
Terry Wardle. Exalt Him! (CampHill: Christian Publications, 1992). 24.
5
John Frame. Worship in Spirit and Truth. (Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1996) 1.
 encounters in the Bible itself are not notably dialogical. 6 He further opined that God

speaks, not only in the reading and preaching of scripture, but also God speaks through

hymns because most of the hymns express biblical content and also teaches God’s word.

From the various definitions, worship could then be described as an initiation of God

through the Holy Spirit, which brings about an encounter between God and His people,

which is followed by response from God’s people and eventually lead to transformation

of live and ultimately resulting in a unique relationship with God. A relevant scene was

that of a Samaritan woman in John 4:7-42, where Jesus Himself initiated the conversation

and this actually led to a divine encounter for the woman. The Holy Spirit stirred up the

desire for the living water Jesus talked about. A positive response came from the woman;

v.27-29 revealed an evidence of a transformed life while v.30-42 gives an idea of the

outcome of the experience. Therefore, we may not know how to worship God as we

ought to do if our knowledge of Him does not state any encounter we have had of Him.

WHO IS A LEADER?

Leader according to oxford advanced learner’s dictionary of current English is a

person who leads. To lead is an action of guiding or giving an example; direction given by

going in front.7 A leader is a person who exercises the acts which facilitate group goal

accomplished. A leader is an individual in any social situation in which his ideas and

actions influence the thought and behaviour of others. In worship context, anyone who is

regularly standing before the congregation in any ministry capacity is seen as a leader by

the congregation.

THE CONCEPT OF LEADERSHIP

6
John Frame. Worship in Spirit and Truth.( Philipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1996). 70
7
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. (USA: Oxford University Press, 1974). 478
 Leadership is an important force in any situation where plurality of individuals interacts

towards the attainment of a particular aim. It is a personality in action under group situation.

It is also a process of mutual stimulation, which by successful interplay of relevant individual

differences, controls human energy in pursuit of a common cause.8 Leadership in worship

could be described as personality in action who educate and provide spiritual guide for

worshippers, minister to their lives and get them focused on God.

LEADERS IN WORSHIP

Worship leadership draws the participation or involvement of different people that cut

across the clergy (Pastor, Music Minister, Education Minister etcetera) and some laymen such

as Deacon or Deaconess, Church Secretary, Ushers, Sunday School Teachers, Choir and

Instrumentalists.

WORSHIP LEADERS AND WORSHIP

Worship leadership is one of the most divisive issues in churches today. It is a vague

term that could encompass different responsibilities and this call for sensitivity to the Holy

Spirit. Ultimately, our worship leader is Jesus Christ. He is the only mediator between God

and man, and the perfect man who sings God’s praise in our midst. (I Tim. 2:5; Heb.2:12). He

is our high priest who offered the perfect sacrifice of Himself to insure our entrance into the

holy places (Heb.10:19-22). He is the most important focus of Christian worship and no

worship leader should dare take His place. All attention must be directed to the person of

Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Worship leaders should be conscious of the fact that

Holy Spirit has opportunity to flow freely through them. As a leader, you cannot take people

to where you have not been; every worship leader is first of all called to be a worshipper,

their relationship with the Lord is what will make leading worship possible and without this

8
A. A. Jibowo. Essentials of Rural Sociology (Abeokuta: Gbemi Sodipo Press Ltd., 1992). 180.
as part of their lives, no amount of talent, practice, or mental and physical preparation will be

of help.

Those involved in leading worship should have lives that reflect worship in all they

say or do. Ultimately, they must strike a balance between leading the people and worshipping

God. It is vital that the worship leaders should actually worship while leading but they should

not be completely lost in God that they forget about the people they are leading because if

this happen, they have already missed part of their responsibility. On the other hand, if they

so focused on the people and missed worshipping the Lord, then they have also missed a

major part of their role.

The idea of being spontaneous is equal to following the Holy Spirit has been widely

propagated in the church today. The truth is that this idea is not found in the Bible. Nowhere

in the Bible does this scripture suggest that spontaneity is a guarantee that the Holy Spirit is

leading. Also, the Bible does not tell us that we cannot be led by God when planning ahead. It

is a good idea for those involved in worship leading to prepare not just to preach, sing or play

but also to worship the Lord. The primary focus of worship leader should be to get people

look to God and have a life transforming encounter with God. It is accurate to assume that not

everyone comes to the service with their hearts and minds focused on the Lord. This should

be borne in mind by worship leaders at preparatory level and they should be concerned about

changing people’s focus from themselves (or their circumstances) to God and this could be

done by asking the Lord for guidance as regard each particular service. “Whatever worship

leader says or sings or plays must be understood within the dialogical context of the worship

encounter as either from God or going to God”.9

However, leading worship is indeed a role that should remain open to anybody called

or gifted in that direction. There is an assertion that the role of the musicians as a worship

leader has been exaggerated in recent decades. Some Pastors give one-third or even half of
9
P. O. Davidson. Come Let Us Worship. (Ibadan: Baptist Press [Nig.] Ltd., 2002.).42
their meeting to singing led by a musician who has little or no theological training. For many

young ones, musician, choir and instrumentalist have become a more important factor than

the preacher in a worship service whereas, all (worship leaders) work together in ensuring

and enhancing the congregation to worship and so none should be discriminated against.

The only certainty in worship is change and what is changed will also change.

Worship leaders must consider the dynamic aspect of worship stated in Davidson’s definition

as an important issue. In doing this, they must strike balance between biblical model and

contemporary demand or style of worship. Worship service must be planned and lead in such

a way that balance and comprehensive opportunity for fullness of human expression in

response to God’s revelation is experienced. In leading worship, both on the parts of the

Pastor and Music Minister, flexibility and openness to the Holy Spirit should be allowed.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF WORSHIP LEADERS TO WORSHIP EXPERIENCE

Having established the fact that worship leaders are also expected to be worshippers

at first, and also they are tool through which God enhance our worship. There are different

ways by which each worship leaders e.g. Pastor, Music Minister, Choir and Instrumentalist

contributes to the worship experience of those they lead and this comes from the role that

each of them played in worship service as well as their attitude to worship.

Pastor as a Worship Leader: The Pastor has distinct call to give leadership in worship and he

must do this even when others are directly involved in leading the congregation in worship,

his initiative and instruction will often be critical to the worship atmosphere in any given
setting. Most of the problem of lack of true worship stems from the fact that few people know

how to worship and many Pastors discarded teaching people about worship. For the church to

experience a true worship, the responsibility lies on the church Pastor to teach or educate his

member about worship.

The church Pastor as a worship leader should also create a peaceful atmosphere for

other worship leaders (music minister, choir, instrumentalists). This will bring about sense of

belonging and participation from other worship team members. Others should be carried

along in planning of the worship, they should be informed about what and what is expected

of them as regards a particular service. Pastor should see worship leadership as a team work

and share with others his vision and focus for each worship service. Pastor should ensure that

adequate preparation for worship is made not only on his part as a preacher but also from

others (Music Minister, Choir and Instrumentalists) as a co-minister. Worship theme and

mood should be communicated to others to enhance their preparation and worship

experience. Spiritual consecration before, during and after corporate worship should be an

important matter to him. His sermon should be well prepared and its goal must be to bring

about a transformed life and in his own capacity as the Pastor, he must see to it that the

worship team are together in planning, preparation, delivery and purpose.

Music Minister as a Worship Leader: In the contemporary church where praise and worship

is a vital part of the service, as much as 20-40% of the service is either music or undergirded

with music. The music minister will probably be the most visible person in the service. As a

worship leader, he is responsible to set the pace for the rest team (choir and instrumentalist).

As worship services change from Sunday to Sunday, music minister ensures that he know the

Pastor’s thinking regarding how the worship block is to fit into the total service.10

10
http://www.disk books.org/10c.html Ten Commandments for Worship Leaders and Worship Team Members.
Accessed 19/10/2011
 A worship leader is normally a musician with good singing ability and his role is to

lead the congregational singing. He is responsible for much of spiritual direction of the

service and often will choose songs that will be sung by the congregation and the choir. One

of the identifying marks of genuine spiritual worship is the element of contemplation.

Worship is not worship until there is this element of contemplation. To contemplate in

worship is to think deep thoughts about what one is singing. The music minister therefore is

someone called to lead others into the presence of God in this spirit-filled inspired and

contemplative praise worship. Music minister is like a key that God can use to unlock heaven

as he leads others to approach the Lord’s gate with thanksgiving and praise. The message of

the choice of music (congregational or choir special) he selects for each service will go a long

way in enhancing worshippers to encounter God afresh as they worship. As he select music

and lead God’s people, he ensure that the dialogical dimension of worship is put into place

and his music leadership provide an avenue for God’s people to ascribe worth to God and not

to him for God is the central object of worship.

The primary purpose of music minister is not to display skill and dexterity or to be

popular, but to lead God’s people in giving an acceptable worship to God and this could be

achieved in selection, introduction and leading of congregational and choral music. His

concern should be for God’s people to be lifted and edified through congregational singing

and choir special.

When planning and leading others in music, the dramatic aspect of worship (from

Davidson and Martin’s definitions) such as dancing, clapping and even dialogue should be

included not as a matter of routine but as an expression of honour and praise to God. Music

selected must be that which serve as preparation of people’s heart for God’s word and also a

response to God’s revelation.

Choir as Worship Leaders: Although, the New Testament doctrine of priesthood of all

believers calls for the saints to lift up their voices (whether musically trained, gifted or not)

in a unified chorus of praise and adoration to God. However, that is not to say the gifted and

trained musician do not have an important contribution to make to the worship life of God’s

people. The Old Testament also gave a crucial role to the Levitical musicians, who were set

apart for music in worship. The prominent role of the choir in the temple worship becomes

very important when priests are mentioned in I Chronicles 5:11-14, to perform a duty.

In the course of giving their quality worship to God, the choir introduces God to his

people and proclaims God’s gracious character and benevolent disposition to His people. The

choir mediates between the Lord and His people by speaking His mind to them in songs; they

bring down God’s glory as they lead God’s people in praise and adoration of God’s name.

Through the choir rendition, God’s revelatory act is made eminent and people are led to

respond with awe, gratitude and celebration of God.

The introduction of choir special and expression during the ministration strengthen

the message and also has a long way to prepare the heart of God’s people for worship. Choir

special should not be done from performance perspective but it should be from the spiritual

preparation of meeting the spiritual thirst of God’s people. Singing should not be to impress

people but the purpose must be to teach and admonished (Col. 3:16). Song texts should be

that which edifies and build up Christian faith and character. Christ should be the center and

focus of their songs ministration and salvation of souls should be the ultimate or expected end

result. When all of these happen, worshippers would have experienced true worship and heart

desire of the Lord in John 4:21-24 accomplished.

Instrumentalists as Worship Leaders: Most of the time the instrumentalists are viewed as the

unserious and ungodly because many of them do not consider themselves as a worshipper.
During other worship activities they stay outside and come-in when there is going to be

music. Such attitude does not enhance worshipping God in Spirit and in truth.

Instrumentalist can also worship God with their instrumentalist if they allow the Holy

Spirit to control them; God can reach out to the people in a miraculous way as they play on

the instrument. The Holy Spirit can inspire them with a feeling or a touch to add power and

inspiration to a session of singing.

Church instrumentalists are also one of the most important leaders in a corporate

service experience who must not only be technically proficient in the instruments they play

but must be ready as a utilitarian spiritual experience vehicle because like music minister and

the choir they also lead the church in experiencing a dynamic worship atmosphere. The fact

should be borne in mind that as instrumentalist plays their instruments, they are prophesying

(II Kings 3:15; I Sam.10:5-11). Prophets, their spiritual life and worship life go along way in

helping people to worship. However, during worship, instrumentalists should not permit the

amplified voice of the instrument to drown out the vocal participation of the congregation.

ISSUES IN WORSHIP LEADERSHIP

There are countless issues in worship leadership and in relation to this work the

following four issues shall be discussed.

1) Leaders Misconception about Worship: This exhibits itself conspicuously

when leaders do not really know or understand the concept of worship and

what it takes to lead God’s people in worship. Many so-called worship leaders

see worship service as an avenue to display their skill or exercise their

authority over the people of God. Some uses the time to instruct the

worshippers on what could be of benefit to them or to protect their self

interest. A lot of worship leaders see the time of worship as a time to engage
 people of God in activities and also an avenue to display their spiritual ego;

others are of the opinion that it is when you do a particular aspect of worship

such as prayer, hear the preaching or give offering that you actually worship

whereas, worship in its original sense is allowing our total being both as

worship leader and as congregation to respond to the “Greatness”, “Goodness”

and “Wonder” of God and it encompass all activities outlined in the worship

bulletin with the primary focus of getting the people look at God.

2) Identity Crisis: Many worship leaders did not realize who and what they are in

worship, this reflects in the way and manner they handle worship leading and

also the people of God in worship. Some leaders of worship even put

themselves in place of God and as such turn to be object of worship. Worship

leaders are first of all worshippers before leading God’s people in worship and

also they are just an instrument in God’s hand to lead and guide His people in

worship. Some worship leaders feel unrecognized or underrated with role been

apportioned to them to play during worship; they feel they have more potential

to act in capacity which they feel is higher to what they are asked to do

whereas in worship, there is no aspect that is inferior or superior to others, all

aspects put together makes up corporate Christian worship.

3) Conflict of Role: This has been a serious issue in worship leading and

unfortunately affecting worship atmosphere and worshippers’ spirit and

attitude to worship. At times, the Pastor may be of the opinion that he as the

pastor has a superior role to play in worship and as a result of his theological

training, there is no aspect of worship that he cannot handle and so he want to

be the music minister, the preacher, choir master, usher, church secretary and

instrumentalist at the same time. In other hand, the music minister feels that he
 also has the theological training that makes him to have a superior role to play

in worship service. The pastor sees himself as the only worship leader and at

the same time, the music minister sees himself as the only worship leader.

Choir sees themselves as the lifeline of worship while the instrumentalists see

themselves as the indispensable leader in a worship service. All these

generates ill-feeling and disrupt the spirit-filled atmosphere of worship.

4) Relationship: Just as nothing strains a marriage faster than a breakdown of

communication, nothing will disturb worship more than a severe relationship.

Relationship among the worship leaders are negatively affected by

assumptions, ego, jealousy and pride; atimes, the pastor may be of opinion that

he is a boss or on top of the world and so all other leaders have to worship

him. On the other hand, music minister will feel that he or she is being

maltreated and sidelined as regard worship. Both pastor and music minister

sees themselves as clergy who are superior to relate with choir and

instrumentalist and all that they owe them as far as interaction is concerned is

to give them instruction while choir and instrumentalist sees themselves as the

lifeline of the worship service. All these are borne out of communication gap

because in a situation where the above feeling exist if those that are concerned

should manage to bridge the communication gap and are truthful and objective

some of the ill feeling will be overcome. A good relationship among worship

leaders (both clergy and laymen) in which communication is frequent, truthful,

and objective will help alleviate problems that can affect the worship of God.

To strengthen relationship, it is important that the pastor show care and

concerns that stretches past his professional or ministerial relationship. He

should become friend of his worship team members and accept his limitation
 where necessary. Music minister and others involved in the music ministry on

the other hand must marry their vision with that of the pastor because the

pastor of the church usually sees the congregation from the overall

perspective. All should cultivate a servant attitude to God and God’s people

and also be friend to one another because true friends will not want to compete

against one another in a negative sense but they will desire to help each other

succeed.

EFFECTS OF WORSHIP LEADERS RELATIONSHIP ON WORSHIP

The kind of relationship that exist between the worship leaders (Pastors, Music

Minister, Choir and Instrumentalists) can make and mare the Church worship atmosphere. It

is very important that the Pastor and other worship leader be in accord, when assumptions are

made or where there is suspicion, the door is open to confusion, frustration and division set

in. If relationship with other worship leaders is not all that God wanted, then worship

atmosphere will be severed.

Worship at its best draws in the participation of many people and the planning brings

together people who are not necessarily alike. Each person comes with different opinion and

from different perspective while the common goal of corporate worship is to edify. When

relationship among worship leaders becomes sour, such goal will not be realized. Where there

is a strained relationship, unity of the heart and voice which is an essential factor in allowing

the Holy Spirit is lost.

CONCLUSION
 In this paper, worship leadership has been seen as an enormous and important task

that requires God’s guidance, inspiration and enablement. Those who are involved should see

themselves not as an important person but as a tool through which God get in touch with His

people.

Considering the sensitive nature of worship leaders’ role in worship, they should

ensure adequate preparation for each worship service and be concerned with orderliness

during worship. All attention should be directed to Christ and not to self and worshippers

should be released to the Holy Spirit for an encounter of true worship.

Unity of heart, mind, focus and purpose on the part of all those involved in leading

worship is of great importance in releasing worship amidst God’s people.. Division among

worship leaders could pollute and destroy the worship atmosphere and other worshippers’

spirit.

As a result of the above been said, this work recommended that the role of each

worship leaders should be clearly spelt out for clarification. The concept of worship should be

well understood and the act should be seen as a priviledge. Each leader should see him/her

self as tool in God’s hand and not an indispensable object.

Relationship among worship leaders should be that which glorify and honour God.

Mutual and cordial relationship should be aimed at and strengthened for therein lies

conclusive atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to dwell more and accomplish God’s purpose.

No one except God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit should count him/herself superior

in worship and also no one should be seen as inferior person for worship leaders together are

instruments in God’s hand with equal task of leading people in His worship.

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