Song Leading / Worship Leading

We have a number of volunteers who lead singing

during the Sunday morning service.

• Some are trained musicians

• Others simply enjoy music and have a desire
to serve in this area.

We want to develop new song leaders as well as

help our current song leaders continue to
improve.
 Big difference between leading songs for

• camp,
• fellowships,
• in school and
• church service.
 In fellowship settings
• appropriate for the song leader to be highly
energetic, highly animated, and to orchestrate
the group singing by being the focus of
attention.
 Church setting
• the focus of our singing, and therefore our
attention, is either God (praise, thanksgiving,
worship) or one another (edification,
exhortation, encouragement).
 Church setting
• The song leader, known in some circles as a
"worship leader," needs to become almost
invisible.
 Church setting
• Rather than being the focus of attention, the
song leader coordinates the congregation so
they can sing as one.
 Church setting
• The goal of song leading in a church context is
not getting the congregation to sing with
volume, enthusiasm, or musical perfection. 
 Church setting
• The goal is, rather, helping nurture sincerity
and clarity (orderliness) on the part of the
congregation so they can better sing to God
and to one another (Colossians 3:16-17).
 Church setting
To accomplish this goal, the song leader needs
• to be well prepared in order to lead the
congregation effectively and
• to minimize unnecessary distractions that can
shift the congregation’s focus away from
spiritual things.
 Church setting

To accomplish this goal,

• Preparation is the key to effective
song leading and to avoiding
most problems.
 Preparing as a Songleader
First and foremost, be prepared
musically.
Learn the songs.
Practice the songs with the musicians
in advance.
 Preparing as a Songleader
• During the church service, LEAD the
song.

• Sing confidently and expect the

musicians and the projector tech to
follow you.
 Preparing as a Songleader
• Don’t be tentative—trust and expect
the next slide to be there when it
should.

• Don’t wait for it to appear—you are

the leader.
 Preparing as a Songleader
• If you slow down, or glance
backwards at the screen, you will
likely generate concern among the
congregation that you don’t know
what’s coming next.
 Preparing as a Songleader
• Focus your smiling, confident face
toward the congregation and sing
away.

• Also, expect the musicians to

follow you.
• Sometimes, when we introduce a
new song, the song will be new to
virtually everyone in the
congregation. So make sure you
know it.
 Congregational Music
• Congregational music is vital to a
church service. 
• From the 700 plus Biblical references
to music we learn that corporate
singing has priority over the “special
music.” 
 Congregational Music
Make it a personal priority.
• Do not allow yourself to procrastinate the
planning of the services. 
• Add it to your “to do” list and put a big star
beside it! 
• Prayerfully consider the songs you will lead in
the coming services. 
 Congregational Music
Make it a personal priority.
• Find out the pastor’s desire for the song
service. 

• Many times a pastor has preferences for what

types of songs he would like to have in certain
services.
 Congregational Music
Use variety.
•  Select songs with different time signatures,
keys and tempos. 
• Increase variety by learning new songs. 
• A typical church sings less than half of the
songs in their hymnal. 
• Use choruses as well.
 Congregational Music
Tell hymn stories.
• Occasionally tell the interesting story behind
one of the popular hymns. 
• These can help renew the meaning of a
familiar hymn to the congregation. 
• You could also use the story to introduce a
hymn that you have not previously used. 
 Congregational Music
Create themes.
• Work with your pastor toward special days to
have thematic music that is not specifically
tied to a traditional holiday. 
• Plan all of the congregational, choir, and
special music to center on a theme that the
pastor will be preaching. 
• Most pastors will love this idea!
 Congregational Music
Get help from the choir.
• The choir is not in the choir loft just for the
choir special. 
• Make sure the choir knows that they have an
important responsibility to sing with
enthusiasm during congregational singing. 
• They assist in setting the tone and atmosphere
of the service.
 Congregational Music
Attitude check.
• Approach each song service with a happy,
upbeat, joyous attitude. 
• Be sure your enthusiasm for the Lord is
genuine.
• Expect a great day in the Lord’s house with the
Lord’s people! 
 Songleader
• our “job” as songleaders / worship leaders!
We’re the coaches, the cue card holders.
 Songleader
• As songleaders / worship leaders (or lead
worshippers, if you prefer), our purpose is not
to model a personal worship experience on
stage.

• It’s not even most importantly to perform

well.
 Songleader
• It is to facilitate corporate worship—to enable
all present to participate and engage in what is
going on and to point them to the truth of the
Gospel.
 Songleader
• When we remember that our role on stage is
primarily one of servant leadership, that it is
not about us and what we do but about the
people of God gathered, we are freed to serve
and lead well.
 Songleader
1) Watch what you do. 
• Be (or become) aware of your body language and
gestures.
• Our body language and gestures should be natural,
relaxed and appropriate.
• Remember that you are seeking to invite and enable
the congregation as a whole to engage and
participate in what is going on, not to be the poster
child for how a person “should” look when
worshipping. 
 Songleader
1) Watch what you do. 
• Carefully consider whether what you would
normally do in private worship or as
a participant in the congregation will be more
helpful or distracting when leading from the
stage.
 Songleader
2) Keep your eyes open. 
• Watch the congregation. 

• You may notice that people aren’t singing

along, but rather look confused or perplexed
(or bored). 

• Maybe they don’t know the song?

 Songleader
2) Keep your eyes open. 
• Maybe they don’t know they’re supposed to
be singing? 

• You can invite them to sing with a statement

like, “Now that you know it, let’s sing that
again together,” or simply ”Let’s sing that
truth/prayer together again.”
 Songleader
2) Keep your eyes open. 
• You have not only let them know that
participation is encouraged and expected, but
you’ve pointed them to the content and
substance of what is going on.
 Songleader
3) Sing it like you mean it. 
• Sing clearly and in such a way that people can
easily sing along with you.
• We’re not being good leaders if people can’t
follow!
• Reflect on and give an appropriate facial or
bodily response to the words we sing. 
 Songleader
3) Sing it like you mean it. 
• The intent is not that we “act out” each song we
sing, but rather show, by our expressions and
actions, that we understand and agree with what
we’re singing. 
• If a song is joyful, smile!
• When singing a true statement about God, I will
often affirm and agree with the statement by
nodding my head as I sing that line.  
 Songleader
3) Sing it like you mean it. 
• When singing a truth about our hearts, I often
indicate that by placing my hand over my
heart.
• When we lead songs, we are proclaiming that
truth (telling that “story”) to everyone there
gathered, inviting them in to sing it and realize
what we’re saying with us.
 Songleader
3) Sing it like you mean it. 
• You can do this well without being overly
emotional, dramatic or distracting.
 Songleader
4) Cut down on “down time”. 
• An overly showy arrangement with extended
instrumentals and/or solos can be just as
distracting and awkward as a song sung off-
key.
 Songleader
5) Use readings and transitions wisely. 
• Be reverent, conversational and sincere, but
use appropriate expressiveness and emphasis
when you read or speak.
• Slow down a bit: don’t drag, but remember
that not everyone in the congregation is a fast
or good reader. 
 Songleader
5) Use readings and transitions wisely. 
• With regards to readings, practice
emphasizing verbs instead of pronouns,
adjectives or adverbs. You’ll be amazed at how
this highlights the truths of Scripture.
 Songleader
6) Show and tell. 
• Show or tell people how the song we’ve just
sung relates to what we’ve just done or are
about to do.
• Mention the Scriptural truth that gives us the
basis for this action, song, or activity.
 Songleader
6) Show and tell. 
• Be honest about how our feelings may not
seem to line up with what we’ve just sung or
what we are about to sing, pointing out that
truth is not so subjective.
 Songleader
7) Get engaged. 
• Our primary role is to facilitate and enable
people to engage and participate in what is going
on in the corporate worship service. 
• People can still see you, and they are watching
you if you’re on stage
• It’s crucial that those who are on stage, even if
they’re not talking or playing, model what it
means to be engaged in what is going on.
 Songleader
8) Listen to your mom. 
• And what did she always say? “Practice,
practice, practice,” right?

• Learn the words and music to the songs so

you can look up from the page and establish
eye contact with the congregation.
 Songleader
8) Listen to your mom. 
• Practice your readings out loud several times
so that you are familiar with all the words
before the service.

• Run through the order of the set and service

before going up on stage so that everyone
knows what’s happening when and where. 
 Songleader
9) Pray. 
• We customarily and easily fall into thinking
more about ourselves than those we serve.
• We want to be admired and respected and
affirmed and praised for what we do and how
we do it.
• We want to shine. 
 Songleader
9) Pray. 
• We want things to go smoothly, to feel in
control, to avoid conflict and evade
embarrassment. 
• We are obsessive and fearful and insecure and
prideful. 
• So we must pray.
 Songleader
9) Pray. 
• Grow ever quicker to acknowledge and
confess your sin before the Lord and those
who hold you accountable.
• Ask the Lord to make you useful to Him in
ministry.
• Ask Him for wisdom and guidance in how to
love and lead His people well. 
 Songleader
9) Pray. 
• Pray for and cultivate a humble, teachable
heart to learn from those who give you
feedback and serve as mentors.

• Pray for those you serve, and those with

whom you lead.
 Advance Concepts
 Prepare these transitional comments in advance.

 Think through the order of the service and the

various elements.

 Decide where you want to interject some

comments to transition from one song or topic to
the next.
 Advance Concepts
 Then determine the essence of your remarks.

 A brief comment is often appropriate as a transition

aid.

 But don’t preach a mini-sermon.

 The goal is to avoid both long pauses and extended

comments between worship elements.
 Advance Concepts
 Preparation will help to minimize unnecessary
distractions due to mistakes.

 If you, the musicians and the projection

technicians know the songs well, distractions
during the songs should be few.

 If you have planned the transitions in advance,

these will typically go fairly smoothly as well.
 Advance Concepts

But what if you haven’t been

able to prepare as well as you
would like?
 Advance Concepts
 Do not apologize in advance for lack of preparation or
other issues unless they will be painfully obvious.

 If you didn’t have time to prepare well enough and you

feel uncomfortable, ask God for His provision, but don’t
apologize to the congregation.

 This just adds an unnecessary negative element and a

distraction to the service. (And if things work out, they
may never know!)
 Advance Concepts
 But if the sound system is not functional Sunday
morning due to a lightning strike, THIS is
something you will want to apologize for upfront.

 Then make the best of it without continuing a

running apology throughout the service.
 Advance Concepts

What should you do when a

mistake occurs?
 Advance Concepts
 Minimize them! Stay calm—don’t panic.

 Plod onward as if they didn’t happen; don’t

make faces, shrug your shoulders, cringe,
etc.

 Some folks probably noticed, others didn’t.

 Advance Concepts
 Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill by calling
attention to a mistake—you’re adding an extra
unnecessary distraction, which is in itself a greater mistake.

 A skilled person sometimes makes a mistake but minimizes

the impact of a mistake—and keeps the song moving
forward.

 Keep your attention focused on the future, not on the

mistake.
 Advance Concepts
 Review the songs in advance and compare them with
the music.

 Make sure the musicians and the song leader (you) all
agree on which verses will be used, when the
chorus/refrain will be sung, what will be repeated, etc.

 Make sure the lyrics on the slides agree with the way
you plan to lead/sing/play the song.
 Advance Concepts
 The congregation needs to be able to hear you to
follow you.

 Step up to the mic and lead by singing audibly:

give the sound tech some volume to amplify!

 Do not worry: he will not "over-amplify" you.

 Advance Concepts
 The song leader should not try to recreate the feel
of another church or use the opportunity to
advance an agenda (such as condemning a certain
musical style).

 On the positive side, feel free to show your

pleasure for a certain song.
 Advance Concepts
 Song leaders should not scold the
congregation for lack of enthusiasm or
volume, nor should they pressure or
manipulate the congregation.

 Assume the goodwill and spirituality of

our folks.
 Advance Concepts
 Since song leading is not a vocal solo
performance, don’t get carried away and start
performing.
 Remember your goal is to help the congregation
focus on God, not on you.

 Save this type of ministry for a real vocal solo

when it is scheduled.
 Advance Concepts
 A song leader should dress in a non-distracting
manner.

 Avoid short shorts, worn clothing when it is your

time to lead.

 The last thing a song leader should be is distracting.

 Advance Concepts
 Song leading, like any other ministry or art,
is an area to develop.

 We should never think we have it down.

 The room for improvement is still the

biggest room in the world, and we all live in
this same room!
 Advance Concepts
Checklist
□  1. Am I familiar with all the songs?
□  2. Have I arranged to run through the songs
with the musicians?
□  3. Have I previewed (or made arrangement to
preview) the slides/songs?
 Advance Concepts
Checklist
□  4. Have I thought about brief transitional
comments?
□  5. Have I asked God for the working of His
Holy Spirit and for His provision for my
song leading ministry time?