Three Keys for a Successful Worship Set

Would you like to know that every time you were called upon to lead worship, that the worship time would be successful? I know I would! First though, its important to define what success looks like for a congregational worship set. I think that at least one of the defining characteristics would be that the selection of the songs and the execution of the songs by the worship team would enable the congregation to connect with God in a deep, relevant and tangible way.

But how does this happen? Clearly, connecting with God during a time of congregational worship is not something that can be humanly manufactured. The interaction between God and man through the giving of glory to God in song is firmly wrapped in the divine mystery of God’s pleasure and love for His people. However, there are three specific activities that we as worship leaders can do that will go a long way in reaching for the goal of “successful” God saturated times of worship.

The first key to successful worship leading is MEDITATION. By this I mean spending time seeking God in private devotions, prayer and personal worship. This is truly the beginning; the essential, non-negotiable starting point for any worship leader. Worship is far more than songs, music and singing. It is our life. To worship God with all we are is the essential purpose of our existence. Therefore, any successful worship set must begin with personal worship and devotion. After all, we cannot lead others where we have not gone ourselves.

A second key is PREPARATION. It’s difficult to lead the congregation toward the goal of connecting with God if there is no thought or plan to the pathway of getting there. Successful worship requires God inspired and God directed planning. Choosing the right songs, arranging the music appropriately, rehearsing the band and coordinating with the senior pastor on the flow of the worship time are all Godly pursuits. Remember, if you never aim at a target, then you are guaranteed not to hit it.

REPETITION is the third key for successful worship. The more you rehearse and repeatedly practice the songs you use in worship the more confident and comfortable you’ll be while leading. The more familiar you are with the songs that you are leading, the more effective you will be in guiding the congregation along the path of worship and the freer you will be to worship authentically as you lead. Many times worship leaders struggle with being so distracted by the task of leading that they are unable to fully open up and seek the Lord’s heart in the midst of the worship time itself. However, the more prepared you are and more familiar you are with the songs themselves, the greater the likelihood that you will lead effectively while modeling sincere and authentic worship.

There is no fool proof, magic formula to guarantee that the worship sets you lead will be successful. Ultimately, God is responsible for drawing his people to himself in authentic worship. Yet, the three keys discussed above are a few of the essential steps to take as worship leaders. Meditation, preparation and repetition are the tools that we can use to be faithful stewards of leading God’s people toward Him to worship.