“A stage full of worshippers invites the room to worship.  A stage full of musicians invites the room to watch.”

I love leading worship, but I certainly love it a lot more when I’m not the only one on the stage doing it!  It pumps me up when I look over at the drummer and he or she is singing along like crazy or I look over at the keyboard player and they are INTO it.  Their body language, their voice, their heart, everything in their being is going after it in worship!

It’s important that we as musicians remember that we are worship leaders too.  Whether you have a microphone or not every person on stage is an example for the people in the congregation of how to worship.  It’s amazing to see a stage full of musicians and singers all worshipping God together no matter who is singing the lead vocal.  It effects both the participation and the engagement of the congregation.  A stage full of worshippers invites the room to worship.  A stage full of musicians invites the room to watch.

I was talking with my friend Mike the other day, who is the leader of our service directors, and he mentioned several important and foundational thoughts for all us to remember as we take the stage to lead worship as a team.

1.) Look Up

Your posture says something about your enthusiasm, your passion, and your leadership.  There is a vast difference of engagement between a guitar player hunched over looking at their pedal board and a guitar player looking up confidently moving with the music.

2.) Smile

It sounds simple, but man what a difference it can make!  So often we are concentrating so much on playing correctly and remembering parts, chords, and transitions that we don’t realize we look like we just ate a lemon.  There is certainly a time and place for a good guitar stank face, but remember SMILE!

3.) Sing Along

Sometimes we have to focus on a complicated part or a really syncopated rhythm, but if you can SING! When you sing along as a musician on stage it invites and encourages the congregation to sing as well.  Singing is one of the main reasons we come together!

Paul reminded us of this in Colossians 3:16.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV)

Our thankfulness shines in our posture, our smile, and our singing!  So don’t just be a musician or a singer. Be an example, be an invitation, be a worshipper. It changes the atmosphere of worship more than we realize when we all lead together. Let’s not only play and sing with excellence, let’s lead worship together!

Key Thoughts:

• Don’t look down… look up!
• Smiling is a simple way to express joy
• Singing along is important no matter your position on the stage

What are some other great ways to engage in worship while you’re leading?