A friend of mine shared this article and I had to pass it on! This article is from Matt Boswell check out his music!
There is an entire generation of worship leaders that are being raised in churches that champion the cross of Christ, place God-centered worship as a high priority, and are seeing first hand what it looks like to live out the message of the Gospel. God has used men in recent years to champion the essence and heart of worship, which has shown fruit in the lives of many young worship leaders. Recently, I have been mindful of the next generation of people who will lead the church in worship. I have a greater passion now to help equip, empower and plea with these young Levites to be more than singers of songs. I want them, and all of us who lead in worship, to take our priesthood with weight and gravity.
When I was a young worship leader I wanted desperately for a seasoned worship pastor to walk alongside me and model for me what it looks like to build and pastor a thriving worship ministry. Thankfully, I have been able to glean from many Godly men from a distance, but have had to learn through hard knocks and grave mistakes over the last fifteen years. I have the joy of walking with some young worship leaders in our church and around our city. These few ideas are central to what I hope to call them to in regard to leading corporate worship in the local church:
“Love the glory of God, more than the praise of men.”
The glory of God is God’s deepest passion. His greatest faithfulness is to himself. Our faith depends on that truth. (Isaiah 42:8) The glory of God is the goal of biblical worship. As worship leaders, it is central for us to understand that we are agents of provoking people’s affections and attention not to us, but to the glory of God.
“Love the people you lead more than the songs you sing.”
Make it your practice to not love people for what they can do for you, or to help propel your ministry. Love people because this is central to the Gospel. (John 13:34-35) Avoid the tendency to love the experience of music more than your experience with people. Music will end, but the souls of men are eternal. Invest in what is eternal.
“Value Biblical truth above art.”
Biblical truth in worship is our foundation. (John 4:24) Sift through the endless resources and choose songs that are grounded in truth and accessible for your church. Value art for what it is, a common grace that God uses. However, value the truth of songs more than the artistic affinity you have for them.
“View the whole scope of Christian worship, not just the worship service.”
Call your church to the entire scope of worship practices: corporate, family and personal. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) Don’t let the idea of worship end with liturgy. If we over value the corporate experience, our people will not value walking in communion with God in the inextricable practices of family and personal worship.
“Walk in character before operating out of gifting.”
Gifting in the church today will give you a platform to gain the praise of men. Character will give you the enduring reward of pleasing God. Gifting is vital to the function of leading worship, but character is central to it’s practice. Our greatest calling is not to be a “gifted” people, but people who are holistically impacted by the and sustaining joys and demands of the Gospel. (John 14)
mattcraig.org 