Ten Common mistakes of Praise worship Leaders
I have been a member of several Praise and Worship Teams, sang solos in churches, lead worship in my military organization and as a constant moving Army Spouse have visited a variety of churches and retreats all over the country. Praise and Worship is important to me and among other factors I pick churches and organizations based on the way they worship. Let's put it this way I rather take my bathroom break during a sermon then the praise and worship session.
1. The Praise and Worship Team Leader Is Not Leading nor Engaging
This is probably one of the most common errors of a worship team leader I have experienced. In so many churches I have seen the Praise and Worship Team fully engaged in worship but the congregation is not even remotely there yet. I remember a retreat where the Praise and Worship Team leader closed her eyes, raised her arms, smiling and having a good time with God while we were simply spectators watching her. As a Praise and Worship Team leader you must watch the congregation and lead them in worship by engaging them in communication with eye contact or prayer. Your worship at home must differ from the way you LEAD in worship. At home it is only you and God. In church your desire must be to get the congregation to the place where it is between them and God. Your worship can't be inwards but must be outwards. By looking into the congregation you should know when it is time to start a new song, halt the current song, and offer a prayer or a time of silence. I have seen Praise Teams confusing Praise and Worship with a Performance and I probably made the mistake myself a couple times. This isn't a drama or stage play. Everything you do must be real and sincere. You are not singing FOR the congregation. You are singing WITH them. Harmonies, Glory Notes, Individual Solo parts have to be kept to a minimum in order to engage the congregation in worship. Remember you want them to listen to God's voice and prepare them for the message and not so much
1. The Praise and Worship Team Leader Is Not Leading nor Engaging
This is probably one of the most common errors of a worship team leader I have experienced. In so many churches I have seen the Praise and Worship Team fully engaged in worship but the congregation is not even remotely there yet. I remember a retreat where the Praise and Worship Team leader closed her eyes, raised her arms, smiling and having a good time with God while we were simply spectators watching her. As a Praise and Worship Team leader you must watch the congregation and lead them in worship by engaging them in communication with eye contact or prayer. Your worship at home must differ from the way you LEAD in worship. At home it is only you and God. In church your desire must be to get the congregation to the place where it is between them and God. Your worship can't be inwards but must be outwards. By looking into the congregation you should know when it is time to start a new song, halt the current song, and offer a prayer or a time of silence. I have seen Praise Teams confusing Praise and Worship with a Performance and I probably made the mistake myself a couple times. This isn't a drama or stage play. Everything you do must be real and sincere. You are not singing FOR the congregation. You are singing WITH them. Harmonies, Glory Notes, Individual Solo parts have to be kept to a minimum in order to engage the congregation in worship. Remember you want them to listen to God's voice and prepare them for the message and not so much