Session 1 Worship Leading as Setting an Example by Kerri Ho

Reflections
Open up this session with a time of reflection. Jot down some thoughts on the following questions: How do you define worship leading?

For the purposes of this session, we will define worship leading as setting an example of true worship through our lives.

Think about this quote. If we arent exemplifying a genuine yearning to bring glory to God that touches every aspect of our existence, then we have no business leading worship on Sundays. Bob Kauflin

Why do you think its important that we see worship leading as setting an example with our whole lives and not just on the platform on Sundays?

Where are you at in setting an example as a worship leader?

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What should we aim for?

Most of us are very passionate about leading worship on Sundays, otherwise we wouldnt have signed up to be worship leaders. However, what if we were passionate about leading worship with our lives? What would life look like? Would you live life more passionately? Would you be more intentional? Would you rely more on God? Would every day be an adventure rather than a mundane routine? Would every conversation be an opportunity to lead others in worship? Now take a moment to imagine what worship would look like in church if you were an example of true worship to others every day of the week. Would it be any different from what it is now? I dont know what kind of picture you see, but let me share with you what I see: I see people walking out of church completely amazed at God, NOT the music! I see lives transformed, addictions broken, and illnesses healed, because God chooses and promises to dwell in the praises of His people. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He will deliver them. Psalm 34:7 I see people walking out with strength, wisdom and courage to live a life of true worship. Just as we strive to be examples of true worship, we want to lead people to live life worshipping God 24/7 - not just for 20 minutes on a Sunday! Thats how we can lead worship to make missional disciples. We can only lead people to live like this if we ourselves are an example of this every day. This does not mean to say that we are the ones who personally lead people into this life of worship because that is the work of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit works IN and THROUGH us, changing us from the inside out and inspiring others to worship God by our example. If when we worship lead in church we are the same as who we are every other day of the week, then we will not stand in the way of Gods glory. If we stand up on a platform on Sunday and lead people into worship singing "Hallelujah, praise the Lord!" and lift our hands, but thats NOT a reflection of who we are Monday through Saturday, then we are just performing. People will see how great the music is, how great your voice is, not how great God is! Remember, we want people to walk out of church and into the rest of their lives seeing how great God is!

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Some Bible verses to reflect on: Jesus in Matthew 15:8-9 These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men. Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. How do we do that? verse 17 my way of life in Christ Jesus which agrees with what I teach everywhere Paul also says in Romans 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit King David said in 1 Chronicles 29:17: I know, my God that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent.(Emphasis mine)

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Can we set an example as worship leaders in our lives?

Think about it Take a moment to think of a time, just in your ordinary everyday life, when you didnt set an example of true worship. Now take a moment to think of time when you did set an example of true worship. Come up with a few ways that we can set an example of worship in our lives.

In what ways can we compromise our example?

As a leader, people are watching you. Recognize that your every word and action has the potential to influence others to either fear God or ignore Him. Paul may not have been a platform worship leader, but he sure set a great example of true worship lived out. Lets have a look. Pauls charge to Timothy a young church leader in 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (Emphasis mine) Before I unpack this verse, let me reiterate what setting an example is NOT: 1. Having a false sense of spiritual superiority towards others, e.g. Pharisees. (Lording it over people) 2. Having an unhealthy low opinion of yourself (Let no-one despise you of your youth... Im a sinner, Im lower than a worm, Im too young and inexperienced, etc) Both of the above things are expressions of pride and draw people to focus on you instead of God. Pride and arrogance is actually described as evil idolatry in 1 Samuel 15:23.

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Now, lets look at the ways we can set an example. Firstly, we set an example in our speech. James 3:8-10 But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. What things is he talking about? When I was a worship leader in my teens I had no problem blessing the Lord with my mouth on Sundays, and then on Mondays I gossiped about people, slandered others, yelled hurtful words and even lied to my parents. But these things ought not be so. Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word spoken God calls us to be people who speak words that are gracious, truthful and edifying. If our words are foolish, hurtful and sinful during the week it is very hard for people to take us seriously when our mouths suddenly flow with praise on Sunday Secondly, we set an example in our conduct. Its not the songs or the way I lead worship on stage that defines my worship. Its my life. Our pre-believing friends and family are more likely to come to Christ by watching the way I live, not by watching me on a platform on Sunday. Would people who see you leading worship be surprised if they saw the way you lived? How do we set this example? To do this we have got to be people who spend time in solitude, community and ministry. Solitude is time alone with God. Community means time with people who really know you and can challenge, inspire, and be honest with you. Ministry means time with others where you give and serve with your gifts. God Glorifying ministry cant happen if we dont have solitude and community. Think about whether there are any mis-alignments between the way you conduct yourself as a leader on stage and your conduct throughout the week. Its not about sinless perfection. Its about a consistent and growing desire and subsequent action to pursue godliness to please Him for His glory. David in Psalm 40:6 8 Sacrifice and offering you did not desireburnt offerings and sin offerings you did not requirethen I said Here I amI desire to do your will O my God. If we desire to do Gods will and continually ask Him to empower us to do this, then our example leading worship on Sundays will be more powerful and pleasing to God.

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Thirdly, we set an example in our love. God is love. We lead others in worship with our lives when we show an example of love. Gods 2nd greatest commandment to us was to love one another. John 13:35 By this all men will know you that you are my disciples if you have love one for another. How does God describe love? Its described as patient, kind, humble, polite, thoughtful, forgiving, hopeful and enduring in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Is this your attitude when the mix during the service was bad, the vocalists were out of tune, someone criticized you, I gave you constructive feedback which you didnt want to hear (hopefully I said it graciously!)? Do you respond with patience and humility or do you get defensive and angry? The love we are to show others is not our own but grounded in the love we know from God: 1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. How would your husband, wife, girl/boyfriend, close friends and family, work mates, non Christians friends evaluate your example of love? Fourthly, we set an example in our faith. Every time were on stage leading worship, were seeking to turn peoples gazes towards Jesus. I do this myself by looking in faith to God every other day of the week. This means having a steadfast confidence in God and His promises; trusting He is who He says He is and that Hell do what He says Hell do! This doesnt mean Ill never go through trials and periods where faith in God is very hard. There are people in our congregation that are going through their own battles of faith every day. Our job as worship leaders is to point them to God and away from their circumstance so that they will find victory in their difficulty through Jesus Christ. Do you truly believe God is who He says He is and does what He says Hell do? Fifthly, we set an example in our purity. It was clear in the Old Testament times that purity and holiness in worship was important to God. Nothing defiled, impure or unclean could draw near to God in the Holy of Holies.

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Sacrificial animals had to be pure and without blemish. The consequence of not following these purification rites was exclusion from Gods covenant, or even death! Praise God Jesus has come to purify us once and for all through His atoning sacrifice. Because Jesus has fulfilled all purification requirements, we dont have to sacrifice animals anymore. But one thing hasnt changed. God is still holy and He still demands purity from us. And as worship leaders we are called to set an example of purity. Purity begins with the Heart. Its not about simply saying all the right things and looking pure on the outside. We are to guard against being led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ 2 Corinth 11:3. 2 Kings 17:33 they feared the Lord but also served their own gods. We dont want to be people who fear the Lord externally, doing all the right things on Sunday, leading worship on a platform with great skill and charisma, yet actively serve false gods throughout the week. This kind of worship is defiled and God will not accept it. We talked about loving others before, but do you truly love God above all else? Whether you know it or not, there is a severe spiritual battle raging for our hearts. Satan will very cleverly and discreetly get you loving something else just that tad more than God and you wont even know it. So, think about your motives for leading worship. Public recognition, power to be in charge, gadgets and equipment, lights and sounds, getting your kick out of being the lead vocalist, or affirmation from people Do you love these things more than the Lord? Do you truly seek Gods glory or your own? Our sincere and wholehearted worship flowing from a heart that is wholly His, that seeks only His glory this kind of purity in worship is what God wants from us. Titus 2:14 Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. How can we test that our hearts are pure? We need to ask God. David pleaded with God to, Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Show me if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 Also look at: Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart O God. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.

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There are two things that Ive experienced, which can go on in my heart after a worship service: 1) If its gone well, I go away feeling really chuffed at myself 2) If its gone badly, I go away feeling depressed because it didnt work out the way I planned The greatest challenge we face as worship leaders is not what songs to choose, leading a band, learning new songs etc, its what we bring to the platform its the state of our hearts. After a worship service we need to learn to quiet ourselves down and if its gone well, to thank God for what He has done and pray that He continues to work in peoples hearts beyond the worship service. If it hasnt gone as expected, evaluate the things you could have done better but then commit how you feel to God and just trust that He still can and will use it for His glory. Lets sit down quietly and examine our hearts before God, praying the same prayer David prayed Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Show me if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. When was the last time you prayed that prayer before God?

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Summary
I believe that if we see worship leading as setting an example of worship with our lives and not merely what we do on the platform, it will bring God the greatest glory! We will never be proud because we know we cant do this alone. Its easy to think that in our own strength we can put together a song set, lead an effective rehearsal etc, but if were honest with ourselves and ask the hard questions, we know we can never be the true worship leader God calls us to be in our own strength. Thats gotta keep us pretty humble! We need to stop trusting in ourselves and our own abilities and begin trusting in what Jesus has accomplished for us at the cross; trusting in His life transforming work in our hearts each day as we entrust our lives to Him. All for HIS GLORY! So weve learnt today that our ability to lead worship on Sundays is seriously compromised when our lives on and off the platform do not align. We are to set an example through everything we say and do, which should be in love, faith and purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Bob Kauflin wrote in Worship Matters God wants our conduct to be an example to others. If the way we live doesnt back up what we proclaim on Sunday morning, were not only deceiving the church were misrepresenting the God we claim to be worshipping.

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Challenge to commitment/Application
It may feel impossible to set an example of true worship, as God has called us to do. If were honest with ourselves and ask the hard questions, we would all know how unworthy we are to stand on a platform and lead Gods people into worship. But praise God that its His Spirit that leads people to worship, and it is this same Spirit that works in us to transform us from the inside out. Prayer of Commitment Take a moment now to examine your life and where you are with God. Do you set an example of worship with your life? Perhaps youve identified a weak area through the lesson today. Is it in your speech or conduct that you need a special empowering from God? Does your example of love, faith or purity need a fresh touch from God? Wherever you are at, God is merciful and gracious. Just take a moment now and write a prayer of commitment to Him, confessing the areas in which youre weak and the times when you havent been the example you should have. Also ask Him to change and enable you. The One who has called you is faithful and He will do it! 1 Thessalonians 5:24

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