Invisibility in Worship Leading

He must increase, but I must decrease. - John 3:30 (NASB)

Part of your job is to be invisible. Our role as worship leaders and band members is to make God more visible and ourselves less. We are simply making a way for others to join together in praising God, and modeling how they are to do it. How is it that we can be an invisible worship leader?

Here are the top 8 ways to be a VISIBLE worship leader:

1.    Use many solos or distracting music. We do a good job of focusing on the worship rather than the music. But as we get better, we need to be careful if it calls too much attention to the band, it calls attention away from God.

2.    Frown. People will look at you. You are on stage. You are facing them. You are holding an instrument. It makes noise. When people look at you leading worship (which is natural) a smile can move the attention from you and to the object of your smile. (Not a flirty smile! A content smile.)

3.    When you are not playing, stick your hands in your pockets and don’t move. Each band member is a worship leader. We are leading people to sing to God, and we must model that in every way. If you don’t come in until the 2^nd chorus, face the screen and sing like you’re out among the group. Maybe close your eyes, raise your hands, focus and worship…

4.    Act bored. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing, it will show. The best worship leaders convey that the only place they want to be at that moment is where they are. Be present. (We are fairly guilty of this.)

5.    Play poorly. If it all falls apart and is second rate, (the last WJ), you will become visible in a hurry. Play skillfully or not at all. Just takes a little practice every day. Make it to band practice each week. More preparation=less musical disasters=easier, focused worship.

6.    Dance or move distractingly. Too much movement on stage and people will be drawn to you. We need to act un-bored, but not act like we’re joking around or silly, too. If what we do is rooted in God-focus, it will be natural and okay.

7.    Be tied to the music. We can over-focus on the music, (I really need to fix this about myself.) The more I am tied to my music, the more I have to direct my attention and energy there, instead of on God. We need to know the music well enough to play in the moment without staring down our music sheet or at our instrument; instead we can focus on worship.

8.    Dress or act like a rock star. We can look “professional” and “good,” but don’t need to over-do it. We don’t necessarily struggle with this, and I am so happy. We just need to continue to guard our humility and not care about us being on stage while others aren’t.