The Worship Musician as Teacher – the last in our worship team Must-Haves devotional

The Worship Musician as Teacher – the last in our worship team Must-Haves devotional

 

The worship musician as teacher (bonus section for week 10)

As worship musicians—vocalists and instrumentalists—part of our ministry is teaching. We teach the congregation what it is to participate in corporate worship:
• If we clap or raise our hands, that encourages and gives permission to others to so the same.
• If we sing and play with joyous abandon, that will spill out.
• If we worship every bit as fervently “offstage” as we do “onstage,” that teaches.
And if we offer an unprepared set of music with our heads buried in the music stands, we are also teaching: our actions tell congregation that offering second-rate sacrifices to God is OK.

As a worship musician who has, too often, walked on stage unprepared, apathetic, and/or distracted, I swallow pretty hard when I read James’ admonishment to the twelve tribes:
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

What would our ministry look like if we were prepared spiritually and musically to say to congregation the same thing that Paul told the Corinthians:

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1)

Discuss

  1. What other things do we “teach” as worship musicians?
  2. People recognize us offstage as members of the worship band.
    What kind of things do we need to think about when we’re not onstage?
  3. Do you think as members of the worship team we are held to higher standard?
    Why or why not?
  4. Answer the final question of the article: “What would our ministry look like…?

Get the Must-Haves Worship Team Devotional

We’ll be running this series over the coming weeks but if you liked it and would like to download the whole 10-week devotional ebook for free you can do so using the link below. It not only includes the ebook, but a printable version so you can take a hard copy to rehearsals. Also the download includes a separate pdf for each week so you can email it to your whole team. This way, you can foster an email discussion with those who aren’t scheduled that week.

Get “The Must Haves” Devotional

Thanks to Jon for his generosity in making this resource available to us.

The rest of the Must-Haves series: