Leading From the Front Row
If you’re a worship leader, it’s easy to see your only platform of leadership being the stage from which you lead worship. And although this is an important aspect of leading, just as important is the platform you lead from when you step off the stage.
When you’re a worship leader, your entire life is a platform. Your Instagram feed, your relationships, the places you frequent are all things that others are observing. And I believe one particular area of importance is how you sit in service.
For the longest time, I never thought to actually sit in a service I was leading worship for. I only ever learned to hang out in the green room while the message was being preached. That’s what the green room is for, isn’t it? Besides, they have a screen with a live stream of the service, what’s the big deal? What I discovered is that sitting in for the message, paying attention and taking notes actually strengthened my credibility, influence and leadership. When people see you actually attend church and not just sing at church, they see you differently. It’s a mark of maturity.
With that said, there’s always exceptions to the rule. Some Sunday’s are crazier than others and you don’t get the chance to sit in. Or if you have multiple services, sitting in every single service can be a bit taxing. There’s been Sundays where I’ve sat in every service (four services across two campuses). There’s been other Sundays where I attend only one and hang out with the band for the others. Whatever the case, make it your goal to sit in at least one service. This might be the one you attend with your spouse/family or perhaps you have one service that you always attend with the band. Either way, try to sit in!
Here’s some pro tips on sitting in for the message. I don’t follow these perfectly, but they do help as a basic guide for when I do:
- Try to take notes from a physical notebook. To be honest, I love taking notes on my phone/tablet. Digital note-taking is way easier and I’m a huge Evernote fan, but let’s be honest, it’ll always look like your texting, haha.
- Don’t be afraid to sit closer to the front. You’re a leader in the church, own your title! Sit somewhere where people can see you, where you can be an obvious example of how to sit in service. Remember, just like the stage is a platform of leadership, so is your seat!
- Be careful with your posture. Try not to slouch or use a posture that conveys disinterest. When you’re really into something, you lean in, your attentive, you’re ready. Be ready for what God has to say.
And here’s a little side note: If you want your senior pastor or leader to pay attention in worship and lead by example, then start doing it for them by paying attention during their sermon! Respect goes both ways.
Now, there’s one thing I have yet to mention. It’s something that is so important, so crucial and sometimes not so obvious. And that’s the fact that when the sermon portion of the service is happening, God is literally speaking to His church. He’s using your pastor as His mouthpiece to edify and build up His bride. We must remember this! We should be hanging on every word. We should be ready with pen and paper. We should be expectantly waiting with open hearts, ready to receive whatever it is God has for us.
As one of the most prominently seen leaders in the church, be expectant. Be ready with pen and paper. Lead others in your excitement for God’s word. Don’t leave your leadership on the stage. Lead from your seat, lead from your life.
Is there any hindrances to sitting in service for you? Do you find it difficult to have your band sit in for the message? I want to hear about it! Let me know about your situation in the comment section below. Your issue could be someone else’s!
Thanks for reading!
