Leading worship is a weird thing. I have been leading worship for over twenty years now. As a young teenager, I was the guy in youth group at church who could play guitar, so they said I would be the “worship leader.” Never mind the fact that I could not sing and had no idea what worship was. Thankfully, it helped set my life on a trajectory where I collided with my destiny and calling, and it gave me a great context in which to learn and grow as an immature musician and worshiper. Twenty years later, I think I have a better grasp on what worship means. My singing voice is still not all I wish it was. But this idea of being a worship leader? It is still a bit odd.

Where is Worship Leader in the Bible?

Worship leading and the role of worship leader has become such an embedded idea in our western church culture, but the terms “worship leader” or “leading worship” are not even found in the Bible. Yes the Bible is full of passages encouraging music and singing, but there is no description of a worship leader. The Bible lists many spiritual gifts and ministry functions in multiple places (Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4), but worship leader somehow did not make the list.

Yet despite this fact, most church gatherings give the second largest chunk of their time (after preaching of the Bible) to being led by a worship leader. Is it not odd that we give so much of our church life to this and yet it is not in the Bible? And if it is not found in the Bible, then how do worship leaders know the right way to lead worship or if they even should be leading worship? How do we navigate this strange role?

I think it helps to separate the two terms – worship and leader – so that we can dive into them individually. Later we can put them back together into a phrase and see how they fit in light of their individual meanings.

What is worship?

Worship, in a biblical sense, is a broad term than encompasses our entire lives laid down to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Biblical worship is a lifestyle of surrender that is lived for God’s glory. Everything we do, in a broad sense, can be an act of worship.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23

Praise vs. Worship

The biblical term “praise” is actual a more accurate term for what we typically mean when we say worship. Anyone remember back in the 90s when it was not just called worship but “praise and worship”? That is actually a more precise term for what we do when we gather together to encounter God as we sing, dance, clap, shout, lift our hands and bow down. These expressions are biblical examples of praise. While the biblical definition of worship is broad, praise is something specific that we do. It requires focus and action. The Bible gives us specific commands to praise God in certain ways, singing being the most common.

With that said, let’s clarify the modern terminology. When people say “worship” they usually mean “praise & worship”. And when they say “worship leader” they usually mean “praise & worship leader”. For simplicity, I will use the term worship as it is commonly understood – to primarily describe the Church’s gathered times of praise.

So a worship leader must first and foremost be one who praises and worship Jesus. Yet this takes no special talent or gifting. All believers are worshipers. That is why there is no gift or function related to praise and worship in the New Testament. This is the calling of all believers who are a royal priesthood. We are all made to minister to God with our sacrifices of praise and worship.

Musical Praise

However, because praise is quite often musical, you could see where trained musicians and singers could be particularly adept to help facilitate times of corporate praise and worship. All God’s people are to sing to Him, but not everyone needs a microphone when we are gathered together. Those who are skilled and trained would generally do best at uniting a room of people to sing together. So then part of being a worship leader might mean being both musical and worshipful.

What is Leading?

Worship leaders are not just worshipers and musicians. They are leaders. Now when you extract the term “leader” from the phrase “worship leader” you can begin to find more biblical basis for the role because there are many leadership functions found within the New Testament.

Jesus set the example of servant leadership. So in Christianity, to lead really means to serve or to minister. So a worship leader is to be one who serves the people he or she is leading.

The Gifts of the Spirit

This is when the spiritual gifts do begin to apply. Because these are the gifts God has given us to serve and minister to one another. Let’s glance at a few of these Bible passages about spiritual gifts.

 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. I Corinthians 12:7-10

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. I Corinthians 12:28

I believe that a musical worshiper shifts to being a worship leader when they begin to use their spiritual gifts to serve others. Talented musical worshipers are great, but they may not be great worship leaders. I have heard many great singers who sang great songs of praise but did not lead or serve the room. When they played and sang it felt less like ministry and more like a Jesus-oriented concert. Worship leaders must be servants and ministers. They should use the gifts of the Holy Spirit to lead God’s people.

Certain worship leaders have certain spiritual gifts and their style of leadership reflects that reality.

• Some worship leaders are fantastic at getting people excited and encouraged – this is called the gift of exhortation.
• Some worship leaders are extremely prophetic and can flow in the Holy Spirit.
• Some worship leaders are great at bringing biblical truths through the songs – these are the teachers.
• Some worship leaders minister healing – people may find themselves crying during the worship and leave feeling refreshed.
• Some worship leaders are extremely sensitive to what’s happening in the room and can navigate moments well – this is the gift of discernment.
• Some worship leaders have the gift of faith or see miracles during the times of worship.
• Some worship leaders are very pastoral and caring, other bring truth and power with an edge.

And I also believe the Holy Spirit can manifest different gifts of the Spirit in the same leader at different times (I Cor. 12:11), even within one worship service.

This means that true worship leading is actually a form of supernatural ministry. A true worship leader is a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led leader. He or she must learn to really love and serve people well as they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. All spiritual gifts are ultimately expressions of love (I Corinthians 13).

Bringing It Back Together

So now that we have clearly defined worship, and we have clearly defined Christian leadership, we are able to get a clearer picture of what it truly means to be a worship leader. I see three critical components…

1. Worship leaders must be worshipers – because they must set the example of a lifestyle of worship and biblical expressions of praise
2. Worship leaders must be musical – because when we say “worship” we really mean “praise and worship” and biblical praise is almost always musical
3. Worship leaders must be servants – because using your spiritual gifts to minister to others is what it means to be a spiritual leader

To find all these of these things present in one person is actually quite rare. Sometimes you find musical worshipers who do not serve well. Sometimes you find servant-hearted worshipers who have no musical skill. Sometimes you find talented leaders who do not have a heart of worship. But it is quite a treasure to find a musically talented and worshipful leader. What a strange and unique job description!

Are you a worship leader? Have you struggled with understanding your role in the church? Does this article help at all? What spiritual gifts do you have that can help you as a worship leader? Leave a comment below and join the conversation!