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The Church Planter as Worship Leader: 4 Ways to Lead God’s People in Praise
Church planters have the largest voice and presence for shaping the culture of worship within our local church, and we cannot outsource this responsibility to our worship team alone.
In the beginning of Chicago West Bible Church, one of the first hires that I made was hiring a part-time Worship Director. Faithfully leading God’s people in worship was a high priority for me. While my heart and motives were good, what I didn’t realize was that God’s people being led in worship was bigger than Sunday services. The reality was, as the lead pastor and church planter, I had more influence on our congregation that I’d realize and like to accept. There would be no one in the church that had a greater opportunity to lead, shepherd, and disciple our congregation in the area of both personal and corporate worship than the seat that I sat in.
I had never been taught to see leading people in worship as a primary focus of my calling. Paul says, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Some translations say, “follow me as I follow Christ.” This is an invitation to be led in the pursuit of Jesus. This is Christian leadership, and especially for a pastor and church planter. Church planters have the largest voice and presence for shaping the culture of worship within our local church, and we cannot outsource this responsibility to our worship team alone. What follows are four ways that we can leverage the pastoral influence and position entrusted to us to better lead the flock of God in worship.
Leading in Worship Through Preaching
The goal of preaching is the exaltation of Christ. We preach so that the saints may be encouraged, and worship Christ. That they might repent of besetting sins, and worship Christ. That they might be built up in the faith, and worship Christ. And that they may see the glory of God in the face of Jesus, and bow in reverent worship to Him. We don’t preach aimlessly. We preach Christ. Our desire is that the affections of the listeners would be set aflame and heightened, leading them to a greater depth of love and worship of Jesus. We preach so that unbelievers will turn from their idols, repent of their sins, and that “seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:20).
This is why the faithful exposition of God’s Word is so vital in the life of the church. The people of God, need to hear the voice of God, being spoken through the Word of God, so that they can rightly worship God.
Leading in Worship Through Prayer
Prayer isn’t simply pumping out requests. At its most simple form, prayer is communicating with God. Our prayers should have the fragrance of worship lingering in them. Prayers of gratitude, praise, blessing, glory, and thanksgiving. Sentences like, “Lord, I praise you for … I bless your name because … Lord, you are holy and glorious and …” When the church planter leads in worshipful prayer from the pulpit, during small group, on a church wide prayer walk, in a meeting, and with someone in the foyer, he is leading those around him to join in doing the same.
You don’t primarily learn how to pray by reading books. You learn how to pray by praying and being around men and women who know how to pray. The people who have strengthened my prayer life the most, have been men and women who know how to pray through the Word of God with tears of worship and praise in their eyes.
Leading in Worship Through Love for the Word
The Word of God is how God speaks to us. Every time we open the Scriptures and begin reading, we are hearing the voice of God speaking to us. The psalmist says, “Your word is completely pure, and your servant loves it” (Psalm 119:140). It is through the Word of God that we learn who God is and what He is like. We learn about His character, faithfulness, holiness, and the names that He chooses to apply to Himself. This all should stir praise and increased affection in us for Him. Psalm 5:11 says, “May those who love your name boast about you.”
Those we lead need to see a love and hunger for the Word of God that is rooted in our joy in God. The Scriptures can often seem boring to people because those who preach the Word can seem unmoved by it. Christians today can be more excited to read a text message from someone they love, than the words of the God they profess to love. The church planter is uniquely placed in a role in which He can shepherd the people entrusted to Him by championing the Word as an act of worship.
Leading in Worship Through the Salvation of Souls
Psalm 67:3-4 says, “Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations rejoice and shout for joy.” Those who know and love God, long for others to experience the same. Is this not the longing of every church planting heart? That the nations may know and worship the King? The goal of church planting isn’t growing churches. The goal of church planting is the exaltation and worship of God, in the face of Jesus Christ through redeemed image bearers. Jesus builds His church as we preach the good news with gladness. Ultimately, worship is the end goal to why we preach to the lost. When a dead soul is regenerated and is given eternal life in Christ, how can we not worship God for that? Jesus said that there is “joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7)
A love for the great commission, reaching the lost, planting churches, and sending out missionaries to the nations can only happen in a local church body that passionately worships Jesus and longs for the nations to do the same.
Romans 11:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Church planter, the flow of the river of our ministry leads to the worship of Jesus. In church planting, God has placed you at the front to humbly lead His people and teach them how to flow with the current that ends in the praise and worship of Jesus Christ. You are the primary worship leader in your congregation. Walk humbly and help your flock sing, as you seek to do the same.
