26- The Last Song of Your Worship Set... Make it the Best!

The last song of your worship set is often the most important.  It is the point to which you are leading the congregation, the culmination of leading worship in your church service.

The Last Song Should be the Best

So why is the last song so important, and how can you make it the height of worship that you long for and that your church deserves. Everything you do in your worship set should be done with the end in mind, the hope and the wonderful privilege of leading people closer to the Lord.  Ours is a  noble calling, taking people from where they are when they walk into the room, right through to an encounter with God Himself. So we need to be mindful of how we are leading worship, and especially how it all leads to the last song, the one that reaches the highest heights of worship, and prepares the way for what follows, even into the delivery of the sermon. In fact, if you get this area of your worship leading right, you can prepare the way for your pastor to share a more powerful word, and preach more effectively for the Kingdom.  So it is not an over-exaggeration to say that the final song you share in your worship set can affect people's lives. So settle back, have a coffee or tea and learn how to make the final song of your worship set the best song ever!  Apply these simple yet effective ideas, and you will find that the 12 minutes you invest right here could yield a lifetime of powerful and effective worship leading...

https://praiseandworshipleader.com/worship-leader-podcast/26-the-last-song-of-your-worship-set-make-it-the-best/

25- Does Size Matter in Worship Leading?

Does size matter in worship leading?

Worship Leading has Never Been about Size!

As worship leaders, we say size doesn't matter, but we secretly think it does, and we all would love to be leading worship in a stadium full of people rather than a home group.  Come on, admit it! Whether your church is huge or small, whether you meet in a home or a stadium, whether your team is 20 people or just you and a guitar, God can still use you and your gifts to lead people into an incredible worship experience. In fact, some of the best worship experiences I have ever had have been in small churches.  When you have fewer people, it is sometimes easier to all be on the same page, loving and seeking the Lord together. Now I know that big churches, big stages, big speakers and lights, and stuff are cool and attractive, but in God's economy, they carry very little weight.  It is not about the size of your team, or your church, it's about the size of your heart for Jesus! Worship leading has always been about the heart, the heart of worship, not the excitement of a big crowd or a large worship team. So does size matter? The answer to that is probably yes to us, but no to God.  We often talk about the audience of one, the Lord Himself, and having led worship at some pretty big and famous venues, I always try to concentrate on the audience of one... my Lord and Saviour! So take 12 minutes out of your busy day and tune into this week's 12 minutes for worship leaders podcast, and discover how being in a small church can open up a large blessing as you serve the Lord in your worship leading gift.    

https://praiseandworshipleader.com/worship-leader-podcast/25-does-size-matter-in-worship-leading/

24- Dealing with Negative Opinions

Negative opinions are something we all need to face at some time or other, and especially when you are in the public eye.

You Can Be Positive about Negative Opinions!

As a worship leader, you can be positive about negative opinions.  I mean, opinions are like noses... everybody has one, and most of them smell! However, if you simply ignore every opinion, you are making yourself a dictator, so there has to be a way you can process what has been said about you and your ministry, while at the same time protecting yourself from the attacks that come your way. This 12 minutes for worship leaders podcast is about how you can be open, listening to the Lord and to others, how you can be seen to be approachable and authentic, but how you can also surround yourself with the protection you need to be insured against discouragement and fear that negative opinions inevitably bring. And those opinions can cut like a knife.  I have seen many worship leaders destroyed by stinging, often unloving words directed at them from members of the congregation, from fellow band members and from pastors and leaders in the church.  Part of what we discuss here is about not letting the dissenters be the deciders, and not letting criticism, whether valid or not, ruin your career in worship, and your life in general! We explore how you can gather a team around you, to be honest with you when needed, and be supportive of you at all times.  Facing these opinions is not a journey you should embark upon alone! So worship leaders need to recognise that we are targets for negative opinions, and that's why Darin and Erick are keen to share their more positive opinions on how you can deal with these criticisms.  Listen to this, it could protect you from a lifetime of hard knocks and pain...

https://praiseandworshipleader.com/worship-leader-podcast/24-dealing-with-negative-opinions/