PREREQUISITES FOR WORSHIP LEADERS

Exemplify a vital relationship with Jesus through personal worship, Bible study, prayer, faithful and obedient stewardship of time, talents and treasures, etc as well as modelling the foundational and core values of CEFC (truth, community, stewardship, balance, brokenness, grace, growth and godliness). Specifically, reference is made to: A. Status - Has been an active member of the worship ministry; has passed the BV audition and is a current active BV for at least one year. B. Has been a baptised member of CEFC and an active member of a Covenant Group for at least two years. C. Stature has the credibility as a leader amongst other leaders as well as the confidence in their competency and calling. D. Substance living with authenticity in their worship, brokenness in their walk and courage in their work. Substance defines the worship leader.

APPOINTMENT OF WORSHIP LEADERS

Potential Worship Leaders are drawn from the pool of BVs who meet the prerequisites and demonstrate the stature and substance necessary to become worship leaders. These potential leaders may be asked to serve in other ministries within the church prior to, or subsequent to being appointed as a worship leader. Worship leaders are appointed by the leadership of the Worship Pillar after undergoing a period of training and evaluation. This may include in-house or external courses, mentoring or accountability groups, leading worship in other settings such as MiC, WiC, BTWs, prayer meetings, CG, zonal meetings, weddings, baptisms and funerals. Key to the appointment as a worship leader is resonance with the other worship leaders and core Pillar leaders. Specifically, reference is made to: A. Calling usually a distinct and unmistakable calling B. Character a wholeness and commitment to integrity revealing an inner moral compass to honour God and the Church C. Competence musical skills, singing skills, people skills are all taken into account D. Chemistry a sense of team fit and camaraderie. Not necessarily uniformity, but unity in diversity, which has to do with the leaders attitude E. Capacity the inner emotional strength and resilience to function effectively under pressure

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WORSHIP LEADERS

A. Regular attendance at Sunday services B. Regular CG attendance C. Regular attendance at worship leader meetings D. Committed to being a worship leader until otherwise called by God E. Attend Worship Pillar gatherings and other CEFC community gatherings as required

ROLE OF WORSHIP LEADERS

The goal of the worship leader is to bring the congregation into a corporate awareness of God's manifest presence and to facilitate an appropriate response. CEFCs preferred style of worship is contemporary with an emphasis on celebration, contemplation and consecration. The following is adapted from Bob Kauflins series on What Does a Worship Leader Do? An effective corporate worship leader, aided and led by the Holy Spirit, skillfully combines biblical truth with music to magnify the worth of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, thereby motivating the gathered church to join him/her in proclaiming and cherishing the truth about God and seeking to live all of life for the glory of God Bob Kauflin An effective corporate worship leader We are to lead with zeal or govern diligently (Romans 12:8) The worship leaders main function is to lead people to the presence of the Lord through worship. The worship leader is not a song leader who leads songs. The songs are not the focus - Christ is. The goal is not to experience worship, but to encounter Christ. The goals of the leader is to help the church know, perceive, meet with, experience, see, sense, feel, be impressed with, be affected by, be moved by and be transformed by the power of Gods presence. To do this, we need the power of Gods Spirit Aided and led by the power of the Holy Spirit Biblical worship is impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit (c.f. John 4).

Personal revival - We need to ask God to help us lead others to worship Him. Only God brings revelation and transformation, not music. He may work through the music or lyrics just as He may work through the sermon or quiet meditation. Divine appointments - If we have asked Him, then we should also expect His involvement and direction in both planning and execution of a worship set. He may put a particular emphasis on a particular theme or scripture or draw out a particular line or verse in a song. Gods direction may change from service to service within the same worship set of songs. Active obedience we need to respond to what God is saying. There should be evidence that God is really working in our midst.

Skillfully combining biblical truth with music Skill may come from training, gifting or experience. We should select songs in reference to the sermon topic and scripture reference, and the songs tempo, style and key. The worship leader arranges the sequence of events with the advice of the Worship Pastor and Duty Personnel. (i.e., song order, call to worship, exhortations) The closing song/s at the end of the service may be selected by the Worship Pastor, Duty Personnel, speaker, worship leader or some combination thereof. Leadership of the closing song/s should be determined ahead of time by all parties involved. Worship of God encompasses all we do in life worship is a lifestyle. However, the Bible mentions singing over 400 times and directly commands it 50 times, so at least some of our praise and worship should be musical. We sing to remember Gods word and works a tool to help us remember, and as such the songs we select and write should reflect Gods word and works accurately and truthfully. If you want to know what a people really believe about God, dont spend time reading their theologians, watch them worship. Listen to what they sing. Listen to what they say. Listen to how they pray. Then you will know what they believe about this God whom they worship Al Mohler. We sing to respond to Gods grace Col 3:16 singing with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts. We sing to express thanks for the completed work of Christ on the Cross, not purely to express raw emotions. Music and singing are necessary to Christian faith and worship for the simple reason that the realities of God and Christ, creation and salvation, heaven and hell are so great that when they are known truly and felt duly,

they demand more than discussion and analysis and description; they demand poetry and song and music. Singing is the Christians way of saying: God is so great that thinking will not suffice, there must be deep feeling; and talking will not suffice, there must be singing John Piper, Sermon on Singing and Making Melody to the Lord We need to distinguish between being moved by music and being moved by the beauty of Gods glory in Christ. We sing to reflect Gods glory Singing glorifies God by expressing the unity we have with God and each other as a result of Jesus death and resurrection. Music expresses unity, music does not create unity. When we dont understand this, we argue over musical style and preference. Music cannot do what only the reconciling act of Jesus can do. Gods is also glorified because God Himself also sings. Zephaniah 3:17 the Father sings over us. Hebrews 2:12 (c.f. Psalm 22:22) Jesus sings the Fathers praise Singing glorifies God because it is an imperfect reflection of what happens in heaven. All of heaven is focused, perhaps even obsessed, with the worship of God (Rev 4-5). If this is the focus of heaven, shouldnt we as citizens of heaven also be focused on worship? To magnify the worth of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ Psalm 34:3 David invites us to magnify the Lord with him and exalt His name together. What we magnify tends to absorb our time and efforts and hearts. As we sing, we encourage people to remember that God is bigger than our problems, joys, sorrows, successes etc. When we magnify God, we put our lives into perspective. We can help the people do this by focusing on His Word, His worthiness and His works. His ultimate work (which cannot be separated from his worthiness and Word) is the redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross. We should never tire of exalting Jesus the Lamb who was slain. Jesus work Jesus work 2:18) Jesus work 13:15) Jesus work on the cross made us worshippers (Rev 5:9-10) on the cross means we have access to God (Heb 10:19-22; Eph on the cross makes our worship acceptable (1 Pet 2:4-5; Heb on the cross is the object of our praise (Rev 5:11-12)

Motivating the gathered church In an ideal world, the congregation gathers and is ready to engage in worship at the beginning of the service. The reality is that people arrive worn down by the world and tarnished by events during the week. We dont seek to manipulate or make them feel guilty or demand that they express worship. We model the magnification of Gods worthiness and Jesus work in our voice and expressions (both facial and physical). We use music,

words and physical expression to draw attention to His Word, worthiness and works. This is something that we can intentionally prepare for, execute and later evaluate. The physical responses of the congregation are not necessarily a good indicator that the people are worshipping God. Why might the congregation not respond? They may be distracted by other things sound, lights, video, aircon They may not have been taught on the various expressions and engagements in corporate worship The musical execution may be hindering or distracting poorly rehearsed, uneven tempo

To join him/her in proclaiming and cherishing the truth about God An effective worship leader invites others to join in what he/she is already doing essentially, he/she is the chief worshipper among other worshippers. Proclaiming helps set our hearts and minds right, providing a Godly perspective on the realities that should guide our lives. Ps 71:17 Worship leaders must proclaim with passion; not just be aware but be amazed; not just check-in but cherish our relationship with God. We need to reflect on our amazing God and express that when we lead worship with enthusiasm. In a worship set, worship leaders can allow for celebration as well as taking time to cherish and contemplate and reflect upon the truths we are celebrating and proclaiming. This may take the form of a musical interlude or time of reflection. Worship should include both intellectual knowledge of Gods greatness as well as enthusiastic passion for proclaiming His truth as well as reflection and contemplation. Balance of these elements is anchored in the wisdom of God because there is much to hold in balance. Seeking to live all of life for the glory of God Worship doesnt start on Sunday. It starts on Monday. Worship is what we do in our lives (Rom 12:1). There should be no distinction between the sacred and secular. Sunday should not be an escape from the world, but an affirmation that our faith and confidence in Jesus is vital to living in a dying and unbelieving world. The worship leader should inspire the people to serve God with gladness (Ps 100:2) in addition to singing and giving thanks. We seek to remind people that God is with us every day of the week. Sunday should be a celebration of what God has been doing in our lives during the week and not merely a re-charge so we can face the world on Monday. God is worthy of worship, not just on Sunday but every moment in time by all creation for all eternity.

Putting it into perspective No matter how great we are as singers or musicians, music itself is just a tool for us to express our worship to our great God. It helps us remember and respond to who God is and what He has done. The object of our affection is God Himself, not our songs. To quote Bob Kauflin, people are starved for the greatness of God, not the greatness of our music.

The worship leader of a "certain kind"

The worship leader of a "certain kind" embodies the values of CEFC and looks at his/her life through the lens of these values - being able to articulate (say), actualize (live out) and activate (influence those around). The foundational values are: Truth centered on the Word of God Community centered on the Worship of God Stewardship centered on the Will of God Balance centered on the Wisdom of God Brokenness centered on the Way of God

The core values are: Grace - understanding the grace that God has dealt out to us, and to extend grace to others Growth - a learner's posture to discern the truth from half-truths and the right from the almost-right. Godliness - putting God in the equation of life - having a God-ward orientation in every sphere of life. It is a progressive work of sanctification through the Holy Spirit.

We seek to have a worship ministry with: A certain kind of perspective - the right biblical worldview that arises from renewing our minds daily and shaping of our perspective by Scripture. That we may encounter truth, experience truth and embrace truth. A certain kind of posture - a heart of meekness: which is humble boldness with the right focus on God. A brokenness of heart before God; a meekness of heart in God and an openness of heart to God. A certain kind of pragmatics - thoughtful, skilled competence A certain kind of power - Abiding daily in God's presence. In man, power is a by-product. In God, it is a given... a divine attribute. Spiritual power can be intoxicating. Loving others puts power in the right perspective.

Growth Grace Community Godliness Truth Stewardshi Balance Brokennes p s

A certain kind of A worship that is Perspective Celebrative Posture Pragmatics Contemplative Power Consecrative

A certain kind of perspective in the worship ministry is implied by our core value of community anchored in the worship of God. Our job as a worship "leader" is to lead people and consider their needs first. Community worship is a time for the community to sing. Our aim is for the congregation to participate fully, consciously and actively, and for them to grow in celebration, contemplation and consecration. A certain kind of posture should strive for musical excellence, but our focus must always be on God. Excellence is not the goal. Excellence is the result. It is something we attain not something we obtain. The goal of worship is to approach God and give Him His worth (worth-ship). We should model the fundamental value of brokenness as our posture and be a servant of all. Our posture should incorporate prayerfulness - prayer is not a reflection of our relationship with God. Prayer IS our relationship with God. He who prays well, surrenders well. He who surrenders well, prays well. A certain kind of pragmatics means we need to have a certain level of skill and be able to perform. On the surface, worship leading is a performance, but worship leading fails if it is just a performance because there is so much more to it. For the congregation, worship is about participation rather than performance. A certain kind of power comes from dwelling daily in God's presence and discerning what God is trying to say to the team/ministry/congregation.

What is worship?
And what is the nature of true worship? I would put it like this: the nature of true worship is worship that does two things: it expresses the feeling of God's value and greatness; and it seeks to sustain in the congregation that same spiritual sense of God's immense worth and beauty.

Or to put it another way, true worship: comes from a heart where God is treasured above all human property and praise, and it aims to inspire the same God-centered passion in the hearts of the congregation.

What I have in mind is worship that really comes from a feeling of the greatness of God and that seeks humbly to express and inspire that same intensity for God without the distractions of errors or artificiality or inattention or inappropriateness or ostentatiousness. John Piper 1/11/87