Blog
When Worship Team Members Are Too Spontaneous and “Free” on Stage
Someone sent me this question the other day. How would you advise her? – Dwayne
“I have a guy I am letting vocal lead a song here and there in the Sunday set. He leads his songs pretty well…I am training him and helping him learn to do vocal cues, signal the band, sing on pitch…etc so he is slowly growing in all this. But during services–while I am leading my designated song or another person on my team is leading their song–this guy will sing “fills” or cue the next part of the song. He doesn’t stay on his vocal line or try to blend with the other vocals. The catcher is he only does this during the actual service never in rehearsal. As you can imagine sometimes this becomes confusing to the band, to my other vocals and the congregation–especially when he tries and sings a riff that goes out or tune or out of his range. (I have had complaints) It is distracting. I just feel like he is going into his own personal worship sometimes and forgetting where he is. I have not ever experienced this with my other vocal leads…there has never been a problem in communication to them …so I know there is a training issue with him and somehow I am not communicating in a way he is understanding. SO I guess my question is how can I coach him? He is somewhat sensitive like all of us can be. Have you ever experienced this and do you have any ideas or ways of communicating to him that could help me encourage and build him up but also correct and train him?” — Sarah
In a case like Sarah’s, here’s what I recommend:
How would you advise Sarah? What would you add or subtract from what I wrote her about it? Please leave a comment. Thanks!
.
Teaching Video by Dwayne: The Four Levels of Worship Leaders
Teaching Video by Dwayne: Developing Your Worship Team Spiritually
Worldwide Online Study of “Heaven’s Praise”!
You’re invited to receive praise–from the Creator Himself!
.
.
Join the Worldwide Online Study of Heaven’s Praise!
Starts Monday, February 6, 2012
Click here to join the online study, presented by The Worship Community.
Click here to download FREE sample lessons.
Click here to download FREE sample lessons.
Finding Favor with God (Audio Teaching by Dwayne Moore)
Are some people more special to God than others? Is possible to find special favor with God for you, your family, your job?
In this powerful and ground-breaking message, author and teacher Dwayne Moore explains how we can position ourselves to receive the awesome favor from God that is ours because we are His highly favored children.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
FREE Webinar: “Developing Your Worship Team to Be Effective Ministers”
Register here for a FREE Webinar with Dwayne Moore!
Dwayne will be teaching on the important topic, “Developing Your Team to Ministers Through Music.” Dwayne has taught this same session at the National Worship Leaders Conference and other conferences and universities around the country.
In the past, people have had to pay for this popular webinar, which was included in Dwayne’s online worship leadership course.
Date: Monday, January 16
Time: 8PM-9:30PM CST
But this time you can enjoy this incredible time of training and encouragement for FREE! All you need to do is register below. Simply click here and complete the registration form at the bottom of the page. That’s it!
Once you register, we will send you the information you will need to join the webinar. To participate in the webinar, you will need a computer with an internet connection and a phone or a computer microphone. Please email us if you have any questions. See you in the webinar!
Rick Warren on Leadership in Worship
This is the final post of my series from Rick Warren’s teaching during our Worship Influencers’ Retreat. (See Rick Warren on Worship Leaders for more details and explanation.)
Rick Warren on Leadership in Worship
When you tell them to sing louder, you’re cheerleading them. That’s not leading. When we sing with passion, that’s what’s contagious.
Saying I love to lead worship doesn’t impress me. Do you love the people you’re leading? 100% of leadership is authenticity and modeling.
3 times Paul said “Follow me as I follow Christ.” People follow model. we always learn by example. If we can’t say “follow me” then get it together.
“More than music; we’re a family.” 100% relational. Learning to love God and others. Get that and you got it.
Worship and evangelism are twins. Misnomer about “seeker sensitive worship”. Lost can’t worship. worship should be understandable. Worship can be a witness.
Rick Warren on Context of Worship (4 Things We’ll Do In Heaven)
This is the 4th post in my on-going series from Rick Warren’s teaching at our Worship Influencers’ Retreat. (See Rick Warren on Worship Leading for more details and explanation.)
Rick Warren on the context of worship:
Why are we here? Why did he put us here? Life is preparation for eternity. This is pre-school before college in the next life.
Four things we’ll do in heaven:
1. Worship. Learn to worship here so I’m not a dufas. “Expressing my love to God for who he is, what he’s done and going to do in my life.”
Worship is not music; it’s a lifestyle. Silence, praying, giving–everything is worship.
No such thing as Christian music; just christian lyrics–not tune. The tune says nothing about your theology, just your background. God likes all types of music, even though we don’t. To say good music was written 200 years ago in Europe is simply racist. God loves variety–just look at us!
No church can appeal to everybody. When we first started we went from Bach to rock (like a radio station with many styles would have no listeners). A year after I started the church I passed out a servey and asked what radio station do you listen to?
Figure out who you’re going to reach and design your music to reach them. We’ve changed our style 5 times over the years.
You’re on 50% as you think you are. We have to double our energy to get it out there.
Have worship leaders go out and interact with people before the service starts. That doesn’t just warm-up the congregation; it warms up me.
2. Fellowship (1&2 are the great commandment)
3. Grow–not gonna stay the same.
4. Serve God–not sit around.
Rick Warren on Personal Prayer Before a Worship Service
This is the third post in my series on Rick Warren’s teaching during our Worship Influencers’ Retreat at Saddleback’s Rancho Capistrano. (See Rick Warren on Worship Leading for more details and explanation.) ~Dwayne
Rick Warren on Personal Preparations Before a Worship Service:
While I’m in my car, I start smiling. It releases endorphines that really does make us feel better. sometimes I feel like Rocky’s trainer.
We don’t do the holy huddle praying before the service. 1. should do praying before you get there. 2. spend all your time with people. Build relationships.
Develop pre-game ritual that sets you in the groove spiritually.
If you have four hours to work on the sermon or you, then work on you.
For 31 years driving to church I have a long memorized prayer. It includes:
1. Claim the name, blood, power, Word of Jesus.
2. Bind all demons
3. Claim the filling of the Spirit.
4. You’re the vine. I’m the branch.
5. Father, I offer my life to you today. This is your church. It’s not my church. I offer my resignation to you right now. If there’s someone who can take this church to the next level, I’ll gladly step aside. I’ll do something harder like move to a village on the other side of the world.
Rick Warren on Training Worship Leaders
This is the second post in my series from Rick Warren’s teaching at Rancho Capistrano during our Worship Influencers’ Retreat. (See Rick Warren on Worship Leading for more details and explanation.) ~Dwayne
Rick Warren on Training Worship Leaders:
1. Teach them to worship, not lead worship. Music is God’s gift for expressing emotion. Others will be attracted. You can’t fake humility in worship.
In spirit and truth. 3 qualifications:
1. spirit
2. truth
3. orderly fashion
1 & 2 are both authentic and accurate, doctrinal and devotional.
The way to tell if you’re congregation is worshiping. Turn the camera on them and see their faces (when they think no one is watching).
I look for someone who is a worshiper themselves.
Not charisma, it’s character. Charisma doesn’t move people. It goes back to the devotional life of the worshiper themselves.
2. Teach them how to prepare to worship.
Song has to grab me first.
Rule: If I don’t feel it, I’m not gonna teach it.
Develop pre-game ritual that sets you in the groove spiritually.
If you have four hours to work on the sermon or you, then work on you.

