Having been a worship leader in a local church for several years, I have come to learn several things
about myself and my role as a worship leader. The following points are largely practical (and perhaps
self-evident to some). But I hope that somewhere in these thoughts there will be a kernel of
encouragement, if not exhortation, for you.
about myself and my role as a worship leader. The following points are largely practical (and perhaps
self-evident to some). But I hope that somewhere in these thoughts there will be a kernel of
encouragement, if not exhortation, for you.
1. Having failures doesn’t make me a failure.
No matter how hard we try; no matter how well we prepare; no matter how much we want to
be flawless…sometimes we make mistakes in our worship leading. It may be something as
simple as playing a wrong note or a wrong chord; singing the wrong lyric; or singing out of tune.
If you’ve never had one of these experiences, you probably haven’t been a worship leader for
very long. Most of us know all too well what it feels like to fail to some degree on a platform.
But having failures doesn’t make me a failure. It is only an indication that I am an imperfect
human being in need of grace. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” These well-known words,
first written in a poem by Alexander Pope in the early 18th century, should be words of hope as
well as words of exhortation to the worship leader. We lead in our weakness. We don’t always
get it right. Grace is abundantly afforded to us, and we should be generous with it as well. That
is to say, when someone else has a failure on the platform, that doesn’t mean they are a failure
either.
be flawless…sometimes we make mistakes in our worship leading. It may be something as
simple as playing a wrong note or a wrong chord; singing the wrong lyric; or singing out of tune.
If you’ve never had one of these experiences, you probably haven’t been a worship leader for
very long. Most of us know all too well what it feels like to fail to some degree on a platform.
But having failures doesn’t make me a failure. It is only an indication that I am an imperfect
human being in need of grace. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” These well-known words,
first written in a poem by Alexander Pope in the early 18th century, should be words of hope as
well as words of exhortation to the worship leader. We lead in our weakness. We don’t always
get it right. Grace is abundantly afforded to us, and we should be generous with it as well. That
is to say, when someone else has a failure on the platform, that doesn’t mean they are a failure
either.
Occasionally someone in our worship music ministry will hit the wrong note, sing the wrong
words, or get lost in a chart. Often, they will come around after the service and apologetically
acknowledge their mistake. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “Don’t worry about it.
There’s a lot of grace in the room.”
words, or get lost in a chart. Often, they will come around after the service and apologetically
acknowledge their mistake. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “Don’t worry about it.
There’s a lot of grace in the room.”
2. My ministry is not to be measured by any one service…bad or good.
Indeed, we have likely all had those worship-leading experiences when it seemed like everything
went wrong. Conversely, though seemingly few and far between, we also may have had
worship-leading experiences in which it seemed everything worked perfectly, and we came away
with the sense that God had truly blessed our best efforts.
went wrong. Conversely, though seemingly few and far between, we also may have had
worship-leading experiences in which it seemed everything worked perfectly, and we came away
with the sense that God had truly blessed our best efforts.
But we shouldn’t be tempted to measure ourselves solely by either of these stand-alone
experiences. The truth is, from a performance perspective, we’re probably not as “bad” as our
worst Sunday, nor as “good” as our best. The most appropriate measure of ministry is not
performance, but faithfulness. We should view our ministry in terms of a long, sustained arc of
being faithful to that which God has called us to do.
experiences. The truth is, from a performance perspective, we’re probably not as “bad” as our
worst Sunday, nor as “good” as our best. The most appropriate measure of ministry is not
performance, but faithfulness. We should view our ministry in terms of a long, sustained arc of
being faithful to that which God has called us to do.
“What makes authentic disciples is not visions, ecstasies, biblical mastery of chapter and verse,
or spectacular success in the ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
or spectacular success in the ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
3. I can lead us through mistakes…even train wrecks.
Since the reality is that we all do make mistakes from time to time, I need to have a level of
confidence that I can lead us through mistakes…even train wrecks.
confidence that I can lead us through mistakes…even train wrecks.
The vast majority of the mistakes that happen during a worship leading, though painfully
apparent to the worship leaders and others on a platform, are by and large unnoticed by the
congregation…unless we point it out to them with our body language. If someone sings or plays
a wrong note, most likely no one will notice. But they will notice someone making a face in
response to it, or giggling, or giving the “offender” a stare. So, we have always encouraged our
musicians and singers to not react to something they hear that is “off.” I’ve even said something
like, “If you make a mistake, act like you meant to do it and keep going.” Likely, no one will even
notice. (By the way, a jazz musician friend once told me, “There are no wrong notes; it’s just that
some sound better than others.”)
apparent to the worship leaders and others on a platform, are by and large unnoticed by the
congregation…unless we point it out to them with our body language. If someone sings or plays
a wrong note, most likely no one will notice. But they will notice someone making a face in
response to it, or giggling, or giving the “offender” a stare. So, we have always encouraged our
musicians and singers to not react to something they hear that is “off.” I’ve even said something
like, “If you make a mistake, act like you meant to do it and keep going.” Likely, no one will even
notice. (By the way, a jazz musician friend once told me, “There are no wrong notes; it’s just that
some sound better than others.”)
Unfortunately, occasionally something happens that simply can’t be ignored. A guitar string
breaks; a keyboard stand collapses; an instrumentalist is playing in the wrong key; or something
has gone so musically wrong that we just have to stop. We call that “a train wreck.”
breaks; a keyboard stand collapses; an instrumentalist is playing in the wrong key; or something
has gone so musically wrong that we just have to stop. We call that “a train wreck.”
Even then…by God’s grace, I can lead us. When something so egregious happens that it can’t be
ignored, it’s best just to stop; acknowledge it (perhaps with a bit of mild humor); make whatever
adjustment is necessary; and move on in confidence. Don’t panic. Stay calm. It will be ok.
ignored, it’s best just to stop; acknowledge it (perhaps with a bit of mild humor); make whatever
adjustment is necessary; and move on in confidence. Don’t panic. Stay calm. It will be ok.
Remember, there’s a lot of grace in the room.
4. It is important to be musically proficient.
We all have gifts from the Lord. There are spiritual gifts given as the Spirit wills, and there are
natural talents that can be nurtured and developed. We know that every good and perfect gift
comes from the Lord (James 1:17).
natural talents that can be nurtured and developed. We know that every good and perfect gift
comes from the Lord (James 1:17).
When it comes to leading worship in music, there must be a level of musical proficiency. Poor
musicianship can most certainly be a distraction. Sadly, sometimes we try to play or sing
something for which we are not fully prepared. Perhaps you’ve been in a service in which
someone stands nervously strumming a guitar and saying something like, “Y’all pray for us as we
try to sing this song. We haven’t had much time to practice this week.” I find myself wondering,
“Perhaps you might just wait until you’ve had the opportunity to practice.”
musicianship can most certainly be a distraction. Sadly, sometimes we try to play or sing
something for which we are not fully prepared. Perhaps you’ve been in a service in which
someone stands nervously strumming a guitar and saying something like, “Y’all pray for us as we
try to sing this song. We haven’t had much time to practice this week.” I find myself wondering,
“Perhaps you might just wait until you’ve had the opportunity to practice.”
Though we’re not perfect, we should always desire to offer our best to the Lord in worship; to be
prepared; to be well-rehearsed; to be proficient with our playing and singing; and to have our
instruments in tune. Failure to give attention to these things may hamper your ability to
effectively lead in worship.
prepared; to be well-rehearsed; to be proficient with our playing and singing; and to have our
instruments in tune. Failure to give attention to these things may hamper your ability to
effectively lead in worship.
5. I must lead within my gifts. I cannot be someone I am not.
Related to the importance of being musically proficient is the awareness that I must lead within
my gifts. I cannot be someone I am not.
my gifts. I cannot be someone I am not.
I remember hearing Don Moen say something like, “I always wanted to be Ron Kenoly, but I had
to realize that I won’t ever be Ron Kenoly; I’m Don Moen.”
to realize that I won’t ever be Ron Kenoly; I’m Don Moen.”
Worship leaders face a dilemma at times when there is a press to incorporate a “popular” song
that is not in that person’s “wheelhouse” to sing or to play as people are accustomed to hearing
it. As contemporary worship music has, in many ways, become more and more sophisticated, I
have to face the reality that there are some things that I am simply not gifted to be able to do.
And if I try to do something that I am not gifted to do, it could be musically disastrous…and
distracting.
that is not in that person’s “wheelhouse” to sing or to play as people are accustomed to hearing
it. As contemporary worship music has, in many ways, become more and more sophisticated, I
have to face the reality that there are some things that I am simply not gifted to be able to do.
And if I try to do something that I am not gifted to do, it could be musically disastrous…and
distracting.
An example of this would be when the well-known version of a song is in a key that is out of my
vocal range. But when I lower the key to a place where I can sing it, the song loses all the energy.
Another example would be a well-known song that is very dependent upon some musical
element that I am incapable of playing. If I can’t reproduce that musical element in a live setting,
I have to discern whether or not the song “works” without it. (I can hear some readers yelling,
“Just play the track!” Another discussion for another time.)
vocal range. But when I lower the key to a place where I can sing it, the song loses all the energy.
Another example would be a well-known song that is very dependent upon some musical
element that I am incapable of playing. If I can’t reproduce that musical element in a live setting,
I have to discern whether or not the song “works” without it. (I can hear some readers yelling,
“Just play the track!” Another discussion for another time.)
Ultimately, even as I want to continue to grow as a musician, I know what I can do and what I
can’t. As I’m leading worship, I should be comfortable and confident within my gifts, giving me
the freedom to lead without the temptation to feel I’m trying to be someone I’m not.
Roger Breland, founder of TRUTH, used to say, “When God created you, He created you special.
When he created you, He didn’t have anyone else in mind.”
can’t. As I’m leading worship, I should be comfortable and confident within my gifts, giving me
the freedom to lead without the temptation to feel I’m trying to be someone I’m not.
Roger Breland, founder of TRUTH, used to say, “When God created you, He created you special.
When he created you, He didn’t have anyone else in mind.”
My encouragement to you is to embrace what God has created you to be; and to lead within the
gifts He has given you. And in so doing, you will bring Him glory.
gifts He has given you. And in so doing, you will bring Him glory.
Dr. Wes Tuttle is an accomplished worship leader, musician, and songwriter. Dr. Tuttle’s songs have been recorded by influential worship leaders like Don Moen, Paul Wilbur, Bob Fitts, John Chisum, Aline Barros, Robin Mark, Juanita Bynum and Judy Jacobs. Wes is an ordained minister and holds an A.A. in Music and a B.A. in Religion from Emmanuel College. He holds an M.A. in Counseling from Liberty University and a M.A.R. with a concentration in Cross-cultural studies from Liberty Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty Theological Seminary.
