Part 1: What is Worship?

Worship, rightly understood, begins with the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of Image. In his magnificent book on worship, Harold Best describes the Trinity as the uniquely Continuous Outpourer who continually pours himself out between the persons of the Godhead in unceasing communication, love, friendship, and joy. It follows that humans created in God’s image would also be unceasing worshipers as continuous outpourers. Best says,

We were created continuously outpouring. Note that I did not say we were created to be continuous outpourers. Nor can I dare imply that we were created to worship. This would suggest that God is an incomplete person whose need for something outside himself (worship) completes his sense of himself. It might not even be safe to say that we were created for worship, because the inference can be drawn that worship is a capacity that can be separated out and eventually relegated to one of several categories of being. I believe it is strategically important, therefore, to say that we were created continuously outpouring—we were created in that condition, at that instant, imago Dei.

Worship is the core of who we are

Indeed, worship is not merely an aspect of our being, but the essence of our being as God’s image-bearers. As a result, all of life is ceaseless worship. Practically, this means that while worship does include corporate church meetings, singing songs, and liturgical forms, it is not limited by these things, defined solely as these things, or expressed only in these things because worship never stops. Rather, we are continually giving ourselves away or pouring ourselves out for a person, cause, experience, achievement, or status. Sadly, as the doctrine of the fall reveals, much of how we pour ourselves out and what we pour ourselves into in worship is someone or something other than the Trinitarian Creator God.

You are always worshiping

As the doctrine of image reveals, human beings are unceasing worshipers. We are not created to worship, but rather we are created worshiping. Everyone worships all the time. Atheists, agnostics, Christians, and everyone in between are unceasing worshipers. Everyone, everywhere, all the time, is always worshiping. While the object and method of worship varies, the act of worship does not.

Worship is continuous

Best synthesizes his thoughts on worship saying, “I have worked out a definition for worship that I believe covers every possible human condition. It is this: Worship is the continuous outpouring of all that I am, all that I do and all that I can ever become in light of a chosen or choosing god.”

“All of life is ceaseless worship.”

One of the more insightful sections of Scripture on worship is Hebrews 13:15–17, which says,

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Worship is

1. Praise 
2. Proclamation (lips that confess his name) 
3. Service (do good as a demonstration of the gospel to the world) 
4. Participation (share with others as a demonstration of grace to the world) 
5. Sacrifice (giving of time talent and treasure)
6. Submission (respecting godly authority placed over you so as to grow in wisdom and holiness)

Part 2: Product.Process.Personal.

worship leader: “everyone who is leading the congregation in worship”

excellence in the Leave a Mark worship team is defined by:

1. Product - Product is the end result which is the worship services. 
2. Process - Process is the auditioning, communication and rehearsal time that is spent in preparation for the worship services.
3. Personal - Personal life is the most important aspect of the worship leader. Does your character and life represent that of the life of Jesus.

mission:

All of Leave a Mark’s Worship and Arts Ministries exist to:

glorify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through music and the arts, to

connect non‐believers to the Gospel and ministry of Jesus, to

encourage spiritual growth in those who believe and to

serve them through the exemplary leading of worship.

Personal

Personal Worship Time. 

Team members need to be spending personal time with God in worship and prayer away from the platform ministry. We are worship leaders, and we cannot lead others where we have not gone ourselves.

Supporting Journey of Faith.

 Team members should actively support the leadership and mission of Journey of Faith and promote unity. Team members should also support the life of Journey of Faith through regular attendance in worship and other events, as well as giving of time, talents and treasures outside of the worship team. 

Training. 

Team members are expected to actively improve their craft. 

Setting an Example.

As members of the worship team, we lead all aspects of our lives in such a way as to be an example to those around us. Following 1 Timothy 4:12, we are to be an example in speech, life, love, faith and purity. Realize that no matter how “private” we think our personal life is it is still an example to those around us. Everyone on the team is to encouraged hold each other accountable as we all may struggle from time to time. Those who consistently fail to be a proper example in this area may be asked to step down until they are able to be an example.

Foster a Teachable Heart. 

Team members should be willing to be corrected when singing or playing a wrong note and understand that it’s for the best interests of the individual and the team that we hold each other accountable.

Process

Skill Level. 

Participants must be able to keep up technically with the Worship Team as a whole and become a productive addition. All participants must be open to additional training and instruction from the Worship Pastor and other more skilled team members. Helpful skills to develop include playing/singing by ear, reading music/chord charts and memorizing music/lyrics as needed.

Rehearsals.

All team members are required to attend the weekly rehearsal sessions when they are scheduled. If you are unable to attend rehearsal for an emergency, illness, family event, or other extreme situation, please alert the Team Leader ASAP. (In the event of an emergency, please do so as soon afterward as possible.) Failure to attend rehearsal may require you to miss performing in the immediately following Worship Service, but will be determined at the Team Leader’s discretion.

Open Communication. 

Communicate honestly and openly with one another following the principles of Matthew 18. If you have an issue with someone in the team, please go to that person and settle it one on one. If necessary, if a one on one time was not successful, please involve the Team Leader or Worship Pastor. If a resolution cannot be reached, further action may be necessary.

Stage Presence. 

Recognize that our role is to serve the congregation and to enhance the worship service. The worship is not about us or our music and our attitude on stage should reflect that. We should always strive to create an atmosphere of worship and reverence, especially while we are not playing. Understand the significance of body language on stage and the messages we may not realize we are communicating.

Punctuality. 

Team members need to be on time to weekly rehearsals and pre‐service practices. Team members who continually disregard starting times for rehearsals and meetings will be asked to step down from the worship team. If it is not possible to make a rehearsal on time, it is considered polite to notify the Team Leader in advance. Those who need to set up are expected to do so before the practices so the practice can start on time. 

Strive to Be Flexible.

Team members need to be flexible. Things can and will change with a moment’s notice and it is our job to be prepared and ready for anything that could happen and lead in a positive manner through those changes.

Be Creative. 

Each member of the team is encouraged to be creative and to contribute to the team. Don’t be afraid to suggest, comment or ask questions about anything we do. However, please be courteous of other team members. Don’t tell others how to do their job while they are doing it. If you have suggestions, wait for a weekly rehearsal or at least after the worship service to discuss it with the Team Leader.

If you are interested in being a part of the Leave a Mark worship team you can email at: wes@leaveamark.org

For additional reading take a look at:

Evangelistic Worship - Tim Keller

http://theresurgence.com/2011/03/23/evangelistic-worship

When Christianity is Idolatry - Matt Johnson

http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/19/when-christianity-is-idolatry

Glorifying God in All You Do - Mark Driscoll

http://theresurgence.com/2011/05/23/glorifying-god-in-all-you-do

3 Priorities When Preparing Music - Joel Brown

http://theresurgence.com/2010/05/31/3-priorities-when-preparing-music