r u a performer or worshipper?

[esther18]

being in a praise n worship team,i would like to challenge you if u are a performer or worshipper when u stand before ppl in church etc.
we need to be a worshipper,not a performer n we can touch ppl s lives.
im not excellent in this matter too though but am trying am tryin".

 

[talitha]

I'm on the praise and worship team too, and I spoke to my leader aobut this problem recenty. He said that as long as I feared the slide into performance, I didn't need to worry. That was a comfort to me..... because I do fear the slide.....

blessings
tal

 

[huntertim]

I am a performing worshipper.... performing for an audience of ONE.

Blessings

Tim

 

[constance]

Y'know, there are other valid things you can do when you sing besides worship - you can teach, you can preach, you can witness...

Performing is waaay down my list.

Constance

 

[McDLT]

My husband is a worship leader (music) and a performer. I believe my following statements can also apply to the other aspects of the worship service.

I agree that you have to be a performing worshipper and also a worshipping performer. I believe that a worship leader is performing and leading the congregation which in turn is worshipping God.

If you are just focused on you and your worship to God than the congregation is left out of the worship and is on their own to figure it out. If you just perform for the congregation than God is left out and the congregation loses again.

Performance is not a bad word when used with worship. An important part of performance is performing (showing) your best to others. Performance doesn't always mean you getting the glory. You need to lead and to perform. It is a fine line but doable.

Honour God by using your gifts and talents to lead others into worship that is a very powerful way of worshipping God.

Just some of my thoughts.

 

[yod]

there is a time and place for everything....

 

[Geezerjohn]

I am a facilitator. I save my deep personal worship time for when I am alone with the Lord. Come service time, my task is to facilitate corporate worship for the body of believers. Jesus did public ministry, and had private time with the Father.

 

[McDLT]

I am a facilitator. I save my deep personal worship time for when I am alone with the Lord. Come service time, my task is to facilitate corporate worship for the body of believers. Jesus did public ministry, and had private time with the Father.

Well said.

 

[delirium_86]

That's one of the things I struggle with the most. As a person who performs in theater for a living, I sometimes get these urges to focus on myself rather than on God.

I'm so thankful that God helps get me through those temptations because on my own, I'll fail miserably.

One of the things that also helped me with that struggle was reading Darlene Zschech's (Hillsong) book, Extravagant Worship.

 

[Im-revived]

I am both a worshipper and a normal vocalist for weddings christenings etc. All I can say is that as a normal vocalist, I sometimes feel nervous, panicky and not always in control. The difference is when you worship for the Lord I don't suffer any of this as it is through Gods power that I am singing. If God hadn't given me this gift of music I couldn't do it in my own strength. This was an interesting question but there is a definate difference in doing something in your own strength and then doing it in the Lords strength. Before becoming a christian I was a performer, now I am a Christian I am a worshipper as I couldn't do it on my own now without his strength.
J

being in a praise n worship team,i would like to challenge you if u are a performer or worshipper when u stand before ppl in church etc.
we need to be a worshipper,not a performer n we can touch ppl s lives.
im not excellent in this matter too though but am trying am tryin".

 

[esther18]

I am both a worshipper and a normal vocalist for weddings christenings etc. All I can say is that as a normal vocalist, I sometimes feel nervous, panicky and not always in control. The difference is when you worship for the Lord I don't suffer any of this as it is through Gods power that I am singing. If God hadn't given me this gift of music I couldn't do it in my own strength. This was an interesting question but there is a definate difference in doing something in your own strength and then doing it in the Lords strength. Before becoming a christian I was a performer, now I am a Christian I am a worshipper as I couldn't do it on my own now without his strength.
nice quote!!sis!

 

[Gwenyfur]

I am a facilitator. I save my deep personal worship time for when I am alone with the Lord. Come service time, my task is to facilitate corporate worship for the body of believers. Jesus did public ministry, and had private time with the Father.

my point exactly....only..said so much better than I ever could have phrased it!

 

[SingleServant]

I don't wish to perform, I wish to worship. I pray that my personal time spills over into the corporate time, because I desire for others to experience what I've experienced. I don't agree that others will get left out, in fact just the opposite, you are in fact showing how to worship, others will emulate you, that's how I learned by watching my Pastor and worship Pastor. For true worshipers, performance shouldn't even be on your mind, that's the world's way, not ours. We lead by taking others with us into the presence of God, so we need to know how to get there ourselves. If you're just singing songs hoping that God will show up, you've missed it. I expect Him there everytime because I'm there because He put me there, so He has to show up in my mind because I can't do a thing for anybody except sound good and that's soon forgotten. I expect Him everytime!! Now the catch is everyone may not experience it because there are wolves there and there are tares there, but the wheat will get it!!

SS

 

[joshkoshbgosh]

I play on the piano at church and am the lead intsrumentalist. I would have to say that I don't set out trying to become a "performer" but often during the song I find myself wondering what harmonies would be best suited, whether or not I should play a riff, and things of that nature. It's a hard thing when you're leading the music and your mind is on so many different things. Not that it can't be done, of course.

So I'd say that I'm struggling with getting my mind off of the technicalities and getting it onto Christ.

 

[SingleServant]

I play on the piano at church and am the lead intsrumentalist. I would have to say that I don't set out trying to become a "performer" but often during the song I find myself wondering what harmonies would be best suited, whether or not I should play a riff, and things of that nature. It's a hard thing when you're leading the music and your mind is on so many different things. Not that it can't be done, of course.

So I'd say that I'm struggling with getting my mind off of the technicalities and getting it onto Christ.

I see that as the enemy trying to distract you, he hates us sending up worship to God and focusing on Him. I would encourage you to just trust the Holy Spirit with your gift and let Him guide you, you are already aware of it so that's half the battle right there!! The technicalities are for rehearsal that's where we work it all out then in worship the Holy Spirit uses what you have and sometimes totally changes things!! Be encouraged you are definately on the front line but God is with you!!

SS

 

[joshkoshbgosh]

Thanks a lot, SS - and you're totally right - it is for practice and that's what I need to start remembering (or not, haha- depending where I'm at).

 

[lovesong]

Interesting question .. it's something that my worship team is always striving for .. to enhance the worship by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Your answer SS was so right. The amazing part is when we feel that Spirit flowing through us. You can just feel it - it's so personal and so uplifting.

Josh, I've been where you are. Trying to think as I've played. And usually, that's where the 'blurbs' would come in to play, so to speak. That's when I realized I had to get the focus off of myself, and let the Lord use my fingers as He will.

I've found by speaking with others, that people can feel the difference between 'performance' and worship. Which is why prayer is so important before you get up on that platform. And my oh my, what that Holy Spirit can do!!

 

[StarryEyedPea]

Louie Giglios "this is the air i breathe - worship as a way of life" is awesome for anyone to read, but also as worship leaders !

Its all about worship being our life, not just a sunday morning ... and there may well be some relevant parts in the book out there to people with the question of performance or worshipping.

It spoke miles into my life, and I took alot away from reading it, so i recommend it!

sep x

 

[joshkoshbgosh]

Last night we had a Pastoral Installation at my church for my dad, officially welcoming him as the Pastor, and as a surprise I performed a song for my dad (he didn't know about it) that I wrote, based on his favorite verse(s), Psalm 73:23-26.

Anyways, I was nervous because there was at least 125 people there who I knew, old friends..anyways, before I started the song I just put it in God's hands and didn't worry about the piano, my voice, or anything - and it was amazing.

It totally felt God work through me, singing this song that I wrote. When I was through half the people in the audience were crying (it was a contemplative song, slower), and a lot of them came up to me and said that it was very heartfelt and they could feel the emotion.

Some of them even said to keep it up and write more songs...record them, etc. etc.

Now I see the difference between trying to impress people...and just lifting it up to God.

 

[DrGather]

My Church is big, and I work in the youth sect... I play for thousands of youth every friday. I try to cross between performer and worshipper each song. I perform to warm up the crowd, and than we worship. Unless they're slow songs. Much harder to perform with.

People never enjoy church as much as when they're involved in what's going on. From clapping, to jumping, to stomping, to raising their hands to the Lord, to healings... etc etc.