5 Essential Tips For Being an Effective Worship Leader
- Randall Heier
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 14

Many of you will be leading worship this Sunday or on a Sunday in the near future. Here are 5 essential tips to consider as you get ready to lead.
1) Sunday Morning in Not Your Quiet Time
As you lead the church in worship on Sunday morning, this is not the place to have your personal quiet time with Jesus. This is a place where you are ministering and giving away what you have received all week long in prayer and preparation. You are the leader and you cannot lead on empty. Jesus spent hours in prayer before and after he ministered to others. The gospel writings give us the model of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Matthew 14:23: And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
Mark 1:35: And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Luke 5:16: But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 6:12: In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
Luke 9:18: Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Luke 9:29: And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.
Matthew 26:36-46: Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane
As you lead, can only give from what you have first received in prayer and scripture meditation. In order to lead others in worship we must be connected to Jesus long before we show up at practice or on Sunday morning. Winging it will not cut it. Give yourself daily to personal worship, prayer and bible mediation. Come ready to be poured out.
2) Your Aim is to Make Much of Jesus
Your job as you lead is to point the church to Jesus. During your time of worship through music, pick songs that lift Jesus high. Pick songs that honour him. Read scripture that lifts Jesus high and pray prayers that point others to him. Watch as the atmosphere shifts in the presence of Jesus. The Holy Spirit has never failed to enter a room where Jesus is lifted high.
John 3:30: He must increase, but I must decrease.
3) Lead For Your Context
Every church's context/culture is different, the people who make up the membership of your church will be completely different than the church in another city or even down the street. The culture of your church will be different in relation to your leadership and your denominational history. Lead from the context you are in and you will see great fruit. As a worship leader you are not there to sing your favourite songs or style, but lead others to Jesus. Learning from “worship movements” from around the world can be an incredible blessing, however you’re not called to emulate the latest worship leader or movement, you are called to be yourself and lead in the context God has placed you. This is a part of what servant leadership looks like and it makes serving less about us and more about leading others well.
If you are a part of leading change, do it in a way that honours your leadership. Lead the change alongside your lead pastor and honour the history of the church. Remember, leading change takes time. Be patient.
4) Be Yourself
Don’t try to be something or someone you are not. When I was just getting into ministry I was on a hike with one of my mentors and I was asking him different questions about leadership. I’ll never forget this moment, he looked at me and said, “Randall, just be yourself, or people will see right through you.” It’s great to have those we look up to but God created you, uniquely gifted and called.
The Psalmist wrote in 139:14: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Be yourself.
5) Show Up Prepared
Being a leader requires you to come prepared. This means taking all the adequate steps prior to showing up Sunday morning. Many of those who are worship leaders lead busy lives, and are volunteers with full time jobs. I honour you for this. Thank you for serving the body of Christ and using your gifts and talents in this manner. Having said that, coming prepared means you will have to find time in your week to put together a setlist, spend time in prayer, reading scripture, connecting with your pastor, practicing by yourself and with a band.
Proverbs 24:27: Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.
There will be times when life is crazy and you will show up running on empty, this is life and happens to all of us. However, this must be the exception and not the rule. When leading others, being prepared is of utmost importance. Picking the key you want to do the song in at the Thursday night practice will not cut it. There will also be times when key changes need to be made, adjustments must take place and sometimes even song selection changes during a practice. This needs to be the exception. Worship leader, honour your team by coming well prepared.
Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
I believe God has great things in store for you this week as you get ready to serve.
Cheering you on and praying for you.
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