44 mistakes to avoid when leading worship
 

I’ve had my share of off-days when part of the worship team. Anyways, today I look back and smile at times when nothing went right and the worship felt like a plane crash.

 

It’s taken lots of praying, listening, training, reading and introspecting to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes you learn from others (and their mistakes), other times from own experiences, here are 44 mistakes that we should try to avoid when leading worship:

 

1. Assuming practice can replace prayer.

2. Assuming prayer can replace practice.

3. Using too many new songs in a session.

4. Using too many old songs in a session.

5. Closing your eyes though out the session.

6. Choosing song keys that are too high.

7. Choosing song keys that are too low.

8. Choosing songs that are too wordy.

9. Singing too many ad-libs, fill-ins etc.

10. Not taking time to tune musical instruments.

11. Not taking time to set sound/mix.

12. Wearing attention grabbing clothes.

13. Singing off-key or wrong melodies.

14. Playing wrong chords.

15. Lyrics on the slides not coordinating with the worship.

16. Playing songs on wrong tempo.

17. Failing to leverage on rich songs from the past like hymns.

18. Making people stand for too long.

19. Talking too much.

20. Volume is too loud.

21. Volume is too low.

22. When God shows up, not having the sensitivity to let Him minister to His people for the sake of a timetable.

23. Choosing songs or musical styles that are not relevant to local culture or age group.

24. Not working out what to do between songs.

25. Emphasizing too much on performance than worship.

26. Treating worship leading and cheerleading as the same thing.

27. Picking too many “me” songs, which are centered on ourselves rather than God.

28. Picking songs with confusing/controversial lyrics.

29. Picking songs that are not theologically sound.

30. Not starting on time.

31. Not ending on time.

32. Playing to the galleries by doing what’s popular instead of what’s needed.

33. Picking songs that don’t tie-in with the sermon’s theme.

34. Looking at each other awkwardly when someone makes a mistake on stage and make it obvious to everyone.

35. Playing too many instrumental solos/interludes.

36. Moving on when a particular song is bringing the worship to life. Sensitive worship leaders will take time to “linger” in those moments to facilitate people to express their worship.

37. Using only self-written songs with ulterior motives of promoting/selling records.

38. Putting on an I-am-at-a-funeral expression throughout the session.

39. Repeating a section or line of the song too many times.

40. Getting over-emotional on stage all the time.

41. Playing too many fast songs.

42. Playing too many slow songs.

43. Imitating another worship leader.

44. Simply playing song after song without taking time for prayers, scripture, engaging the congregation etc.