Ancient Lessons in Worship Leading

John the Baptizer was a big deal.

Seriously. He was a regional superstar!

People came to him from “Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.”

Imagine if people came from your city, your county, and the whole state… just to see YOU!

How would you handle it?

I would…

1. Buy a bunch of extra fine Sharpies and practice giving autographs.
2. Get with a marketing person to develop a line of merchandise, having my family work the merch table.
3. Buy a couple of new outfits so I could look the part.
4. Sign with an agent who could arrange my speaking schedule.
5. Temper what I said so I didn’t alienate anyone.

It would be fun to see your list! 

Okay… maybe I used a little bit of hyperbole, but I’m afraid of how much truth is there.

Contrast those musings with what John the Baptizer actually did…

1. He didn’t care who knew his name, but made sure everyone knew the name of Jesus.
2. He humbled himself when Jesus came to him, describing how unworthy he was.
3. Dressed like a wild man, risking driving people away.
4. Gave the same speech, day after day, in the same location.
5. Confronted those he felt threatened the success of the mission of Jesus.

What in the world does this have to do with leading worship?

I take three big ideas from the story of John:

1. It’s never about my kingdom; it’s always about the Kingdom of heaven.
2. I have to choose to decrease, primarily by making sure I pursue more of Jesus.
3. My fallen self (ego) will always want to be in the spotlight; my redeemed self will yearn to put Jesus there.

KINGDOM BUILDING — “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:1) John declared the good news about heaven, not about himself. What choices will you make today to build your own kingdom? To build God’s kingdom? How is this reflected in the nuts and bolts of being a worship leader: song selection, service planning, personnel enlistment and development, production values, etc.?

INCREASE — “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30) You and I are born full of ourselves. No one has to teach us that. The more we walk with Jesus, the more we read of Him, pray to Him, sacrifice for Him, learn from Him, the more He displaces our “self.” Paul learned this and wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” You and I can keep learning this too!

FOCUS — “Behold the Lamb of God,” John said. He didn’t say “look at me!” with his words, his actions, or his attitude. Everything about John's ministry was designed to get people to look at Jesus. While you are leading worship, how can you do this? From the drums, or the sound console, or as a singer? 

BOTTOM LINE — Your preacher isn't Jesus, and you're no John the Baptist, but we can learn a great deal from John about leading worship. John kept pointing people away from himself and to the Truth, the Way, the Life.

To Jesus.

Are we doing the same?