You may have heard the old analogy that we should be more like thermostats than thermometers.
A thermostat sets the climate, and a thermometer merely reads it.
This is essential for the worship leader and team members to remember. When we’re leading, we must let our energy impact the congregation. This intentional and consistent effort will, over time, build a culture of alive and active worship among the congregation.
Stage presence is a piece of this puzzle because much of leadership is visual. It’s about modeling energy and heartfelt worship. Helping set the tone is not easy. It requires some intentional planning and hard work on your part. But whether you’re leading music, speaking, or presenting in some fashion, you carry some of the burden to be energetic and to help create an energetic atmosphere.
Here are some ways to intentionally increase your energy on stage:
Prayer
Prayer as a team before the worship service allows your spirit to connect with the Holy Spirit, it allows you to set yourself aside and bring a humble and trusting faith to the leadership God has called you to, and it helps turn what might otherwise become performance into a true, contagious heart of worship.
The Right Frame Of Mind
You’re leading, and you’re helping others encounter Christ. You’re setting the stage and tasked with the mission and ministry of modeling worship as you lead the way in a corporate setting.
Understand The Visual Impact
Much like dramas from the state, a slightly more extensive movement is needed so others can see it. A regular smile on stage doesn’t amount to much as a smile in an individual encounter.
Creating Energy Is A Practice
Practice energetic leading even during rehearsal. Practice by watching videos of others to learn the best ways to help create energy.
Energy Must Not Be Awkward
As you lead, you help produce some excitement and energy, but you can’t be so far ahead of your congregation in energy that it becomes uncomfortable and awkward. You must be just far enough ahead in energy to inspire people to model it.
Know The Basics Well Enough To Focus On The Extras
If you use too much brain power to play the music or sing the words, you won’t have enough left to provide the energy. Have you heard people describe live music concerts versus recordings before? Sometimes, the energy of the live music is powerful, almost more powerful than the music alone. Other times, the recorded music isn’t matched by the energy of the live performance. That’s where you get comments like, “I didn’t love their music until I saw them live – it was an incredible show.” A group like this has the advantage of knowing the music well because they repeatedly do the same set for a different crowd. When we’re in the same church changing the music, we have to work extra hard to learn it very well to focus on energy.
Your congregation is a worshipping church. We want to sacrifice as a worship team to help grow it, teach it, and model dynamic worship in context. The ultimate goal is Jesus and an open heart toward him. However, increasing our energy will help make this a reality.
One final note: there is a sense in which the congregation also provides energy for the worship team on stage. Time of loud congregational singing is an encouragement to the worship team. Times of outward aspects of worship, such as lifting hands, closing eyes, and other visible signs, will help add some energy to those leading, and it all begins to work together.