As a worship leader or teacher I’m sure many of you can join me in remembering a time that you’ve misquoted a scripture or said something foolish from the stage. You wish you could take back the moment, praying and hoping that your words just sailed over the congregation’s head and landed on the back wall.
I want to remind you, as I have been reminded many times, that God is sovereign over our mistakes as much as he is our victories. Rest assured God’s work is not thwarted by our shortcomings; nonetheless, we should strive to correctly teach and handle the Word of God. As worship leaders, it is important that we not only know the Word of God but also correctly teach and explain the Word of God.
Tweet This: God is sovereign over our mistakes as much as he is our victories. @cprice1304
I have been studying through the book of Matthew for the last couple months. On this particular day, I came to the beginning of chapter 4. Let me set the stage for you… John the Baptist, has just baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. It is here where the Spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove and a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – (Matthew 3: 13-16) Then we begin chapter 4 by Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, the devil came to Jesus in hopes of tempting him to fall into sin and disobedience; thus, disqualifying him as the sinless Savior (Jesus reigns victorious while in the desert because he never once sinned or gave in to the devils temptations.) I’ve heard these verses used many times to encourage believers to fight temptation with the Word of God. This is a good and right application, but the thing that caught my attention this day was; the devil also used scripture in an attempt to tempt Jesus (v.6).
Ephesians 4:11-12 reminds us that God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to the church. He did this in order to equip the saints for the work of the ministry of building up and edifying the church. Therefore as worship leaders, pastors and teachers, it is of the utmost importance that we (to the best of our ability) strive to rightly proclaim and teach the word of God.
Tweet This: It is of the utmost importance that we strive to rightly proclaim and teach the word of God. @cprice1304 @asworship
How Do We Do This?
Let’s dive into a few practical ways we can strive to rightly proclaim and teach truth from stage.
- Read your Bible – There is power and authority when we read a physical Bible from the stage.
- Know your Bible – Know the context of each scripture you use, know how this particular verse or truth fits systematically within the rest of Scripture. Know who is talking and to whom they are speaking.
- Test everything – Before you quote your favorite pastor or theologian examine and test their words alongside the scriptures. Do they align with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the scripture?
Tweet This: Before you quote your favorite pastor or theologian examine and test their words alongside scripture. @cprice1304
- Pray and ask the Spirit for help – The bible teaches that we cannot know and understand the scriptures without the help of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the means by which God brings about his will; therefore, we should daily and confidently ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in his truth and wisdom for his glory and edification of the body of Christ.
- Always point to Jesus – Jesus is the only person in the history of the world who has never sinned, failed or made errors when teaching the Word of God. Therefore always point people to Jesus in all you do and say.
Worship Leader; know that your role and leadership is a weighty and high calling. But also know that you have been given everything you need through him who has called you (2 Peter 1:3). Daily spend time reading the Word of God and beg him to grow your love and understanding for the Word of God, in order that you will lead the church well, for his glory.
Tweet This: God’s work is not thwarted by our short comings, BUT we SHOULD strive to correctly teach + handle the Word of God.
Tweet This: Worship Leader; you have a weighty calling. But you’ve been given everything you need by him who called you.