You have heard the saying, "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” I believe this statement holds true to anybody that is in a leadership position. We know what to say and when to say it, but do we really live it? As a worship leader, I have to constantly ask myself, "Do people see me as a worshiper?" “Do they see me as a man of God who truly desires to worship the Lord and be the servant that He has called me to be?” Sadly, there are many in ministry who haven't grasped the concept of servant-hood because they are out for themselves and what they can get out of life and ministry. Jesus came as a servant and should be the model for each of us in the ministry. People can see right through us, and if we truly care about those we have been called to serve, they will see it. If we are using them for our own gain or needs, they will see that to. How do they perceive us?
The same idea carries over to our ability to lead. Do they see you as a worshiper who wants to help them become worshipers? I believe that the heart of a worshiper will come through in any conversation on the topic. Ask your pastor what he believes about worship and what place it has in his life, and you will be able to tell in minutes if he is a true worshiper. If he's not, then are you going to see his worship as sincere? Will he be able to help teach and lead worship? Ask him what he thinks about tithing, and his eyes will light up and he will speak for hours. I am teasing to an extent, but you can see what direction I’m heading. Live the life of a daily worshiper who loves the people, and you will be a better worship leader and teacher. Spend the time it takes to develop relationships with your people because if they trust you, they will follow you. One of the greatest assets of my ministry has been to be in churches whose main focus was not worship, but trusted me and were willing to let me lead and they in turn would follow.
Let them know that you truly care for them, their growth as a Christian and their level of worship, and you will find the secret to teaching and leading worship! Bathe them in prayer and sit back and watch as they grow. Sometimes I am moved more by seeing others grow as worshipers than I am about my own growth. I get most emotional in my own worship when I see people, who in the past would barely sing, expressing themselves in worship. Worship is the greatest pursuit of my life as I seek to die to self and give of myself daily in worship. It was why I was created and my life's mission is to teach as many as I can this to be true worshipers.
Experiencing Worship, The Study