The Noticer

01 Feb The Noticer

Talent can get you noticed. Excellent skill can make an impression. Confidence can boost your influence. The stage can set you above the rest. All of this can make you very attractive to the public eye.

But what if you’re a worship leader? How does a worship leader with extreme talent, skill, confidence, stage presence, and influence maintain a lifestyle of humility without falling into the trappings of self-promotion? Matt Redman’s The Unquenchable Worshipper says,

“So much of what we pay attention to in life happens on a stage of some kind. People like to be noticed, and our culture is in love with celebrity. Some will go to any length to make sure they get some attention.”

One of the main priorities of a good worship leader is to become as unnoticed on the stage as possible and direct the focus of a congregation to the One who notices EVERTHING. God is keenly interested in what happens “behind the stage”. Man is entertained and amused by all the lights, sounds, and cool effects of a worship set, and God is busy going through the closets and junk drawers of our hearts. In fact, He’s not impressed at all by our talent or outward appearances. He takes notice of the privately hidden matters of our hearts.

Let’s look at King David as an example. God noticed David. God said that David was “a man after his own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14) Running for his life, David hid in fields and rocks. He was completely alone. He composed beautiful music, songs, and prayers to God without the need of applause. God approved of David, and soon, David became King of Israel. He was no longer an obscure man. He was a king, and a very popular one. The public adored David, and yet, David was committed and very well known for his devotion to worship God publically and privately. What’s so notable about this is that David was able to strike the balance between public and private worship.

This is a test every worship leader must face. In the midst of all the public things that we are entrusted with, do we find ourselves still worshipping God with the purity and simplicity of a private worshipper? Are we still finding our fulfillment in all that God is? Or are we looking for fulfillment through the audience’s response to our set list? Are we content with being an unnoticed worshipper? Or is there a corner of our heart that seeks attention? Are we satisfied with the songs we sing to God alone? Or are we secretly wishing for broader acclaim? Do we still love to serve our church? Or are we longing to be served? There are pitfalls galore for every worship leader, and if we expect to have any longevity as a leader, we must be relentlessly motivated to check our own hearts.

“…the real test in these days isn’t going to be in the writing and producing of new and great worship music; the real test is going to be in the godliness of those who deliver it.” (The Unquenchable Worshipper, Matt Redman)

So, how can worship leaders maintain a pure and true state of worship whether noticed or unnoticed?

I read a blog from Hillsong Church, and several of its points have stayed with me. I believe they not only apply to worship teams, but to individuals as well. These are very important safeguards and boundaries for any person leading worship. I have restated several of them in the tips below, but you can find more tips here.

Man may not notice every act of worship, but God doesn’t miss a thing. God, The Noticer, sees every sacrificial gift we offer Him. Large or small, public or private, He knows our heart’s intent. Let’s be leaders who choose to be led by His spirit, determined to strike down any areas of our flesh, and test every attitude. Then, we will surely be a worshiper pleasing to our Father.