6 Ways to Be a Better Worship Speaker

Lay Leaders Can Make Worship Better

Without a pastor for six months, the church discovered how much they enjoyed seeing each other up front leading worship. As the new Interim Pastor, I was gently asked by the Worship Elder if I minded just preaching and doing a blessing at the end of the service.

I agreed, though I worried - what if it was bad? I should have more faith.

Photo by Quốc Bảo. Used by permission.

Worship By the People For the People

When the worship service is led by the people for the people, you get a more forgiving church. The small errors that would encourage some snide remarks to the staff are nowhere to be found when lay people are leading worship.

What Does It Look Like?

For each service, we have two lay people speaking as well as some parts done by the Worship Leader. Here is the worship order we are using:

• Opening & Prayer - Asst. Pastor, Worship Leader, or an Elder

• Praise (2 contemporary worship songs usually led by a full band: bass, lead, and acoustic guitars, drums, keys, and support singer.)

• Passing of the Peace - invited by Worship Leader

• Scripture - Lay Reader #1

• Message - Pastor or Asst. Pastor (6x a year)

• Digital Welcome and Invitation to Digital Giving (My Well ap) - Lay Reader #2

• Congregational Prayer - Lay Reader #2

• Responsive Praise (1 contemporary worship song)

• Annoucements - Lay Reader #1

• Blessing - Pastor or Asst. Pastor

Why This is Good

When people lead worship they get to experience bringing people closer to God. In Protestant churches, the theological understanding is that God doesn’t require an intermediary between the people and God. So their leadership is an embodiment of this theological principle (Theses?¹)

The congregation likes seeing a variety of people from all ages leading worship. Any regular attendee may be asked to be a lay reader. Sometimes the invited person says, “But I’m not a member?” The answer is always it’s not about membership but willingness.

New Hope Church worship band. Used by Permission.

6 Ways to Be a Better Worship Speaker

Having lay people involved in worship helps everyone to see that they belong in God’s church. But this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our preparation. Leading worship will be better and we will be more confident if we are ready to go.

#1 Know When to Come Forward and Lead

Even worship services that don’t use a bulletin have an order of worship. Make sure you have read this all the way through. Circle or highlight where you speak. Don’t assume that the service last week is in the same order this week.

If you have questions, see the preacher or worship leader before the service begins. Ask your questions.

#2 Practice Out Loud

Read the material you are to speak out loud once each day for at least three days before the service. Run through it once the morning of the service. It is important to find your speaking voice especially if the service is first thing in the morning.

#3 Check Weird or Difficult Bible or Church Names

If you are reading scripture, see if the preacher has given you some pronunciation guides. If you come across a word or name you don’t know how to pronounce, ask the preacher. This applies to difficult names as well (I am in a Korean-American congregation, but my time in Dutch Reformed congregations had the same problems with church members’ names).²

Photo by Pixabay. Used by permission.

#4 Hold the Microphone up to Your Mouth

The microphones in 90% of all churches will only absorb sound from the top of the microphone.³ If you hold the microphone at your chest, it only picks up some of your spoken sound. Hold the microphone with its top about a hand width from your mouth (like this 2nd grader!). The spitguard on a microphone often makes it look like it can absorb sound from all directions. It can’t.

This is particularly important for speakers with higher vocal registries. High sounds are not picked up by a microphone below your mouth.

#5 Consider What You Are Saying

As a worship leader, we do a better job if we understand the meaning of what we are saying. When we read the letters of the Apostle Paul this becomes obvious as we learn where to put the emphasis. If we read in a monotone, we miss the nuances that Paul gives us in Romans, Philippians, and the Corinthian letters.

Also, when we read out loud we need to not end our sentences on a down note. This will feel unnatural to begin, but by practicing raising the last word with a positive lilt, we will become easier to understand.

#6 Read Slower

Read slower. Pause at every comma. Pause twice at every period. Let the listener have time to understand what you are reading. Practice not speeding up as you read.

In Summary

Worship will be stronger when we have prepared worship readers, singers, and band/choir members. The more we practice what we are about to do the smoother the service will move the less our small errors will disrupt the worship flow.

1. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses joke.

2. If you are reading the Christmas text about The Wise Men the word “homage” is pronounced “aa-muhj” with a silent “h."

3. A uni-directional microphone (what most churches use) costs between $5-$300. Multidimensional microphones begin at $250 and quickly rise into the thousands. They are usually only used hanging from the ceiling for choirs.