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Darlene Zschech: 10 Essential Traits of a

Worship Pastor
by Darlene Zschech
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My heart leapt when I read the theme for this edition of Worship Leader magazine. For one of my lifes
greatest privileges has been serving as a worship pastor, and with this responsibility my eyes have been
opened to so many different facets of what the job really requires, as opposed to what I imagined it
required.
I believe in my heart of hearts that the worship pastor of a team does not have to be the most talented,
the most eloquent, the most gifted writeralthough to be skillful at your craft is a must. But this role is
truly all about care.
The worship pastor must care that people have an understanding of why we worship and not just how we
worship; the worship pastor must carry the heart of the church and its leadership tenderly with great
respect and unyielding support. The worship pastor must love the team and their families more for who
they are and their journey in Christ than for what they do for the church.
Yes, the worship pastor is shepherd first, musician seconda true worshiper, one who leads with skill,
wisdom, and godly devotion.
I have written my Top Ten teaching thoughts for worship pastors to share with their teamsto give you
some absolutes to pass on to those entrusted to your care.
1. The Worship of God Is Holy
God is not common; hence worship is not a gig, not a right to prove our abilities, not an opportunity to
sing our favorite songs. We worship because he is a holy God, and we the createdmade for his pleasure
worship and serve the Creator because he alone is worthy.
2. Regarding Excellence
We bring our finest, because we care that our sacrifice is truthful and brought with integrity of heart. The
first fight in the Bible was about a worship offering (Gen 4), and to this day, people bicker and disagree
about what is genuine worship. No matter how we present our worship, only God knows the true intent of
our pursuit of him. And it is in the authentic pursuit of him that we find excellence in worship.
3. Authentic Lives of Worship
We train in so many things consistently, but nothing can replace each individuals commitment to an
authentic life as a worshiper. So that when your inner life is revealed, what is seen and what is unseen by
humans is one and the same.
Bill Hybels wrote a great book called Who You Are When No Ones looking. Work at making sure that you
are one person: the person we publicly know, and the person God privately knows.
4. Serve the Lord With Gladness (Ps 100)
Gladness is not just an emotion; gladness is a byproduct of joy, which is substance, a fruit of the spirit.
You can literally live on it. Joy puts others at rest.
He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart (Eccl
5:20).
5. Worship Is Not Just a Lifestyle.
Worship is our lifes response to the grandeur and magnificence of our God. Worship as a lifestyle sounds
like we would treat the Cross of Christ casually. But our ability to enter his courts and live in his presence
actually cost God his allfor us. Never treat his worship as a lifestyle option.
6. Build a Culture That Embraces the New
We see that the Levites were trained and skilled in making music before the Lord (1 Chr 25:7). Never
compare or be skillful for the sake of it, yet always encourage people to be developing their gifts, to try
new things, new ideas. Be vigilant to train and grow and strive for freshness in all that you have been
given, for the glory of his name. As the Scripture says:
Sing new songs (Isa 42:10).
You will be called by a new name (Isa 62:2).
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them (Ezek 11:19)
New songs, new day, new start, new hope, new mercy, new possibilities, new ideas, new ways, new
people, God says new heaven and a new earth, new covenant, new self, new heart, new
command, new creation new, new, new!
7. Gods Presence Is Great Power
Our role is to declare and announce that God is here. If we just play and lead to please the ears of man
and satisfy our own desires to play/sing, and march into services without a holy awareness of his
presence and magnificence then we rob people of their spiritual inheritance. Lead people to the courts of
our God.
8. We enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with
praise (Ps 100:4)
39 13 13
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This sequence is Gods idea, not just the delight of all sanguines worldwide. Be confident to lead people in
the high praise of our God. Announce that our God reigns.
9. Speak a Kingdom Culture
If your team knows how to play music but the culture is one of negativity, defeat, resistance, offence,
pride, lack of self esteem, jealousy, even of unbelief, then your team will never grow together into a
culture that is based on kingdom principles. Kingdom music is crafted in the heart of a human being who
gets a glimpsea taste or hears the sound of the kingdom of God.
10. People of Prayer
It is a very presumptuous person who thinks you can live an effective Christian life without prayer. Prayer
is our lifeline; prayer is our first language; prayer is our direct access. This is made clear in the Psalmsa
magnificent book of prayers that teaches us so much about our language before our God. Enter with
thanksgiving, bring him everything, love him, adore him, ask of him; this is the language of prayer. As
you develop your life of prayer, you are developing your life of faithand your life of worship.
OK lovely ones, I could pour out my heart on this topic for days, but thats it for now. Never forget the
honor it is to worship our King,
Love always, Darlene.
Print version
Darlene Zschech is the worship pastor of Hillsong Church, in Sydney, Australia (an Assemblies of God
church), taking over from Geoff Bullock. As worship pastor, she oversees the Worship & Creative Arts
Department at Hillsong Church at the Hills and City congregations. Darlene leads worship most weeks for
the Hillsong Television programm (the official website says that the programm reaches 125 countries
around the globe). Hillsong made global headlines when their 2004 live CD release, For All You've Done
reached number one in the Australian secular music charts.
More from Darlene Zschech or visit Darlene at www.darlenezschech.com/
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