Focal Scripture

Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty
of holiness.

Mission
Our mission is to praise and worship God not just during worship service, but practicing worship
as a daily lifestyle with our lives so that the word of our mouth and meditations of our heart are
acceptable to the Lord. Our desire is that every member of the worship team be cultivated to
become a servant foremost while developing leadership qualities.

Duties and Guidelines

1. A life-style that is continually growing to conform to the image of Christ.
2. Faithful attendance:
Praise Team Rehearsals
Praise Team Service
Services whether youre singing or not
Participation is expected in all church events. Any known exceptions to this requirement
must be cleared through the team leader.
Rehearsals are only 2 hours per week. That is SO little for such important work. Two
things are required for every rehearsal:
Great Attitude!
ON TIME Arrival!
Make a habit that on time is 10 minutes early! In case you must be absent . . . you need to make
two calls/text:
Team Leader
Worship Pastor
3. Dress code
Nothing Short/Nothing Tight/No Cleavage/No Midriff Showing!
We love fabric - especially vests/jackets!
LADIES: Denim/Slacks Skirts/Dresses KNEE LENGTH
MEN: No shorts.
4. Allow enough time to prepare and memorize music outside rehearsals.
5. Sacrificial giving for trips or needs within the ministry. Not the attitude of what is the
church going to do for me . . . but . . . what can I do for Christ and this ministry.
6. Acceptance of the style of music used . . . never complaining about what you like better.

Worship
Worship is not just singing - nor is it a three-song warm-up for the sermon. Worship doesnt only
happen when believers gather for Sunday services, nor is it an event its a lifestyle!
Worship is how we live our lives. Everything we do is worship, whether to God,
or to someone or something else. Worship is not exclusively for our Sunday morning gatherings,
nor is it just the times in our cars playing good music.
When we define worship as giving God our time, attention and affection, there isnt any area
of life thats not involved. Its all worship! Playing with our kids, encouraging
a friend, conscientious work, and yes, gathering with other believers to sing, read the
Word, love God and one another are all forms of our worship to the Lord. When our hearts
are continually connected to Gods, the worship never stops.

What is Praise and Worship

I.

What Are Praise And Worship?

A.

B.

II.

Is It Important That We Praise And Worship The Lord? YES!

A.

B.

III.

Praise - Often, praise and thanksgiving go hand-in-hand. Thanksgiving arises

from our desire to show appreciation for the goodness of God and the gifts He
bestows upon us. Praise stems from the desire to love and extol God for who He
is, rather than what He does.
Worship - In the Hebrew language, it means to bow yourself down in adoring
contemplation of God. Worship involves devotion, reverence, adoration, respect,
and honor.

The importance of praise:

1.
This is how we come into His presence - (Psalm 100:4)
2.
God inhabits the praise of His people - (Psalm 22:3)
3.
It is pleasing to God - (Psalm 69:30-31)
4.
God requires it as our sacrifice to Him - (Hebrews 13:15)
The importance of worship:
1.
The Word of God expresses Gods desire for us to worship Him - (Psalm
45:11, 86:9, 95:6)
2.
Satan realized and valued the importance of worship. When he tempted
Jesus, he endeavored to get Jesus to worship him in exchange for the
kingdoms of the world. - (Matthew 4; Luke 4)

Why Do We Praise The Lord?

A.

We were created for this purpose. (Psalm 102:18)

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B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

It is commanded. (Psalm 81:1-5)

It is comely (Psalm 81:1-5), pleasant (Psalm 135:3), and good (Psalm 54:6, 92:1).
God is worthy. (Psalm 18:3, 48:1)
Glorifies the Lord. (Psalm 50:23)
It provides us with:
1.
The abiding presence of the Lord - (Psalm 89:15)
2.
A line of communication with God - (Psalm 68:32-33)
3.
Deliverance - (Psalm 42:5)
4.
Healing - (Psalm 42:11)

I.
G.
H.
I.
J.

In Spirit - (John 4:20-26, Philippians 3:3)

In Truth - (John 4:24, 8:32, 17:17)
In the Beauty of Holiness - (I Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:2, 96:9)
In the Fear of the Lord - (Psalm 5:7, Deuteronomy 10:12)

I.
K.
L.
M.
N.

In What Ways Can We Praise And

Worship The Lord?

In song - (Psalm 28:7, 40:3)

In the dance - (Psalm 150:4)
On the instruments - (Psalm 33:2, 150:3-5)
By lifting our hands - (Psalm 63:3-4, 132:2)
By clapping our hands - (Psalm 47:1)

I.
T.
U.
V.

Who Are Some Biblical Examples

Of Worshippers?

Joshua - (Joshua 5:14)

Gideon - (Judges 7:15)
David - (II Samuel 12:20, I Chronicles 11:16-21)
Israel - (II Chronicles 7:3, Nehemiah 8:6)

I.
O.
P.
Q.
R.
S.

How Are We To Worship The

Lord?

When Do We Praise And Worship

The Lord?

Continually - (Psalm 71:6, 35:28, 34:1)

Day-by-day - (II Chronicles 30:21)
In everything - (I Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:19-20)

I.

Where Are We To Praise And

Worship The Lord?

W.
X.
Y.

In our home - (Psalm 42:8, 149:5)

In the church - (Psalm 22:22, 35:18, 111:1)
In the presence of non-believers - (Psalm 40:3, 126:2, Acts 2:46-47)

God desires the praises of His people. When we learn to praise God, we take our eyes off
ourselves and our praises usher us into His presence. Only in His presence can we
worship Him. The people of God are a spiritual house whose purpose is to show forth the
praises of God. (I Peter 2:9)

Talent, Skill, and Auditions

Although auditions are not generally required, the musician and vocalists need to have
enough skill so that they can follow the Holy Spirit. Musicians and vocalists should have
open hearts to receive advice, correction, training, and should be committed to becoming
proficiently skilled at their ministry. Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the
singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it. (1 Chronicles 15:22
NIV) One does not need to be a professional musician to worship the Lord, but God
honors the discipline of additional practice and preparation. Failing to prepare is
preparing for failure.

QUALIFICATIONS OF WORSHIP LEADERS

BE THOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVER - 1Timothy 4:12
When we lead worship, we impart to people what we possess. If we possess joy, we impart joy.
If we possess holiness, we impart the spirit of holiness. If we possess revelation of worship, we
impart that revelation to the people. We lead by example!!! The standards and expectations for
worship leaders will naturally vary from church to church, but the following eight qualifications
are among the raw essentials for any worship leader. The leader must be:

ANOINTED OF GOD:
One who leads praise and worship must be anointed by God for this special and important
ministry in the church. It is a gift and calling from the Holy Spirit that must be respected and
cultivated. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. But the
anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even
as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. I John 2:20, 27

A WORSHIPPER:
The praise leaders cannot lead people where they have not been living themselves. Intense
praise and worship must be a daily part of the leaders personal life and devotion.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24

SPIRITUALLY MATURE:
To be a leader within the body of Christ, a person must be a mature believer. His or her wisdom,
experience, and skilled spiritual leadership will encourage the total participation of the body.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ. - Ephesians 4:12

A LEADER:
They must be able to motivate and lead people. The leader should be completely free in
expressing acts of praise, especially lifting hands, clapping, dancing and singing. They should
have no hang-up about these worship forms. In a nutshell, the duty of the worship leader is to
provide the best opportunity possible for the people to worship. Be ye followers of me, even as
I also am of Christ. I Corinthians 11:1

SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE:
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They must be sensitive to follow the anointing and leading of the Holy Spirit while being alert
and sensitive to how the congregation is responding. So he fed them according to the integrity
of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. Psalms 78:72

IN SUBMISSION:
They must recognize and submit to the pastor and other spiritual leadership within the church.
They must show a servants heart and be able to flow under leadership. Likewise, ye younger,
submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. I Peter 5:5

A PERSON OF PURITY, INTEGRITY AND HUMILITY:

A worship lead must be a person of proven character, whose personal life and integrity is above
reproach. If the leader is not respected among the parishioners for his/her daily walk with God
and his/her family life, he/she will not instantly gain the respect simply by stepping behind the
pulpit. I beseech you therefore; brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
As a humble servant of God, his/her actions will always call attention to God and never seek to
bring glory to himself/herself. The leader must be able to function as part of a team. Some folks
are so highly individualistic that they are unable to get along with others. He/she must be
flexible with the pastor and other team members. No primo-donnas, no showbiz stars. TRUE
WORSHIPPERS ONLY!! Humble yourselves therefore under the might hand of God, that he
may exalt you in due time. I Peter 5:6

COMMITTED AND FAITHFUL:

Must be faithful and punctual in the fulfillment of their God-given responsibility. They must be
committed, attending pre-service prayer, all rehearsals and all services, sacrificing the
prerogative to visit other churches or attend special events elsewhere always on duty!
Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man and woman be found faithful. 1
Corinthians 4:2

HINDRANCES TO PRAISE THAT MUST BE DEALT WITH

An inability to enter into praise and worship indicates there is a basic problem between us and
God. It is important that each believer seeks Him until they know what their problem is and deal
with it. The same hindrances that keep us from praising the Lord, can keep us from moving
ahead with God, from having our prayers answered, or from being healed.
Some excuses often given are: Im just not outgoing!, Im too shy; I feel self-conscious!,
or Im not demonstrative. However, praise is a commandment from God and there are NO
valid excuses! Psalms 150:1-6. Listed are some hindrances to praise:
1. Sin: Sin breaks our fellowship and communion with God. Sin inhibits us in the Presence of
God. Psalms 66:18; Isaiah 59:2 (SOLUTION: THE ANSWER IS TO CONFESS OUR
SIN, AND TO ACCEPT HIS FORGIVENESS. 1 John 1:9)
2. Condemnation: Condemnation is put on by Satan, never by God. Once we have asked God
to forgive us, we must forgive ourselves. Condemnation of ourselves results in sense of
unworthinessso we tend to hang our heads in Gods Presence. Being so conscious of our
unworthiness, we forget Gods mercy and grace, and become self-conscious instead of Godconscious. (SOLUTION: Romans 8:1; Hebrews 12:2)
3. Gossip: Gossip is dissention sown between brethren. We must be careful not to be a
talebearer. Proverbs 16:28; Psalm 34:13 (SOLUTION: Leviticus 19:16; Ephesians 4:29)
4. Worldliness: Worldliness is having our minds and thoughts centered on the things of this
world. Desiring dignity more than ministry to God in worship. (SOLUTION: 1 Peter
5:7; Philippians 4:8; I John 2:15; Romans 12:2)
5. Indifference: Being lukewarm or indifferent towards the Lord often hinders a person from
entering into praise and worship. Revelation 2:4 (SOLUTION: Set your heart to return
to God in full repentance and then as an act of obedience, begin to praise Him. Malachi
3:7a)
6. Rebellion: Rebellion toward God, parents or the authority that God has set in the church is a
major hindrance to praise. I Samuel 15:22, 23 (SOLUTION: Submit to authority and
repent of your rebellion. Hebrews 13:17)
7. Discouragement: Many bring their troubles into church with them. It is important that we
prepare our hearts to praise God before we arrive. II Corinthians 4:8, 9b (SOLUTION: As
we begin in obedience to praise and worship God, all of the discouragement will lift
from our hearts. Isaiah 51:11)
8. Anger: It is impossible to come to God in praise and worship if we are holding anger in our
hearts towards others, ourselves, or God. James 1:19, 20b (SOLUTION: Forgive those
who have wronged you and refuse to allow the anger to stay in your heart. Ephesians
4:31, 32)
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9. Worry: Worry is an expression of doubt and unbelief; the opposite of faith. It is impossible
to enter into praise and worship if our thoughts are full of worry. John 14:27 (SOLUTION:
As we focus our eyes on Jesus and the promises of His Word and instead of worrying,
begin to thank Him for what He has done and who He is, our hearts will be flooded with
peace and the praise will begin to flow from our hearts toward God. Philippians 4:6-7)
10. Depression: I Peter 4:12-13 (SOLUTION: As a sacrifice of praise, we must begin to
rejoice. As an act of obedience to God, we must put on our garment of praise. Isaiah
61:3)
11. Wrong Concept of Father: Many have negative feelings about God. They feel God is
always judging them. Others feel God does not want a person to enjoy him or herself.
(SOLUTION: The answer is to carefully expose our traditions to the Word of God and
to let the Holy Spirit show us the right way.)
12. Religious Traditions: Religion oppresses, but redemption releases. Matthew 15:6b
(SOLUTION: The answer is to carefully expose our traditions to the Word of God and
to let the Holy Spirit show us the right way.)
13. Pride: Pride is too overly concerned with our self-image, of wanting to be well thought of.
Pride puts man and self on the throne instead of God. Desiring the praises of men is the
opposite of giving praise to God. Jesus described the proud religious leaders of His time.
Matthew 23:1-2,5-7 (SOLUTION: The solution is to humble yourself. Matthew 23:1112; Romans 12:3)
14. Fear of Man: The fear of what other people think of us is a form of bondage and blocks a
Holy Spirit from guiding our actions and attitudes. Fear of man results in worry and anxiety
and takes our eyes from the Lord, who He is, and who we are in Him. Fear, of any kind, is
the opposite of faith. Proverbs 29: Proverbs 9:10 (SOLUTION: When we put God in His
rightful place in our lives, when we begin to know Him as He is, the fear of others will
disappear.)
15. Satanic Oppression: Satan hates God, therefore, he hates praise given to God. He desires
all praise to go to him. If you praise God continually, Satan will not stay around.
(SOLUTION: The solution for heavy oppression is deliverance from demonic bondage.
Mark 16:17a;James 4:7)
16. Ignorance: In many areas, the importance of praise and worship in the lives of believers has
been lost. (SOLUTION: The solution is to study what God has written on the subject.
Hosea 4:6)