As my Worship Team’s win statement says:
“to be a catalyst for the people of God to connect their hearts to Him thru music”.
I have met and observed a lot of worship leaders not knowing what to say when they are not singing or experience a shortage of words that encourage people to speak or sing praises. Some whip people or shout at them and say “Hey you! Sing! Open your mouth! Come on!”. Yes, making them open their mouths to praise is our job but there are creative, more powerful ways to encourage people to praise, and that’s thru the art of exhortation.
Sometimes just merely commanding people to open their mouth is a lazy tactic (it tells us that the worship leader has not really taken the time to prepare his or her lines), we need to be responsible enough to prepare ahead of time and ask God for the kind of words that will stir or catalyse the people of God to sing.
One major job of worship leaders is to be able to speak brief yet powerful words that spark praise of people.
In our church’s experience in worship leading, we have observed that a well-prepared and beautifully-crafted exhortation, coupled with fervent prayers, help people to release weighty praises before the Lord.
Being able to speak the right words breaks the barriers that inhibit people towards great worship.
And as worship leaders, we have no greater joy than seeing people magnifying God in a way that brings justice to his throne.
If you want to learn practical tips on how to add “power” to your exhortation, read this tip.
Bonus: Check out this article from Bob Kauflin on the role of exhortation during worship.
