YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
HEART POSTURE | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
One of the responsibilities of pouring into the next generation of worship leaders and musicians is to help shape their heart posture and outlook on worship and help them understand their personal role in leading people in worship. On the one hand, as music teachers we’ re teaching them to strive for excellence and dedication in their musicality, but on the other, we need to help them cultivate a selfless heart of worship that isn’ t seeking the limelight or the accolades for themselves but always strives to give the glory to God.
Our students were invited to lead worship at a new church, and for that particular Sunday, not all of our students were able to be there, due to summer vacations, etc. We ended up having only 3 lead vocalists, with 4 worship songs in the set, which meant that we would be able to give the 3 vocalists each a song to lead, with one song left over. The vocalists wanted to know how we were going to“ split” the 4 th song between all of them, so it would be fair … and we realized then that we had a teachable moment. We asked one of the vocalists if any of them would be upset if we gave the 4 th song to just one of them to lead( meaning that someone would get to lead 2 songs, while the other vocalists only led 1), and she said that the other girls would probably feel bad if they only led 1 song, and someone else got to lead 2.
So, then we asked her what would happen if we gave her 2 songs to lead, and she said that because her and the other vocalists were such good friends, they would probably be fine with that. We explained to her that any service that we do unto the Lord is the same in importance, whether it be leading a song vocally, or backing up on harmonies or playing an instrument. It’ s all service to the Lord, and He sees the posture of our heart, which is the most important thing, no matter what you’ re doing. And it’ s all just as important to the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 is a great section of scripture that you could share with your youth worship team this Sunday, to re-focus them in the role they’ re serving in this weekend’ s service, with the emphasis on verse 27:
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Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
This whole passage draws a parallel between the human body and the church body; that the human body has many parts: ears, eyes, feet, etc., that all work together, making it function in unison to accomplish everyday living and tasks. The church body has many people with different skills and gifts that make it work together to serve His purpose. If we look at verses 22-25, we see that the service of one person is no greater than another and shouldn’ t receive any special treatment; that the service of another that may appear to be less glorious is not less valued.
22“
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
If we can get our youth early on to understand this passage, it will change their outlook on worship, and their heart of service to the Lord and the church. It’ s not about everybody getting an exact“ fair” or“ equal” piece of the pie but giving thanks and gratitude that you are getting a seat at the table. Some of us are more gifted or talented in certain areas, but wherever God has equipped you, your service in the church is done to bring honor to the Lord.
So, whether you’ re playing bass on the backline of the stage, or leading a song vocally out front and center, or just singing a simple harmony part, it’ s great to constantly remind yourself why you’ re there. When we lead worship, we lead for an audience of One, not for the applause of many.
Here are two things to be aware of in our service to the Lord and His church:
When we’ re operating in the flesh: It can be easy for us to want the spotlight and have a bad attitude if we feel“ left out’, like we’ re“ taking the back seat,” or we feel that someone has a“ greater” role than us.
When we’ re operating in the spirit: We naturally want to serve as a team player to achieve the ultimate goal of the local church, which is to save the lost and bring people to a closer relationship with God. In the Spirit, we will be moldable and go where and when we are needed to serve, in whatever capacity that we’ re needed. We will have joy, compassion, gratitude and fulfillment in whatever role we’ re placed in, and that always translates on Sunday!
May you be blessed as you pour into or become the next generation of worship leaders.
Vance & Michelle Shepherd Founders of The Shepherd School of Music in Las Vegas, NV, where they work with youth to raise up the next generation of worship leaders and musicians. facebook. com / shepherdschoolofmusiclasvegas www. ShepherdStudiosLV. com
48 July 2025 Subscribe for Free...