YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
[ RAISING UP A YOUTH TEAM PART 7 - SKILL AND TRUE WORSHIP ]
Vance & Michelle Shepherd
It is always so rewarding for us as teachers in worship. The most essential thing they need ways to segue that scripture into the song.
when we get to bring our student band into to learn is that they need to have their own When they choose songs that thematically deal
different churches to lead worship around the quiet time with the Lord before they can truly with things they are going through, or highlights
Las Vegas valley. We’ll overhear people say, lead others in worship. their personal understanding of God, they will
“Man, listen to them! They’re just kids, and
be able to lead those songs with authenticity -
they sound and look like a professional concert Students can only worship to the extent of their singing to and about their God with conviction
band!” revelation of who God is to THEM. and passion.
We recently had lunch after a worship event As adults, we have much more to draw from, When a student suggests a song, we like to sit
one Sunday with some of our students and emotionally and spiritually. We’ve lived longer, down with them and look at the lyrics together.
their parents. I walked around the table to we’ve been through more in life. We can sing Understanding
where the parents were sitting, and shared with from the depths of our soul and from our own congregational worship song, a praise song,
them how proud we are of all of our students, personal God experiences. But youth are still and a great Christian pop song on the radio
telling them that we can only “lead the horse figuring what is their relationship with God, and is a great area of teaching for them. We ask
to water, but we can’t make it drink,” meaning it might not always be their own faith that they them questions like, “Is it a pop song or a
that the students are the ones that have to do are drawing from, it could still be their parent’s worship song? Who is the song addressed to:
the actual work. I proceeded to tell them that faith. It’s not until they start seeking God in the congregation, God, or is it telling a story
after spending years in the professional music their private alone time and experiencing Him of victory?” We really dive in to the meaning
business, we can teach our students just about through the trials and hardships in this fallen behind the lyrics. There have been times when
everything they will need to know to land a world - when they have no one left to go to a student will be practicing for an upcoming
professional music gig, get college music but this God that they have been singing songs worship event, and when we ask them what
scholarships, etc. We can teach them stage about - that their worship on stage will come the message of the songs are about, they either
presence, musical execution, vocal techniques, alive in Him. They won’t have to manufacture have to think long and hard about it, or they
etc… But the one thing that is outside of our stage presence, or focus on perfectionism, or have no idea at all. We want to move them out
control is their personal relationship with Christ, hitting every note just right. They will be able to of just practicing musical “parts”, and toward
and their own time spent alone worshiping Him. lead others in true worship. actually understanding the heart and the
What is in our control is to find ways to keep
the
difference
between
a
meaning behind the songs they are learning. It
encouraging them to do this and continuing to Finding songs that they can personally relate to can make their practice time turn into worship
pray for their relationship with God. is crucial. We like to encourage our students to time, and that will always translate on Sunday!
suggest songs to incorporate into their worship
If you are leading a youth worship team, we sets, with songs that make them connect with May you be blessed as you pour into the next
encourage you to facilitate weekly bible studies, God. Challenge them to find scriptures that generation of worshipers!
devotions, and gatherings to inspire your team capture the message of the song, and find
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November 2017
WorshipMusician.com