A fire was lit in me the day I graduated the first Radical Training* in Cebu. It was late in the afternoon. My brothers and I had formed a circle. The wind had strangely gotten stronger around us. Our voices were loud in praise and prayer. Prophecies were exchanged in that late afternoon. The prophetic vision I had was of me supporting my brothers. I knew my brothers were meant to move up to greater service. Back then, the only way I could think of to support them was through leading worship because I was already part of the worship team.
Months after the graduation, I was assigned to lead worship in prayer gathering called the Feast. The worship team in that particular Feast was not yet well developed. There were not enough singers and instrumentalists. Sometimes I had to do the singing myself. Other times I was the one who pressed play for the music. A few times I was the one playing the guitar. I knew I had to get creative.
I tried everything! I told rousing stories, interesting trivia, and prop exhortations. I brushed up on my theatrical and *cough* dance skills. Again, I tried everything. In the course of trying everything, I rediscovered the exhortation type that was a cut above the rest. It was (and still is) the scripture exhortation.
The Word is Alive
The scripture exhortation is the most powerful form of exhortation. When you give the verse, it always makes an impact because it is inspired by God. You do not need to add and subtract from it. It is already perfect.
A well-researched scripture passage can also easily address the needs of the congregation. When you speak to the discouraged, you can declare unto them Psalm 34:18. “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.” When you talk to do the weary, tell them what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” When you address the injured and infirm, remind them what the Lord says in Jeremiah 30:17. “I will make you well again; I will heal your wounds.“
Alpha and Omega
You can begin and end with the Word. The Word is so powerful that it demands attention so you can start with it as an introduction. Then offer a call to action as a response to God’s Word.
The Word is also a balm to wounds. Another good format would be to highlight a problem. You can then use God’s Word to address that problem. End this exhortation format with a call to action as well.
Make sure your call to action is coherent to your exhortation. For example, you can’t quote Matthew 11:28, which is a verse that ends with rest, then ask them to get ready for rowdy praise and worship.
Your call to action also has to be specific to what you are about to do after the exhortation. If you want them to stand then ask them to stand. (Tip: Make sure to speak the call-to-action with authority.) I usually end my exhortations with the Sign of the Cross to get everyone to a prayerful mindset.
Here are two examples of both formats. I left out the call to action so you can use these exhortations in your own sessions.
At the Beginning
“In the book of Jeremiah, God said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3) Brothers and sisters, whenever you feel unloved by anyone then just go to God. Whenever you are treated unkindly then go to God. The love of men may falter but God’s love never falters. The kindness of men may fail but God’s love never fails! Go to God today!”
At the End
“Do you feel lonely, abandoned, or isolated? Keep your chin up and rejoice because you are never alone. God has not abandoned you. You are not far from His love. Jesus has promised, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Get ready to feel more of God’s presence!”
Speak Well
Take great care with how you deliver the scripture passages. It should not pass your tongue without considerable practice. Every verse is important. Commit it to memory and rehearse it. This will eliminate stutters. Every syllable has weight.
Check the emotion that is being portrayed. Is it mirthful or somber? Deliver it the words the way the author has intended it to be delivered. Let the words fly off the tongue at the right pace and tension.
Make sure you get the pronunciations right. Even the most of minor of mispronunciations can distract the congregation. Be excellent in this manner. The only way to do that is to practice, practice, and practice. Aside from delivery, there are other things to consider when giving a scriptural exhortation.
Thematic Harmony
Most prayer gatherings have a theme for every session. The lead worshiper must connect with the primary decision-maker of the theme. It is either the priest or the preacher in charge. (Tip: Have a good working relationship with the priest/preacher in charge.) Failure to do so will lead to incongruous ideas that loosely support the central learning of the gathering. A bad example of thematic harmony would be exhorting about abundance when the priest is preaching about self-denial.
Your Greatest Strength
The most powerful type of exhortation is the scripture exhortation. Yet exhortations nor speeches are not a lead worshiper’s greatest strength. It is even less so for his ability to sing or his stage presence. The lead worshiper’s greatest strength is his relationship with Jesus. Before he even steps foot on the platform, he must already have a strong relationship with Jesus. Even before he steps on the rehearsal studio to join the music ministry, he must have already been led to worship.
Every relationship hinges on communication. It is a given a that lead worshiper has to communicate with God. This is why a lead worshiper has to have a daily chair time with the Lord. How does one go about having a chair time with God?
Start with a prayer. Read up on the daily scriptures using a readable Bible like the Good New Translation (GNT). A good scripture diary like the Companion set will also be helpful since it already has the readings grouped together by the day. Once you have done reading, pray and allow time for contemplation. Read the scriptures again if necessary. Pray some more if you must. Allow the Lord to speak to you in your chair time. How long does this take? As long as it takes.
Now, what does the lead worshiper get out of his chair time? A myriad of blessings but in the context of worship, the lead worshiper acquires inspiration. Usually, God has a word for us every day. This word can inspire us to action in our daily life. It can also be a powerful source of ammunition and your prayers and exhortations.
Jesus is Enough
The Word is powerful. It has been used to heal, cast out demons, and produce miracles. All of this is made possible by the Word Made Flesh, Jesus. Just as the Bible points to Jesus so should lead worshipers point to Jesus. Our strength is finite. Our power is limited. We cannot perform miracles apart from God. We are not enough. So, we do not draw attention to ourselves. We give the focus to Jesus. We give praise to Jesus. We lead them even as we are led to Jesus. We are empowered to do this because we know with every fiber of our being that Jesus is more than enough.
Points to Ponder
What Bible verse inspires you the most? Why?
How can you use that verse to inspire others?
Did you learn something important? This is the second lesson of my course on the basics of leading praise and worship. The first lesson came out last month.
If you seek to know more then check us out again next month. The next lesson will be launched on the second Saturday of January.
In the meantime, check out our events and do connect with me. I would also be very grateful if you share this post with your family and friends. Thank you and God bless you.