“Read the room.” 

This phrase is typically directed as someone who has failed to act or speak in a way that’s appropriate for the moment in which they find themselves. Candidly, I’ve gotten that sentence aimed at me a few times…usually after an ill-timed joke.

As worship leaders, since we are afforded a unique perspective on the congregation, we tend to “read the room” in a different kind of way.. From our positions on stage, we’re constantly scanning and processing what’s going on at each moment throughout the course of the worship service.

“It’s a sleepy room this week.”

“That family is always 7.5 minutes late.”

“Is he really checking his Apple Watch right now?”

“Man, I thought for sure that people would sing this one.”

Maybe some of these thoughts have passed through your mind as you’re leading. Today, I want to encourage you with two things, when considering how you read the room.

Acknowledge Bad Metrics

A quick YouTube search of worship music will garner results with arenas full of people shouting and singing. The visual production is incredible. The song execution is stellar. The platform presence of the worship leaders is high energy. And this becomes, in our minds, the standard bearer of what a good worship service…sorry, worship experience looks like.

Every worship leader loves when the entire room has their hands raised and is singing at the top of their lungs. There’s something wonderfully moving to see a congregation sing without reservation. But, when you make this your sole gauge of whether or not a song or service was “powerful” or “effective” or “Spirit-filled”, you set yourself up for disappointment when things don’t go that way.

We allow the metrics of physical response to determine whether or not Sunday was a success. While hands being raised is a beautiful response in worship, it is not the only indicator of God moving in your congregation.

Hear me…YES!…read the physical response of the room as a way of gauging engagement. But, avoid making it the only measuring stick you use. Rejoice in the week-in, week-out gathering of God’s people as they faithfully sing songs together and hear the Word proclaimed. Savor the regular. See the power of this weekly exercise, as it has a profound effect on the believer. 

Work to engage the room. Encourage people to sing and lift their hands. But remember that we worship the unseen God and His Spirit often works in ways we cannot always perceive. Faithfully plan songs that you feel will serve to build up the faith of each believer, and trust that God will honor those plans and use those songs even if you cannot see the work being done.

Remember The Point

I heard Matt Redman once say that our goal as worship leaders is not to help people sing, but to help them see. The point of you and me leading isn’t just to get people to SING about Jesus, but rather to help them SEE Jesus.

When your congregation shows up, they bring with them baggage, struggles, stresses, worries, fears, joys, tears, hurts, and everything in between. When they show up, they’re walking in with an entire world competing for their hearts.

So, when you step onto the platform, simply point them to Jesus. Remind them of what He’s done. Remind them of the eternal hope and life found in Him.

They don’t need to see you or me…they need to see their Savior. So, worship leader, help point your people to Jesus. Let every song, light cue, screen background, prayer, scripture reading…EVERYTHING…let it all help people see Jesus.

David Leonard is the Worship Pastor at Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Ridgeland, MS.