My friend Drew knows a lot of Christian famous people.  Some would say, he himself is one.  Anyhow, last weekend Drew was doing an event with some Christian famous people and he got a bit of advice from a worship pastor who I greatly respect that he passed on to me. 

The guy’s name is Aaron Keys.  And rightly enough, he plays keys. 

Aaron Keys has a unique gift that not every worship leader has (but many think they do).  Aaron can talk between every song in the set and not distract you or get on your nerves.  He draws you in with two sentences and then releases you to worship.  It’s beautiful and frustrating really.  We’ve all been with the guy who preaches between every song, or tells you what to do with your hands every chance he gets.  And truth is, we all hate him.  Aaron Keys is that guy, but somehow not that guy at all.  When Aaron Keys starts singing, you think, “Ah man keep talking…” 

This talking between every song business: It’s a rare gift friends, I don’t encourage you to try it. 

Anyhow, while Drew was talking to Aaron Keys, Aaron said that the difference between worship leaders and worship pastors is simple: Worship leaders lead songs, worship pastors lead people.

Aaron was telling Drew about leading people via songs, and how each song can hit people differently.  Aaron said the difficulty sometimes in leading people in worship is that you have to draw them to a common starting place before you can take them to a common destination. 

So, in some ways, you can….

Prep the song, prep the heart. 
Clarify the meaning, clarify the moment. 
Give direction, give freedom.

Or for instance, Aaron might say: Take a second to explain the holiness of God or read Isaiah 6 before you sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and watch as the powerful old hymn takes on new life. 

Talk about worship being a response to God before you sing “How Great Thou Art”.

After a sermon, explain what an “Ebanezer” is before you sing “Come Thou Fount.”

Or start the service with “Come Thou Fount” as a song of centering your heart before God, inviting him to tune your heart, praying something like, “Just as musicians tune their instruments, God may you tune our hearts to sing your grace.”  And give it a moment, and your off, almost as if with a different crowd of people. 

Before you sing Matt Redman’s “Never Once” give the song an extended intro and invite the crowd to take a moment to think about a dark time in their life when they felt alone and out of the reach of God’s grace, then read the promise of Jesus over them, “that He would never leave you or forsake you” and watch the song minister to people as they worship.

Aaron Keys says getting people to a common starting place is not hard.  But it’s been forgotten.  But to lead people it’s essential. 

Now, please, don’t be an “over-talker”, only Aaron Keys can do that.  But be a leader who is willing to pick a moment in each gathering to bring his/her people to a common ground to stand on from the outset, then take them somewhere: Namely into the presence of a God who is seeking to meet with them.