I prepared this short devotional outline for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is a summary of some key points in chapter 8, “Leading Artists” of Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. Click the following links to read my devotional outlines for the book’s introduction, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter four part 1, chapter four part 2, chapter five, chapter six, and chapter seven.
By its title, it may appear that this chapter is mainly for me as the worship leader, but truly many of these principles can be applied by anyone. Plus, most of us will find ourselves in a leadership role at some point in our lives.
Let’s start with a question: What has God created you to do? And as a follow up: How can you do it better? 1 Timothy 4:14 says to not neglect your gift. It can be easy to allow the busyness of life to crowd out that which is important. A worship leader must balance being a full time artist and a full time leader. All of us must balance work, family, school, relationships, and our artistry. But how?
First, remember that Paul wouldn’t have encouraged us not to give up (Galatians 6:9) unless we’d be tempted to give up. Ministry is rewarding but challenging.
Second, be shrewd as serpents. Learn what is truly important versus what is merely urgent. Ask God to help you plan out your schedule.
Third, guard against workaholic tendencies. Set aside one day a week as a sabbath—a day of rest and worship—and guard it. You may find that you are more efficient in a 40 hour work week than you are in 60 simply because you are more rested and alert.
Finally and most importantly, prioritize your relationship with Christ above all. No matter how busy you get, never neglect daily time with Jesus. Make this time absolutely, 100% non-negotiable.
Leadership Styles that Don’t Work with Artists
- The Overly Demanding CEO: controlling, demanding, and insensitive
- The Overbearing Coach: winning is everything, sacrifice all
- The Overly Protective Patron: coddles the artists as fragile and misunderstood, never confronts sin or gives correction
- The Silent Type: no feedback (good or bad) and no direction
What do you do if a leader (including me!) or boss leads in one of these ways? Do not run away from your problem. Instead, go to the leader in humility and love. It can be scary, but you may be pleasantly surprised with how it goes.
What to Do Instead
- Nurture artists by creating opportunities for them to use their gifts.
- Be gentle and sensitive when necessary and firm when necessary. Treat others the way that Christ would. We are to “admonish the unruly and encourage the fainthearted” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
- Love them.
- Exhort them.
- Encourage them.
- Implore them. “Implore” means to charge someone. Implore each other with the truth.
- Get to know them through relationships.
A good leader will be both giving and demanding, so give encouragement even as you demand excellence.
Apply
- What has God called you to do? Take inventory of your time. Are you doing what he’s called you to do? If not, what changes to your schedule do you need to make?
- In what settings are you a leader? What type of leader are you? How can you improve?
- In what settings are you under a leader? Do you need to humbly and gently confront a leader on his/her leadership practices?
- What can you do to improve the relationships you have, both with those under your leadership and with those who lead you?