You've spent all week preparing for Sunday. You've memorized lyrics. You've learned chord progressions. You've ironed out your transitions. You've rehearsed with your worship team. Musically, you're ready to lead on Sunday.

But, as worship leaders, we know that leading worship is about much more than simply being prepared musically. It's not just about learning chords and what notes to sing - it's about being prepared spiritually.

The problem is sometimes we get so caught up in our musical preparation we forget about our spiritual preparation. And what happens? We show up on Sunday morning - we play all the right notes - we sing all the right words - but something just feels off. So, how can you prepare spiritually to lead worship?

Here are 3 ways to prepare spiritually to lead worship:

1 | Worship through your set list

It's one thing to learn the musical elements of your set list. That's just the starting point. Some worship leaders even take it a step further and learn not just the individual songs themselves, but how all the songs flow together. What if you took it one more step and, instead of just playing through your songs for Sunday, you worshiped through them.

If you are going to lead people on the journey you've crafted through your set list on Sunday, doesn't it make sense that you would take the journey first? Worship through your set list - not as a time of musical preparation but as a time of SPIRITUAL preparation.

2 | Ask: What do these songs mean for me?

As you run through your songs, consider what they mean for yourself. What truth is being highlighted? What stands out to you? Knowing what you know about where your pastor wants to lead the church on Sunday, how do these songs reinforce that? You can use these questions to start crafting your speaking transitions.

3 | Ask: What do these songs mean for the people I'm leading?

Take it one step further. As you're playing through the songs, envision the people you're going to be leading on Sunday. What do these songs mean for them? What truth can you highlight that ties directly into their story? Use these questions to craft your speaking transitions.

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