If you haven't heard yet, I've had a nice 10 month break from leading worship.

That's right! About 10 months ago, I stepped away from my position as full-time worship pastor at the church I was leading at and have only led worship ONCE since then.

These past several months have been interesting. I've learned A LOT!

During the break, I started attending a new church.

Things started off slowly - I just attended on Sundays. Then, I joined a small group. Then, I started to help set up the portable campus.

And I quickly found myself in a season of stacking chairs...

You read the correctly. Not in a leadership position. Not leading worship. Not leading a small group.

Just a former pastor who shows up early on Sunday mornings to lift a few heavy things, set up chairs, and stack them after the service is over.

And even more than a season of stacking chairs, this has been a season of learning.

Here are 3 things I've learned in this season of stacking chairs:

1 | I don't NEED to lead musical worship to be satisfied in church

For the past 14 years of my life, I've been "the worship leader" at church. I led every Sunday. And to not have that role definitely felt strange at first. It felt like something was missing.

But the more I stacked chairs, the more I realize that I don't need to be "the worship leader" to be satisfied in the church.

There are a million other ways to serve in a church that are just as important.

2 | The UNSEEN things are just as important as the SEEN things

The role of worship leader is such a VISIBLE position. And because of that visibility the importance of the role gets elevated.

But, I've learned even more in this season to recognize the importance of the unseen.

Barely anyone sees me set up the chairs on Sunday morning. Most people are gone when I stack them.

People probably don't even think about the chairs being set up - they just take it for granted that there will be a seat to sit in when they get to church on Sunday.

Nobody is walking out to their car after church and saying, "That worship was LIT today fam!... But those chairs? 👌 They were lined up perfectly! I had the perfect viewing angle to see the screen AND the band!"

But just because no one recognizes it, doesn't make it less important. Chairs provide a comfortable setting for people to encounter Jesus. (That's not say that chairs are necessary for people to encounter Jesus BUT let's be honest - we'd rather sit on a chair than the floor).

3 | You can lead worship WITHOUT singing or playing an instrument

Here's the thing... even though I don't play or sing on Sunday anymore - I'm STILL a worship leader.

If we are to truly embrace the holistic understanding that worship can be part of everything we do, then we must understand that worship leaders aren't only people who play and sing on Sundays.

We are ALL worship leaders!

(Maybe that sounds familiar from a recent worship team devotional I wrote. Ehem! www.leadingworshipwell.com/weareallworshipleaders)

It's not just ALL worship team members who are worship leaders. Every believer has the responsibility of leading people in worship.

A worship leader is NOT JUST someone who sings on Sunday.

A worship leader is NOT JUST someone who plays guitar on Sunday.

A worship leader is NOT JUST a pastor who preaches.

A worship leader is anyone who points people to the goodness of God and provides them with the opportunity to respond to that truth.

Music isn't the only way to do that.

In the act of setting up chairs, I am LITERALLY pointing people to Jesus (ie. facing them in the direction of the stage/screen so they can interact with how the worship team and pastor are leading them).

In the act of putting up pipe and drape, the black fabric removes the distraction of unsightly community center walls and draws attention to the leaders of the church (who ultimately point people to Jesus).

Everything we do can be worship if it's done in a way that points people to the goodness of God and provides them the opportunity to respond to that truth.

So, all that to say, I'm actually moving back into a season of musical worship leading. For at least the next 6 weeks, I'll be leading on a regular basis at a local church - potentially longer.

But, just because I'm leading musical worship again on Sundays doesn't mean I'm a worship leader.

I never stopped being a worship leader.

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