Have you ever been on worship team that you could just feel the presence of God moving? What about the opposite? Have you ever wondered why one was more authentic and vulnerable and the other felt like you were just playing music? I believe that at the core of it, it’s about how the Worship Leader is leading their team. Are they building the team up spiritually? Or do you not hear from them all week unless it’s about rehearsal? Building a worship team isn’t just about musical talent and rehearsals—it’s about fostering a spiritually strong group that can lead others into God’s presence with authenticity, and from a true heart of worship. When your team is spiritually nourished and encouraged, their worship becomes more genuine, and their ministry more impactful.
In this blog, we’ll talk about worship team building and how to create a strong foundation that will reflect in your teams’ worship leadership.
1. Foster a Culture of Prayer
First start with prayer. I believe that prayer is the foundation of any spiritually strong team. Before rehearsals, meetings, or services, make time for to pray. Not only does this bring the focus back to God but it also helps the team align their hearts with His purpose. There is so much power in prayer and when we pray together it builds unity and reminds everyone that the power of worship comes from the Holy Spirit, not just musical skill. Prayer also builds the team because it allows the team to pray for each other throughout the week – which helps develops relationships.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to assign different team members to lead prayer. This gives everyone a chance to actively participate in the team’s spiritual growth.
2. Incorporate Regular Devotionals
As a team – dive into the word together. A great way to keep the worship team spiritually grounded is by incorporating devotionals into your routine. It doesn’t have to take long, but reading scripture before practice or service on a Sunday morning helps refocus the team on why they are doing this and who they are doing it for. Choose scripture that goes with the sermon for that week, or whatever the Lord has placed on your heart. This is a great way to grow together spiritually.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to rotate leadership of devotionals among the team, giving each member an opportunity to share what God has been teaching them.
3. Encourage Personal Worship and Devotion
To lead others in worship, we first must be filing ourselves up with God’s word in our own lives. We cannot lead His people if we do not have a heart of worship our self. (For more information check out our blog post about that.) Encourage your team to invest in their relationship with God outside of church services and rehearsals. When team members are spiritually filled during the week, they’ll be able to pour that into their leadership on Sundays.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to check in with team members regularly, asking how their personal spiritual lives are going and offering support and prayer when needed.
4. Create an Atmosphere of Encouragement
Worship is not about us, but as leaders we can forget how important the team, we serve with is. Worship teams should be a safe space where members feel supported and encouraged. Affirm the gifts and contributions of each team member, whether it’s through public acknowledgment or private encouragement. A simple encouragement can go a long way in growing unity within the team.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to set up a time in each rehearsal or meeting where team members can share affirmations—highlighting ways they’ve seen God working in one another’s lives or ministry.
5. Emphasize Servant Leadership
Our first job as worship leaders is to minister to the heart of the Father, but our second is to serve our congregation. Emphasize servant leadership within your team by modeling humility and focusing on the heart behind worship. Encourage team members to lead with a desire to serve God and the church rather than seeking attention or recognition. When each member leads from a place of humility, the team as a whole reflects Christ’s character.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to study passages like Mark 10:45 or Philippians 2:3-4 with your team, discussing what it looks like to lead and serve in humility.
6. Prioritize Accountability and Spiritual Mentoring
I believe that we are better together. Accountability is key to the growth of any worship team. Create opportunities for open conversations about spiritual struggles, personal challenges, and areas for growth. Having a system of accountability helps team members stay spiritually healthy and connected to one another. One way to incorporate this and our first step, prayer, is to pair up members of the team to mentor or pray for each other throughout the week.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to use regular one-on-one check-ins to offer guidance, pray together, and support individual team members in their spiritual journey.
7. Worship Together Outside of Sunday Services
One of the best ways to bond spiritually as a team is to worship together outside of your usual Sunday services. Try organizing a worship night where the team comes together to worship without any pressure of leading. These moments allow your team to experience God’s presence collectively and to be ministered to, instead of always being in a leadership role.
A way that you can implement worship team building in this area is to make these worship nights informal, giving the team space to pray, sing, and seek God together in an unstructured, Spirit-led way. Try scheduling one once a quarter!
Worship Team Building That Thrives Spiritually
Worship team building isn’t just about the music; it’s about creating an environment where worship flows from the heart. When you cultivate a culture of prayer, devotion, encouragement, and servant leadership, your team becomes more than just musicians. You create a spiritually united group, one that leads others into God’s presence with authenticity. As their hearts align with God’s purpose, their musical abilities grow, but more importantly, their spiritual depth deepens. This foundation strengthens their ministry, enabling them to lead worship that truly honors God and draws the congregation into a meaningful encounter with Him.
Remember we cannot lead our teams in these areas if we are not first doing them. We must be chasing after God’s heart first before leading others to do so. I hope this doesn’t just encourage your teams, but you as well. May we all grow deeper in our knowledge of God and worship.