LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF WORSHIP STUDIES
Submitted to Dr. Tony Cooper
Reflection Activity 2
By
Reflection Activity 2:
Unique Roles and Tasks in Congregational Ministry
Reflection Question 1 (Miller text):
What is the most important part of the worship leader’s ministry…even the worship
leader’s life?
In my understanding, leading effective worship is the most important part of the worship
leader’s ministry. For worship to be effective, the worship leader must spend personal time with
God. In that moment of two, singing unto the Lord and experiencing His presence will have a
powerful impact on the congregation. If we sow worldly things, we will reap worldly things, if
we sow heavenly things then we will reap heavenly things. As worship leaders, we cannot expect
to lead effective worship without “the sinfulness of our secret lives not to overflow into our
public ministries.”1 Matthew 6: 33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well.” As leaders, we must train ourselves to seek God, be
curious about who He is, talk and ask Him constantly what He desires.
Reflection Question 2 (Whaley text):
According to the text, there are 7 categories of hindered worship. Select 1 of the listed
hindrances and explain why you think it is unbiblical. Then, provide 1 Scripture reference
that will help “protect” you and your worship ministry from believing and/or practicing
these “hindrances?
Reading and learning about the seven categories of hindered worship, I believe illusionism is
unbiblical. According to Whaley, “illusionism may involve mistakenly identifying success in one
area of ministry as being synonymous with worship.”2 If our life is missing genuine worship with
God, it is meaningless even to learn about God and His Word. A church “busy for God but are
void of love, worship, and adoration for the Lord of Lords”3 is like a big head growing with
knowledge yet growing with a heart cold stone. Jesus says to the teachers of the law in John
5:42 says, “but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.” This verse helps
us clearly see the outcome of those who did not worship God genuinely yet deceived themselves
that the ministry was perfectly executed. We can already see what Jesus would have to say when
we would make the same mistakes as the teachers of the law who dedicated themselves to
1Miller S., Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rockstars, (Moody Publishers Chicago, 2013, 2).
2 Vernon M. Whaley, The Dynamics of Corporate Worship, (Academx Publishing Services, Inc.
2009), 45-46.
3 Vernon M. Whaley, The Dynamics of Corporate Worship, (Academx Publishing Services, Inc.
2009), 46.
studying the Bible for years, leadership, and taught at the temple courts, if we would not have a
genuine worship session the God.
