Priorities

Path through still forest representing worship priorities for leaders I will never forget a few years ago when I was sitting in a lecture-style environment, listening and gleaning from various amazing ministry leaders. I had wandered out to get a coffee just before a Q&A session began. There was a great deal of practical and necessary talk that day: how to handle our finances, how to manage people, and how to survive ministry without losing our soul. All of it was important. But then one young man raised his hand and asked the panel this: “How do you find Jesus again when you’ve lost Him in the middle of doing church?” I froze. This was the question so many of us don’t ask out loud. We love God. We love the Church. We love to serve. But in the rush of deadlines, emails, rehearsals, expectations, and weekend services, we can lose sight of why we do what we do. Finding Christ When You’re Running On Empty Maybe you’re in a place where worship feels routine. Maybe you’re leading others while your own heart feels numb. I’ve been there. In Luke 2, we read that even Mary and Joseph lost Jesus—for three days! They were returning from a festival, assuming He was with them, when in fact He wasn’t. Sometimes we assume the same thing. We assume Christ is in the center of our worship simply because our music is excellent or our planning is precise. But have we truly stopped to see if He’s the one we’re following—or if we’re expecting Him to follow us? “When I looked back over that moment, I realized that somehow we had lost Jesus in the middle of our quest to make things sound good and look good.” What Really Matters In 2026 In today’s world, worship leaders face more pressure than ever to be relevant, professional, innovative. There are tools that didn’t exist even a few years ago. There’s constant content creation, streaming, social media presence, and more. But the priority hasn’t changed. We are called to lead people into the presence of Jesus Christ. Not just into a musical experience. Not just into spiritual sentimentality. But into real, transforming, holy presence. Worship ministry is not about control—it’s about surrender. It’s about showing up, again and again, and saying: “Jesus, You first.” The Response Hebrews 12:28 reminds us: “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” This is our inheritance. And this is our priority: to worship God with reverence, awe, and gratefulness—knowing Jesus is at the center, not just of the setlist, but of our lives. A Final Word If you’re feeling stretched, overcommitted, or disconnected from the joy of worship, take a moment today. Step out of the noise. Get alone with God. He’s not far. He’s always been there, waiting—not at the edge of your performance, but at the center of your heart. Closing Attribution Originally published in Worship Leader Magazine, 2009, Vol. 18, Issue 6. Worship Leader was founded by Dr. Chuck Fromm to serve and inspire those called to lead sung prayer in the Church.