Does How I Look On Stage Matter?

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

A good friend of yours comes running up to you extremely excited because they just got the news that they landed the job they've been hoping for for months. With excitement spilling over and words tumbling out faster than you can process, they share with you all the joys, hopes, and dreams of their new job. You are excited for them! In fact, you have talked with them many times about how this new job will be such a good opportunity for them. But little do they know, your kids have been monsters today, your boss did something that threw you off all day, and to top it off, you didn't get a wink of sleep last night. You want to be excited for them, but at this moment, it's just hard. So what happens next? Well, you're a good friend. So you put on a grin, knowing that this is a great moment to support and encourage them, and you smile, laugh, and share in their excitement.

Stage presence is kind of a taboo topic when it comes to music in the church. If you have ever had a part on the stage on a Sunday morning, it has at least crossed your mind. Maybe someone has tried to explain the importance of it to you, but it felt inadequate. Perhaps someone has mentioned "fake it till you make it," and it just really hit you wrong. I know I have used that phrase before. And while it's not entirely untrue, if left without explanation, it can leave a bad taste in your mouth. So... why is stage presence so important when it comes to our Sunday morning worship? Let's take a look at Hebrews:

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)

Here, we see a passage in Scripture where God tells us to "hold fast the confession of our hope." Why does the God of the universe, the God who made all things, the God whose glory and presence are all around us, need to tell us to "hold fast the confession of our hope"? God made us; He knows us. He knows that the way we feel in the moment or in a season is not always a true reflection of what we believe in our core. So, He says to "hold fast." Hold fast to what? To the "confession of our hope." God is saying, "You believe this is true, this is good, this is useful, right? Then show it. Make sure the world knows." Why? Because other people feel the same way too.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

So, let's go back to our story. Just because you had a bad day doesn't change your feelings for your friend. You care about them and want them to have this moment of joy and excitement over their new job. So at that moment, you put your own self aside and celebrate with them. You're not faking it; you're choosing to put your friend first because you love them.

Now, I'm sure you have figured out where I'm going with this by now, so let's wrap it all up.

When we show up to church on Sunday morning and we get on that stage, the way we conduct ourselves is of utmost importance. Why? Because as leaders on the stage, we are the thermostat. The congregation is the thermometer. They read what we put out. We have to be willing to set ourselves aside for the purpose of leading others in that moment.

Much of leadership revolves around doing what you know is best regardless of what you feel because what you believe is still unchanging. Everyone who walks through the doors on a Sunday morning has a story. Maybe they are excited to be there, maybe it took everything in them just to step through those doors. Regardless, we have the opportunity to lead, despite what we are feeling at that given day or moment. The truths we are singing are unchanging, and we have the privilege of being a part of others experiencing those truths. But they have to believe us first.

Here are some practical things we can be doing to inspire that belief:

Smile – A smile can go a long way. Just the simple act of learning to smile when you’re on stage can speak volumes to those who see you.

Sing the Lyrics – Whether you have a microphone or not, you should be singing when you are able to. If the people on stage are not singing, then the congregation feels like they don't need to sing.

Look at People – This can be a bit nerve-wracking for some. But you have the opportunity to engage and speak into people that others cannot. The simple act of scanning the room and looking at people can allow God to use you to speak to someone.

Memorize the Songs – Now this one is a bit harder, but when you have a song memorized, it frees you up to enjoy playing it and engage with others around you, rather than having your head buried in a music stand just trying to get the chords down.

Move Your Feet – Movement inspires movement. You know how they say laughing is contagious? Well, so is movement. Just moving your feet slightly back and forth will make you look much more comfortable on stage and, in turn, make others feel more comfortable.

Watch Videos of Others Leading – YouTube is a great resource, so watch videos of the people who wrote the song leading the song. Get an idea for what they were feeling when they wrote it by the way they lead it.

Watch Yourself Leading – Many times, something that feels like a mile really only looks like an inch. So watch recordings of yourself to get an idea of if the way you felt that Sunday was actually how you looked.

In conclusion, 

be genuine. Don't force yourself to be inauthentic or something you are not, but dig into who you are and present an honest representation of yourself that will inspire others to worship. When we are on stage, we are performing. But we are performing for the King. So where is your heart at? God loves when we perform to Him. Our performance is worship to Him, and our performance will inspire others to worship Him.

For more on this topic watch this video