Worship Teams

Having Humility as a Worship Leader w/ Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith sat down with Loop Community Founder Matt McCoy to talk about how worship music has changed, how to be humble as a worship leader and more!

How worship has changed

Matt: “How have you seen worship music change over the years? Is there anything you think that we should go back to?”

Michael: “I think things have gotten better, but there’s issues too. I have concerns about the performance aspect of worship, and I get that and I do think there’s a healthy balance for it. But we need to be careful. I also think we need more vertical songs. We need more songs declaring who He is. There’s a lack of that, but when I say these things, I’m pointing back towards me because I can always do better.”

Having humility as a worship leader

Matt: “What would you tell a young worship leader that is seeking advice?”

Michael: “If I could go back and tell myself something it would be that it’s not about you. God is looking for people who are humble. If you’re not humble, you’re destined to fall. Every time I lead worship or do a concert, I say ‘God let my posture be beautiful. Let me be clothed in humility and if there’s any ‘rockstar’ thing coming at me, let me diffuse it.’ You’re either up there being a rockstar, or you’re deflecting the glory to God. Lead with great humility.

A worship leader’s main objective is to change the atmosphere where God can meet people. That’s your job. You usher in and sing these songs, the darkness flees, and it makes this pathway where people can really hear from God.”

Songwriting

Matt: “When you sit down to write a song, what’s your focus right now? Are you focusing on worship or more on CCM style music?”

Michael: “I’m not really sure where I’m at right now. I never know what I’m going to write. I’ve been intentional about certain projects, but every time I sit down to try to write something specific it’s a disaster for me. I never know what’s going to come out. I’ll have a pop thing over here, and then a cinematic thing that sounds like it’s in a movie, or I’ll be writing and it sounds like it would be good for worship. Sometimes some of the music and melodies I write I’m just playing for the King.”

Watch the full interview below! All of the resources you need to lead songs by Michael W. Smith are available on SongSelect and Loop Community.