by Don Chapman

Often, as worship leaders, we get so wrapped up in the minutiae of the job – charts, schedules, planning, tech and everything else – we lose sight of the big picture.

When I was working at a megachurch, involved in the weekly worship grind, I once had a rare Sunday off where I got to sit in the congregation.

What a different perspective! From the congregation I could see the whole package – graphics, video, lighting, sound, choir, worship leader and band. Each group had been working to improve over the past two years and I saw the results of their labor – a wonderful worship time that was more than a performance. God showed up and you could really feel the congregation being pulled into the spirit of praise.

The Power of Perspective

This is important. Without evaluation, no one or no organization can improve. If possible, take a Sunday off and attend your church like anyone else would. You’ll gain a healthy sense of accomplishment for what’s going right and you’ll be able to identify what needs work.
When you’re on stage leading, you’re focused on –

• Hitting the right notes
• Remembering lyrics
• Cueing band transitions
• Watching for technical issues
• Reading the room’s energy

But sitting in the pews? That’s when you truly experience what your congregation experiences every single week.

What You’ll Discover from the Pews

From the congregation’s vantage point, you might notice things that never crossed your mind:

Sound Issues: Is the bass overwhelming in certain sections? Can people actually hear the vocals clearly? That perfect monitor mix on stage might translate to muddy sound in the back rows.

Visual Distractions: Are the lyrics appearing on screen too late? Is the stage lighting creating harsh shadows on faces? Maybe that cool lighting effect you love is actually making it hard for people to read their Bibles.

Flow Problems: Those 10-second pauses between songs while the band flips chord charts? They feel like eternity to the congregation. The awkward key changes that seemed minor in rehearsal might be jarring worship momentum killers.

Participation Barriers: Are the songs pitched too high for average voices? Is the volume so loud that people can’t hear themselves sing? These factors directly impact congregational engagement.

Making It Happen

If you feel you can’t be off one Sunday without things falling apart, that’s actually a red flag worth examining. A healthy worship ministry should function smoothly in your absence. Consider these alternatives:

• Have a trusted member of your team sit in the congregation and give you a detailed report of their impressions
• Rotate Sundays with other worship leaders if you have them
• Watch your service’s livestream from home (though this doesn’t capture the full in-person experience)
• Attend a different service time at your church if you have multiple services

Bottom Line

Stepping off the platform and into the pews isn’t just about quality control – it’s about servant leadership. How can we truly serve our congregations if we don’t understand their experience?

This simple practice of occasionally taking a seat can revolutionize your worship leading. You’ll return to the platform with fresh eyes, renewed empathy, and practical insights that no amount of stage experience can provide.

Your congregation will thank you. Even if they never know you did it!