Jeff Deyo, North Central faculty member and former lead singer of Sonicflood, has years of experience in leading worship, songwriting, music production, and serving as a worship arts professor.
Deyo works with students to train and equip them to be professionals in their fields through our Worship Live traveling worship teams, leading regularly in chapel, and with hands-on experience in the classroom as part of our worship leading degree program. He writes about some of his revelations and studies in his latest published book, Awakening Pure Worship.
We were able to steal a bit of Deyo’s time and ask him all about his philosophies of worship leading and his recently published book.
Philosophies of worship leading with Jeff Deyo
Songs to God vs. songs about God
As early as middle school, Deyo described coming to an understanding of the difference between worship songs that are sung directly to God, and worship songs that are sung about God. He recalled discovering “to-God” songs.
“This was new for me… I realized these are songs to God. I can sing directly to Him and tell Him how awesome He is or say ‘thank you for what you’ve done. That really changed my life.” Deyo went on to explain that this was the start of his understanding of vertical versus horizontal worship.
Jeff explains that in the church he grew up in as a kid, there were song directors rather than worship leaders every Sunday that would get up on stage (not musically trained) and instruct the congregation to turn to a specific page in a hymnal. He says that this is what he defines as horizontal worship-all theologically based but lacking a relational connection with God. It wasn’t until later in life that he realized he could have a vertical, more personal musical experience with God, either while singing hymns or while singing more modern songs.
“At the end of the day, worship is about fellowship with God,” he concluded.
Work yourself out of your worship leader job
Deyo teaches all of his students to “work themselves out of a job.” As a worship leader, Deyo believes that you are supposed to equip the congregation to “take the ball and run” and empower people in their worship. Oftentimes he does this through encouraging the congregation to sing their own song to God rather than singing along with the worship leader.
If you’re interested in learning more about what it takes to become a worship leader, check out these helpful articles:
- What does a worship leader do?
- How to earn your degree and succeed in worship leading
- 7 reasons to get worship leader training
- What to do with a worship leading degree
- How to become a worship leader
Come to church worship-ready
In his book, Awakening Pure Worship, Jeff speaks about how oftentimes we will see church and worship as a place to get filled up to make it through the week. However, he encourages his congregation and students to come to church already filled up and ready to pour out worship to God. He says we can do this by:
- Living with the end in mind. When we get to the end of our lives, what is it that we want to remember or be known for? What do we want to live for? We should be living to worship God!
- Learn to walk in peace throughout the week. Spending time with the Prince of Peace every day will help prepare us for Sunday morning church and come ready to worship!
Platform driven worship vs. multitude driven worship
Deyo was inspired by Bob Sorge, a traveling minister, with the idea of platform driven worship versus multitude driven worship. In an American society that is focused so much on the platform or the people on the platform, how do we switch our mindsets to be focused on the multitude?
Deyo describes this idea of multitude driven worship as kingdom worship. Rather than focusing on the people on the platform, the job of a worship leader is to encourage the multitude to lead the worship service. This means that the congregation is passionately engaged in singing and praising God. They’re not dependent on the worship leader for momentum.
Oftentimes Deyo does this through encouraging the congregation to sing their own song to God rather than only singing along with the worship leader. He explains that this strategy helps people to grow into true worshipers who can worship God with or without the aid of a worship leader.
This puts the power of the relational worship experience in the individual’s/multitude’s hands and encourages each person in the community to step boldly into the presence of God, not relying solely on the passion of the worship leader, but engaging intentionally with the beauty of their Creator!
The loaves and the fish
Deyo teaches his students to submit their gifts and talents to the supernatural work of Christ by cultivating a better understanding the story of the boy with the five loaves and two fish found in John 6:1-14. As in the parable, Jesus takes our seemingly insignificant offerings and expands them into something bigger for His Kingdom.
This helps the worship leader refrain from ministering out of pride or insecurity by renewing their perspective. He explains that when we put the little we have into Jesus’ hands, He will take it, multiply it, and “feed” the multitudes. In this way, our talents become a tool to serve the church and to bring glorification to Christ.
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