Insights and Inspiration
Jonathan Azzarello's Blog
The heart and the goal of this blog is to inspire leaders to remain in the love of God before anything else, and that it would reach into our homes, jobs, and our churches for the glory of God.
Recent Posts
Defining Excellence in Worship Ministry
What does excellence really mean in worship ministry? It’s not about being perfect—it’s about offering God our best in response to who He is and what He’s done. In this post, I unpack five core pillars that define excellence in our team: spiritual depth, relational unity, musical skill, visual intentionality, and missional impact. This isn’t about performance—it’s about presence, purpose, and pointing people to Jesus.
The Prophetic Role of a Worship Leader
It’s easy to get caught in the details of memorizing lyrics and chord progressions that we miss something much more special. As worship leaders, every time we pick up a guitar, step up to the microphone, or sit down at the piano, we’re doing much more than just playing music. We’re stepping into a role that’s deeply woven into the fabric of our faith—a role that’s prophetic and pivotal in creating an atmosphere where God’s presence can be felt.
The Best Gift a Worship Leader Can Give the Church
As worship leaders, we often carry the weight of Sunday mornings on our shoulders. We invest time planning the setlist, rehearsing with the band, and making sure transitions are smooth and the production is flawless. And while excellence matters, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the best gift we can give our church is a perfectly executed worship set. But the truth is, the most valuable gift you can give your church isn’t your talent, your leadership, or your creativity—it’s your deep, sincere walk with God.
Why Excellence Matters in Worship Ministry
Excellence in worship ministry is about so much more than sounding good or looking polished. At its core, excellence is a heart posture—it’s about bringing our very best to God, honoring the church, and creating an environment where people can freely connect with Him. It’s not perfection we’re chasing; it’s a genuine, loving response to who God is and what He’s done for us.
How To Avoid Burnout as a Worship Leader
How to avoid burnout as a worship leader.
5 Considerations for Building a Worship Set
Planning a worship set is one of the most important things a worship leader does every week. Songs are sermons that people will remember for years and years. (See "What happens when people sing") And, worship leaders, we are putting the words into the mouths and...
6 Important Tools for Worship Leaders
A craftsman must keep his tools sharp. No matter what your trade or calling is, if you want to do it well, you need to have the proper tools. There is nothing more frustrating or inefficient than trying to do something without the proper tools. And leading worship is...
What to Do When You Need More Musicians
As a worship leader, you’ve probably faced the challenge of not having enough musicians to support your ministry. You’ve already asked your pastor to announce the need for musicians from the stage, but still nothing. So, what do you do next? While there are short-term...
5 Steps to Creating a Healthy Worship Team Culture
Would you say that your worship team has a healthy culture? Does the team arrive early? Do they show up prepared? Does your team encourage each other and serve one another? What are they passionate about? What makes them tick? How do they react when there's a setlist...
How To Say ‘No’ After Auditions
Holding auditions for worship teams has become a standard practice for many churches including mine. And telling someone "no" is a necessary part of being a great worship leader. Unfortunately, not everyone who tries out for the team will make it. Sometimes people...
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