As far as the Old Testament is concerned, I'd bet that David and Solomon were probably worship leaders - along with other writers of the Psalms. Also Moses and Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, etc. They weren't people who stood on a stage and strummed an acoustic guitar, but they were definitely people who led the Israelite's in worship to Yahweh. In the New Testament it's less clear, but after the last supper the Bible records the singing of a hymn (Matt. 26:30, cf Mark 14:26) which I would assume was led by someone - even if it was just say "let's sing [insert hymn name here]". I think it would be safe to assume that it Jesus who led them... Moreover, since Christianity spread outwards from the synagogues, the corporate worship of the early church more than likely took on the form of synagogue worship which was not that far removed from our current expression of church.

Double post.

I agree with all you guys, but for the sake of the argument, I'll clarify what Franck Viola states: he is saying that we have one single, designated person leading the congregation. Again, one person designated to preach. He doesn't see that in the New Testament, where the concept of "service" isn't so present as the concept of "meeting", which basically is a way of boiling church down to it's simplest form, demystifying it of all of its traditional ways of doing things: we don't "do a service", we just meet together as Christians to be together, and do what comes naturally when the people of God gather: some people might have a word to share, a testimony to bring, a song to sing congregationally. It isn't good enough to say that the modern worship leader fulfills that role if he is listening to the Holy Spirit. The point is, according to Viola, that we have given this power to the one single person, leaving the rest of the church as "a flock lead by a human shepherd" at best, and a bunch of spectators at worst. This does indeed seem to be what the early church did, and how it worked. So that's great, and we should acknowledge that, and pick out the things which are still helpful for us today in that way of doing things. But the New Testament never gives imperatives for our form of worship, quite the opposite. I would contend that if Paul were here today, or better still, if Jesus were here today, he would have things to say about our way of conducting worship, inasmuch as it affects our humility. However, the form of it rests on the principle of grace: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." Paul here is talking about the food regulations, but it applies also to the worship regulations. We have total freedom, with one recommendation: that we do all things in a way that seeks the good of others. So in a culture, as Marc Proctor pointed out, which knows and understands the "codes" of concerts, it is normal that Christianity redeems the concert culture for Christ, filling it with the power of the Holy Spirit, the humility of Christ and the glory of the Father. If there is one person that is in danger due to the contemporary form of worship leading, it is the worship leader, as our practices put us very quickly in a position where it is easy to nurture pride, and difficult to develop a humble heart and a contrite spirit. So let's beware of the plans of the enemy towards our worship leaders, and give them adequate support and accountability, and keep on redeeming our culture for Christ.

In addition to Matt's post, I think the other thing to consider is the new testament directives towards orderly worship. Insofar as there is some freedom to do these things, they are done in an orderly fashion, and a good number of the evangelical and charismatic churches have space for these things... but it's an assigned space, so it doesn't go too far off the rails.

Of the other hints the NT gives about structure and leadership in the early church, there are some which stand out.

Firstly, Peter was put in charge of things by Jesus. The appointment of a leader by the messiah is a fairly decent precedent to follow when it comes to 'doing church'. Additionally, the NT records the leaders Apollos and Cephas etc. indicating some sort of structure in the church.

In the old testament, skilled musicians were appointed to this place of leading the worship.

One final question to ask - bearing in mind the direction the bible gives on orderly worship - is that is it necessary to have the entire church involved in "leading" worship? Is it not entirely possible that the Lord could direct one person in order for them to help direct a congregation? After all, how likely - pragmatically speaking - is it that the whole congregation will all be led by the Spirit to such an extent as leads to orderly worship which is still allowing everyone to 'lead'?