A Worshipful Response

I have had the honor of leading worship professionally for 15 years. That number amazes me. In many ways I can’t believe that I’m old enough to have done anything for 15 years. But, that’s the truth. Over those years God has taught me many things and I look forward to all that He has to teach me over the next 15 and beyond.

Something that amazes me is the variety of responses I see in worship services. As we have traveled from congregation to congregation over the last 7 years, we have seen a tremendous variety. We have seen people jump up and run around the sanctuary. We’ve seen people sit stone-faced in complete silence. We have also seen lots of congregations in the middle of these examples.

This past week, I was starting our service and after greeting our people, I asked this question, “Have you come ready to celebrate the Lord today?” Out of a few hundred people, maybe 10 gave any kind of response. Most just kept silent or busy, preoccupied with whatever had their attention at that moment. As I watched this happen, I began to laugh inside myself, so I followed with this question, “How many of you are ready for a big Colts win tonight?” Nearly every single person in our sanctuary began to clap and cheer.

Interesting response, huh? This is in no way meant as an indictment on our congregation. You could substitute the name of a local sports team and ask that question in any city in America and probably get a similar response. What is it that makes us so inhibited in worship? Why do we see the opposite response from people who are bowing at the altar of sports?

Are there times when silence is appropriate in worship? Absolutely. There are those moments when we come to a place of worship and a realization of God’s awesome power and our feeble words just can’t do it justice. It is completely natural to sit in silence, basking in the presence of God during those times.

I think we are on thin theological ice when that is our only response.

Scripture is full of exhortations on worship. Take some time and read through Psalms and you will find all kinds of encouraging instruction on the subject of worship. Here are a few:

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV)

I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me…..Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, NIV)

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1, NIV)

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. (Psalm 47:1, NIV)

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. (Psalm 30:11-12, NIV)

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. (Psalm, 149:3, NIV)

Those are just a few and I haven’t even scratched the surface in terms of what the Bible has to say about worship. Are there churches that take expression to an extreme? Absolutely. You can see some crazy stuff on the expressive side that isn’t in the Bible either. 

Here’s my issue. Many people look at the crazy stuff on the expressive side and end up labeling all expression as “not for them.” You might hear people say, “That’s just not my way.” I also hear this one quite a bit, “I worship quietly and to myself.”

Really? Quietly and to yourself? The God of the universe has saved your soul and you worship quietly and to yourself? Should there not be some sign of life when we worship? Some evidence of thanksgiving?

As you can tell by the length of this post, this is something I am very passionate about. I want to leave you with a quote from a friend of mine. He has dedicated his life to the subject of worship. The first time I heard him say this, I was floored:

There are times when silence is irreverent. (Randy Vader)

Stop. Read that again. Take a couple of moments to think about it. More importantly, think about that as you enter your church for worship this weekend.

On The Third Day

As a worship leader many songs come across my desk. Most fall into that bottomless category of “Man, I just don’t get that!” Occasionally I listen to a song that absolutely captures my heart and that happened about a year ago with the song, “On The Third Day” by Matt Maher. 

This song takes an amazing lyric and tells uses word pictures of nature to tell the story of our need to die to ourselves in the act of ultimate worship unto the Lord. There is a line in the song that says, “For everything must die to rise again.”

The song really speaks to the condition of our hearts and our need to respond to God as HE offers us new life. I need to warn you that there is a good chance that you won’t get it after just 1 listen. I encourage you to spend some time listening and working to visualize the scenes that are described by the lyrics of the song.

Creation brings an offering as autumn leaves turn to gold. The trees bow down in highest praise now made bare before Your throne. The western sky an amber blaze, at the end of the day for everything must die to rise again.

The winters chill a bitter cold as sin and shame leave us to fall. The clouds now full of newborn snow, for grace to come and save us all. Within the darkest night of man was found Your saving hand, for everything must die to rise again.

On the third day behold the King, on the third day death has no sting, on the third day, we’re forgiven and reconciled.

The earth it groans in labor pains as flowers stretch to heaven above. Your creatures sing the prophet’s song to be a gift of selfless love. The sun is rising in the east and Your Spirit is unleashed for everything must die to rise again.

On the third day behold the King, on the third day death has no sting, on the third day, we’re forgiven and reconciled.

And so we wait in joyous hope for You to come and take us home. And so we join beneath the cross in suffering from whence we go. The greatest act of sovereign grace in the universe displayed, for everything must die to rise again.

On the third day behold the King, on the third day death has no sting, on the third day, we’re forgiven and reconciled. On the third day the saints rejoice on the third day we lift our voice on the third day we’re united and glorified.

This song is really a poem set to music. It’s an amazing expression of our desperate need for God and the love and grace that only HE can offer as we experience true life in Him!

Here’s a video of Matt explaining the meaning behind the song and him actually playing the song. It has some instructional stuff at the end but you can get a feel for the song with his explanation before that. Enjoy.

“Mighty To Save”

Every now and then a worship songs comes along that the Lord uses in a very unusual way. It’s impossible to predict it. After leading worship for more than 20 years all I can say is, you will know it when it happens!

One of those songs that has just captured my heart recently is “Mighty To Save.” Pastor Troy gave me a copy of this song more than a year ago. As I listened the song just grew and grew on me.

On June 8 we introduced this song to our congregation. All I can say is WOW! The reaction was really more of a lightning bolt of a worship experience! It was amazing. Read these amazing lyrics….

“Everyone needs compassion, love that’s never failing, let mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Saviour, the hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save. Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures. Fill my life again. I give my life to follow everything I believe in. Now I surrender.

Saviour, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save. Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine Your light and let the whole world see. We’re singing for the glory of the risen King!

Those amazing lyrics combined with the power of the music make for an amazing combination!

Here is the audio of us doing “Mighty To Save” on June 8 with our team at FCN. Enjoy!

Preparation

In worship ministry or any facet of music for that matter, preparation is HUGE. As a musician I am an artist and I always want to be at my best. In the context of worship the issue of preparation is taken to new levels all together.

As worship leaders we have to be prepared. This includes every single member of the team. I really am working on this with my team and giving them every resource that is available to me so that they can be prepared every time we step in front of the congregation. Of course, me giving them those resources and them using the resources are 2 completely different things. Some on our team spend days and weeks preparing for Sunday….others spend no time at all. I wish I could find the magic potion that would communicate how deeply important this is on a spiritual level, let alone a musical level.

The Bible gives us many examples of this from David tending sheep in the fields while God prepared his heart to Esther who spent an entire year of preparation to simply be in the presence of the king. 

That speaks volumes to me about how we should prepare for worship….especially those of us who lead others in worship. We pray for extraordinary things to take place but would we be ready?

It all starts with preparation.