Four Things to Do During the Week Before Leading Worship

Once the band is booked and set list is finalized, you might feel like you've done all your work to prepare for the weekend. You might have an hour set aside during the week to practice the songs, but if you want to lead an engaging, meaningful worship experience for your congregation you're going to have to do more.

The worship leaders' job is two fold; worship facilitator on stage, worship administrator behind the scenes. In order to be confident and effective as the worship facilitator on stage, you have to put in significant time and effort as the worship administrator behind the scenes. Here are four things I do during the week that help me be an effective worship facilitator for my congregation...

ONE :: print out the charts and take notes

Early in the week, I print out the charts and listen to each song - taking notes on dynamics, tricky transitions, timing and instrumentation. This step is the foundation to providing clear expectations for the band and vocalists. This step only takes 30 minutes, but gives me an opportunity to see the big picture and be able to communicate clearly before and at rehearsal. You may want to then sit down with your guitar or at a piano and go through everything to make any notes on changes you'd like to implement that will make the song different from the recording (i. e. ending the song after Chorus 2 at the 5 minute mark instead of going all Jesus Culture and doing the 13 minute version).

In this chart for "Like a Lion," I've marked up the song order on the right side and then written several "notes" throughout the song to help me communicate my expectations to the band members.

TWO :: email the band my expectations

Once I have taken the notes, it's time to transcribe them into paragraph form. I've determined the song order, transitions and dynamics as well as identified some parts of the songs that I think will be difficult. I then email those notes with instructions and warnings to the band so they can have some guidance in their personal preparation and practice.

Now here in the Planning Center email I sent to the entire band, you can see my notes for "Like a Lion" in paragraph form. I'll often use bullet points to help break things up by instrument as well, as I've done here.

THREE :: follow up and communication

Now that the band knows what I expect them to do in their preparation, I always try to bug them once or twice later in the week to make sure they are preparing. I'll text, email or call the band members (often depending on their track record of preparation) to make sure they remember to prepare and to give them an opportunity to ask questions to help them gain clarity on parts they're working on. Sometimes, a quick reminder can make the difference between someone showing up prepared and not prepared.

At the end of the day, it's my responsibility that the band members all be prepared. Sending them a text, email, Facebook message or whatever can take just a few seconds, but help remind someone to be working on the music.

FOUR :: prayer and spiritual prep

In order to lead the congregation on a spiritual journey through the worship set, the worship leader (and everyone on stage) must have had the experience on their own as well. I do this by reading through the lyrics and adopting some of the phrases as my personal prayers and then finding the biblical allusions within songs and reading through the passages that relate to them. Playing through the songs in my personal worship time also give me the opportunity to sense the "moments" I am about to lead the congregation through. There are highs and lows that being aware of will help me lead the congregation through them sensitively.

Solomon (Proverbs 4:23) and Jesus (Luke 6:45) taught us that whatever we put into our hearts and minds will be what flows out of our mouths. How valuable then can it be for us to digest the relevant scriptural truths that relate to the songs we lead?!?! Those passages and the hope contained in them will help us articulate the range of emotions from thankfulness to desperation within a worship experience.

Worship is an Overflow

For some time, I've believed that worship is an overflow. I'm convicted of this because of my experience - my relationship with God and my understanding of His work in my life. Some of my most meaningful moments of worship have directly correlated with what God has done in my heart. As a worship leader, my relationship with God and my understanding of His work in my life shape the worship experiences I create and lead. I make every effort to believe the words (and sing them with conviction) of the songs that I lead each weekend, but some of them are going to more clearly reveal an emotion I am feeling or a truth I am grasping.

I'm now believing something deeper and broader about that statement. There is nothing in my life that does not affect my worship. Everything; every thought I think, every song I listen to, every book I read, every image I see affects my heart and my mind and will eventually affect my worship. Jesus spoke to this idea...

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (1)

To be effective in my worship leading, I must be conscience of what affects me. I need to be intentional about filling my mind with things that honor God. Filling my mind with "good fruit" so that it naturally overflows from my heart.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (2)

Let our prayer be that God cleans us of unrighteousness as we surrender to Him and fill us with the love, hope and peace that we can only find in Jesus. And may His righteousness be the overflow of our hearts, allowing us to lead worship with contagious conviction because of the work He is performing within us.

___________________________________________
References
(1) - Luke 6:44-45
(2) - Philipians 4:8 

Hitting the "Reset" button on Song Selection

As worship leaders, it can be easy to get a head of your congregation. You're exposed to volumes of brand-new, quality worship material and can get caught up in the idea that they should know and experience the great truth and power of these songs as well. The problem with this is that we lose sight of our first calling... giving people an opportunity to worship and be changed by their God.

When I became the volunteer music director at my church in January of 2012 a few months after arriving, I noticed a big problem in song selection. In 2011, my church did over 200 unique worship songs. Think about that... In a 52 week period in which we did 6 songs per week, the repeat rate was just over 1.5. That means, the average song was only done once over the course of the year. How can we expect to build up the meaning and experience of these songs within the community when we don't even repeat them? The new songs weren't gaining enough traction to become meaningful and the older songs were the only thing that united the church; ultimately, making the new songs the scapegoat for disharmony and disjointedness. We decided that we needed to hit the reset button on our song selection and create a more intentional and effective song selection process.

With a new leadership team in place, we rallied around a brand new vision for song selection. We built a list of 45 songs that we felt were worth investing in in 2012 - songs that we wanted done at least 6 times in 2012. We drew from songs that had gained recent traction, mixed in a few classics that we saw value in and added brand new songs that we believed would be meaningful for years to come. We also made a provision that leaders could chose up to one well-known, older song not on the list (hymn, classic praise song) per set. No more one-and-done songs.

Here are the guidelines (straight from the email sent to the worship leaders) we built our list with...

• Relevant - 80% of our songs should be less than 10 years old. I'd like to see the other 20% be a mix of hymns and slightly older praise songs.

• Consistent - all of the songs should fit into a similar music style; Praise and Worship CCM. We're not doing grunge, gospel or Gaither. ;)

• Personal -  the songs should be in first person and provide an opportunity for the congregation to sing praises or surrender directly to God.

• Authenticity - the songs should include a variation of emotion that are inherent in the Christian experience and should speak to the human condition.

Each of the leaders created a list of about 30 songs that they felt met the criteria. I then compiled all of those lists into one document and found that we had about 70 that had been mentioned by two or more leaders on their list. That made narrowing them down easier. Since there was already some unity on those 70 songs, we got together in person and went through that list, eventually narrowing it down to about 45. It took humility, understanding and a lot of prayer, but we walked away with a list of songs and a purpose that united us as a team of leaders.

Since the list consisted of mostly new songs, we also took time to discuss how to effectively introduce new material and how to build up the congregations grasp of it. In the first couple of months, there were a handful of complaints that we were doing too many new songs, but it only took a couple months for those new songs to not only catch on, but become beloved. Since we made that change in our process, we have seen continued growth. 

Now that we are almost 9 months into this experiment, its exciting to look at the journey God had us on. Our congregation has grasped onto these songs and we have continued to move forward as a collective, congregation and worship team - singing these song in unity and for His Kingdom's glory.

When Worship Leading Isn't Work

The last few times that I've led worship at my home church, where I volunteer as the Worship Music Director, something has really struck me; worship leading no longer feels like work. In my time spent as a worship pastor (and still, when I travel with [engage] ministries leading worship with students from the University I work at) worship leading was draining, because it was work. I always felt responsible for "carrying" the volunteers on stage. I spent hours putting together resources to make learning the songs easy for the band and vocalists each week, then at our organized band rehearsal I would spend most of the time instructing the team, reviewing parts and correcting mistakes.


Things aren't the same with the musicians at my home church now. The band members I work with once or twice a month at my new home church all listen to, learn and know the songs before we meet for rehearsal. They have a desire to not only play a part and be in the band, but to give their best as an offering of worship.


I'm inspired by it. I'm privileged to work with such awesome people and I'm not going to forget this experience. It's also taught me some valuable lessons.


First of all, those type of volunteers do exist! There is no reason to settle for a decent musician that half-heartedly prepares. The worship leader does not have to carry the band. Your commitment does not have to fill in the gaps for everyone else's lack-thereof. Set the bar for your band by being upfront about your expectations and let them make the decision on whether or not their willing to commit to it.


Secondly, the impact for the church body and congregation is more powerful. When everyone on the team takes the role of "worship leader" seriously, the congregation notices it and is moved by it. When the band is engaged in the act of worship using their instrument, rather than just playing their instrument, the congregation can tell that their is genuine worship happening in the hearts of musicians and that they are not on stage for their own glory or recognition, but rather to give something back to God.


Finally, worship becomes more meaningful for you as the leader. When you know that the band and vocalists have your back and you don't have to be concious of the other parts while you attempt to effectively fill your own role, you are able to let go, be in the presence of God and experience the Holy Spirit in a much more powerful way. When your mind is occupied by the nuts and bolts of music, timing, chemistry, song structure, etc..., you are distracted from the very act of worship that you are trying to model for your congregation. Eliminate that distraction and experience the freedom it brings.


I realize that these lessons aren't something that is plug and play. But, I want to encourage you to not settle for a band that you have to drag along behind you. Set your bar high - excellence attracts excellence and the right pieces will come along as God sees fit.

Leading Worship... from the Third Row

This weekend, I'm not on the schedule to play guitar or sing at my home church, but I'm already looking forward to leading worship. I haven't practiced at all, but I'm feeling very prepared. I'm ready to give God my praises and influence the people around me to do the same.

I'll be sitting in the third row of the congregation this weekend - hands raised and heart engaged. My hope is that I can leverage my visibility as a regular worship leader on stage to be able to influence and lead the congregation even while being off stage.

When I'm on stage, I see other worship leaders off stage. They're the ones clapping, singing and giving God His due glory. I see their influence echo throughout their small section of influence in the congregation and sometimes even reach to the far edges of the auditorium. It's much easier to join in and be a little "undignified" in your worship, when there is someone next to you or in front of you leading the way.

Join me this weekend in leading worship, because God deserves it. Engage Him with your voices and hearts and be an influence for those around you to be like King David, worshiping God at the risk of being undignified.

It's been awhile...

I left my position at New Hope about 4 months ago and haven't blogged since while getting settled into my new home and community. My wife and I accepted jobs at Southern Adventist University, the institution we met at and the community we loved living in.

I'm still leading worship. In fact, it's still a part of my job. I lead a team of students that travels throughout the Southeast doing programming for youth events and worship gatherings. It's a way for SAU to get it's name out without all of the "sales-pitch" feel of conventional recruiting.

I've also just accepted a volunteer position at Hamilton Community Church - a church I interned at while I was a student here - as the music director. I am leading worship once a month and overseeing the other worship leaders at Hamilton.

It's been incredible to see how God leads. Last summer we felt anxious and had a feeling that God was going to do something in our lives, but had no idea what was in store. He has blessed us and allowed us to transition into jobs that make us each happier and we live in a community with many friends and family. We still don't pretend to understand the scope of ministry that God has for us here in Collegedale, TN, but we are sure that He is using us and we're moving forward.

I look forward to posting more worship insights in this new setting as God continues to teach me what it means to honor Him with my life, my abilities and my heart.

Farewell

Dearest New Hope Family and Friends,

This very week two years ago I began serving as the Pastor of Worship at New Hope. What an adventure the last two years has been! I have made so many friends and valuable personal connections as a part of this church family and I will never forget my wonderful experience here.

I appreciate the trust that you have placed in me in my time here. One of my very first assignments was to oversee a complete stage and audio system makeover – which must have taken a lot of trust! Furthermore, you’ve trusted me as I’ve led worship at New Hope, going alongside me to the throne of God week after week. It’s humbling to be a part of something so great. What greater experience is there than to be at the feet of the God of the universe, giving Him honor and praise?

As I leave, I do so with the certainty that New Hope knows how to worship. Within this community, the act of corporate worship flourishes. I know this because each week I have looked out into a congregation and seen engaged hearts and minds, passionate about God. The passion I see at New Hope is not inspired by a worship leader or worship pastor, but by a holy and righteous God alone.

Continue to look to Him for your inspiration and He will continue to be faithful. Continue to seek His kingdom and He will make you righteous. Continue to do justly and your worship will not be in vain. God sees you, New Hope and He has a vision to prosper you, not to harm you. His plans include a hope-filled future, so seek after Him and His plans with all your heart and He will faithfully lead.

With much love and appreciation,

Rick Anderson

*printed in the bulletin at New Hope Adventist Church on September 3, 2011.

Using Scripture in Worship

Using scripture in worship experiences is essential. Reading God's word creates a direct connection between our needs and His promise for provision and protection. It reminds us of His goodness and speaks deeper truths that calm fears. There are several different ways to integrate scripture into your worship experience, but if its not done well, clearly or intentionally it can disengage the congregation. Believe me! :)

The most important step you can take in including scripture in your worship sets is to build the worship experience around a selection of scripture. Using scripture that is relevant to a theme used in the service or that the spoken message will be based on will help create a solid foundation of biblical truth for your worship experience. My devotional life revolves around the curriculum that my church and pastor are using and this helps me be really genuine in leading worship; I actually go through the spiritual, scriptural things in my own life that I will then lead people through in worship.

When it comes to the actual worship service, there are several different ways you can integrate scripture. Here are a few ideas for you to experiment with in your setting.

• Using scripture to introduce a song. Obviously, many songs use words and phrases directly from a passage of scripture. Reading the setting and story of that passage can give greater meaning and depth to that phrase.
• Spoken or graphical scriptural during an instrumental. Sometimes instrumental sections of songs can seem disengaging for your congregation. One way to make room for those instrumentals while keeping the congregation engaged in worship is to have scripture on the screens or read by a vocalist. If reading the scripture aloud, it should not only match the theme of the song, but should be read with appropriate energy and emphasis for the music.
• Make scripture tangible. Giving your congregation scripture cards, wrist bands or other tangible items that represent or contain scripture can make its effect and relevance last well into the week and perhaps longer.
• Responsive reading or reading in unison. Taking a passage from the Psalms or looking through hymn and litany books can also provide some great, readable material that can act as a "Call to Worship" or serve as a catalyst for binding the congregation together around a common cause or idea found in scripture.
• Quote relevant scriptural promises throughout a song, even though it may not be directly in the lyric. Finding and memorizing short passages of scripture that you can claim within a song can add new depth to the song. Claim the promise of Jesus that He will "never leave, nor forsake you" before you start the bridge of "You Never Let Go."

You will find that different expressions of scripture will fit better into your worship gathering, so don't be discouraged if it doesn't go as planned. Scripture will add depth and value to your congregations worship experience. It's God's word for us. Truth, inspiration and light that makes the words of the songs we sing and prayers we pray come to life!

Adaptable Worship Experiences

Every church community has a unique make-up that makes it distinct. Everything from the local culture to the facility shape what worship looks like in your church. It's a good thing; embrace it! It's what brought together this body of worshipers and that unique identity will continue to inform and fuel the church in its mission.

In the quest to be relevant, sometimes we veer off course and chase the ideals that work best in another church, but are in fact, irrelevant in our church community. Don't get me wrong... I'm a big believer in doing what works and learning from churches that do things with excellence! BUT, those other models and resources should inform our worship experience rather than determine it.

Create worship music that is relevant and organic to your own congregation. You don't "need" an electric guitarist or drummer to have a worship experience. Use the best gifts that God has already given to your congregation. As their is growth, the holes you see will be filled by God's design and in His time.

Custom fit songs to your setting. I like to tell my team members that learning the song as it is "on the record" is the baseline. From that point, we have creative freedom to switch chords, alter the structure and create a version of that song that fits the moment, the congregation and the band best. Only once you know the song as its been written and performed (might I add with HOURS of creative and technical refining by EXPERTS) can you reconstruct it tastefully.

Don't be afraid of simplifying. I would dare say that it would be inappropriate to do the 7 minute version of "Mighty to Save" every time your team led it. That makes worship predictable and stale. Have a four minute version that is the standard and pull out the extended version when the worship environment calls for it.

Remind your team and congregation that worship is the meshing of many personal experiences into one corporate experience. It's not a concert; the band isn't there to perform to its devoted followers. It's not Spotify; you don't get to just pick all your favorites. This is worship... the mystical gathering of many believers uniting with one voice to sing to their God.


Make it fit. Make it unite. Make it give God the glory He deserves.

We're (NOT) All in this Together!

Curious guests walk into your church every week. Some are believers that are just curious about your church; they've heard about your pastor or the worship band or the children's ministry and want to try it on for size. The other group of curious guests is what I REALLY get excited about though; they're either apathetic or agnostic and have heard or seen something different about your church that has drawn them to walk through your doors.

Do you think about these guests when you create and lead worship experiences? How important is their experience to you? Let me tell you why they should be an important consideration in creating and leading your worship experiences.

It is my belief that the church has two callings. First, to grow and disciple believers in their lifelong relationship with Jesus. Second, to create disciples by introducing them to Jesus and inviting them into a relationship with Him. Both are really important jobs, but many of us are putting to much energy into the first calling and ignoring the second.

In His ministry on earth, Jesus made a big deal about the outsiders. He said that when we serve them, we are serving Him and in His last instruction to His followers, He said to go and tell them the good news. Reaching them is a big deal to Jesus - so we need to make it a big deal in our worship!

Believe it or not, in our corporate worship gatherings we have an opportunity to reach both groups. Here's how you can move in that direction...

• Use artistic expressions well. I've said it before and I'll say it again... if you can't do it well, you can't be credible. Whether its graphics, music or dance... it has to be inspiring, even to skeptics!
• Cast the vision for your team. They need to understand that you're not just trying to lead a congregation of believers to the throne of God, you're also trying to lead people into His grace for the first time. That means as we create and lead people through worship experiences, we allow them to engage at their own comfort level. We can't call them out, force anything out of them or expect any particular response.
• Lead by example. Focus on your personal worship experience as you lead worship. Be genuinely engaged in worship as a conversation between you and God. As you model worship for the attendees, they will be more willing to engage.
• Ask for a heart for non-believers. Pray that God inspires you with a heart for those Jesus-curious guests that come to your church. As God inspires you with a burden for outsiders, you'll be better equipped to serve them in worship. 

As you dig into this topic, I would also recommend checking out "Worship Evangelism" by Sally Morganthaller.

Reviving Liturgy in the Relevant Church :: All Ages, One Message

With our crazy lives and schedules, family worship can be hard enough to pull of, never mind finding relevant meaningful resources. This is the reality for our congregations. Unfortunately, it might be something that doesn't happen in many homes, simply because they can't "find the time."

Why not make it easy on them?

What if "Average Joe" in your congregation was not only being fed spiritually at church, but you were also giving him the resources to feed his family and even giving him a head start?

You can do this by integrating all ages on one liturgical track. There are resources for every age level out there on the various versions of the liturgical year. If you find one that fits your context well, you should be able to make it work for all of your small groups, children's classes and "Kid's Church."

This way, the family sits down to lunch after church and they have something they can actually discuss! Since all 2.5 kids have experienced and learned about a bible theme and story in their different classes and worship gatherings, they all have something unique to share on the topic as well commonality in experience of learning on the topic.

The church has a more united and clear vision; the family, likewise has a united experience and clarity on God's plan for them as they apply what they're learning in their walk with Him.

It gets REALLY good when you take this a step further. Not only does this give great post-church conversation, but it provides a foundation for 24/7 worship. Curriculum also usually include material for daily use and devotion. From the Book of Common Prayer for the common texts to the daily devotionals that are built in to Group or Lifeway's liturgical calendar - there are resources to continue the learning and growing for the family between weekend worship gatherings. You can even share some of these resources on a daily basis through social media to help bring devotional thoughts and bible texts straight to the parishioner.

Reviving Liturgy in the Relevant Church :: Enriched Worship Experiences

Establishing a liturgical calendar not only ensures that you cover a diverse amount of material, it will also help establish sermon series' and worship themes far in advance. That will give whatever team or individual is charged with planning your worship services a big head start and a chance for true success.

Believers and seekers alike are seeking a narrative within the worship experience. If the worship leader is making a point about God's sovereignty throughout the songs, there is a video about God's love and the sermon is about forgiving others, then your congregation walks away with perhaps a nice experience, but no narrative that helped them grow and grasp the ONE main point that was essential that day. When the elements have no deep correlation, they will not lead the congregation along a worship journey throughout the service and into a deeper understanding of God's character. It remains shallow and discombobulated.

Conversely, if a worship experience is built like a narrative, the congregation goes on a spiritual, emotional and logical journey throughout the service. One element builds on the previous. There are highs and lows that help tell the story and ultimately bring restoration, hope and redemption. That is the nature of our own condition and God's plan for us - so, naturally it works.

Let me share a real, relevant example of this. My church (New Hope Adventist Church) uses the Faithweaver curriculum by the distributer Group. This weekend's worship theme is our calling to worship God in His holiness. The story that will be used for the sermon is the Prophet Isaiah's calling and his response to God's holiness. With this knowledge, my worship planning committee helped me craft this weekend's service to prepare people's hearts for this calling that would be presented in the message with songs like "Not to Us" by Chris Tomlin, "Surrender" by Lincoln Brewster and "You Are Holy" by Elevation Worship. We picked a video of a young woman's testimony of how she surrendered her personal dreams and agenda to be an influence in the lives of her young students that live in poverty - what she calls her "humble response to God's holiness." The congregational prayer will immediately follow that and give people a chance to submit to God's plan.

All of these things are intentionally built to drive home that central point, which will culminate in the message. We go through highs and lows and drive home the point using various avenues, but it all leads people to the same place - to respond to God's holiness - our main point.

All of this intentionality begins with a liturgical calendar. It will help you develop important seasonal themes and even work in the felt needs of your congregation as you cover a diverse series of topics and narratives from the Bible.

There are more resources for planning worship around themes and the liturgical year than you could ever make use of. It gives you a depth of creativity to cull from even as you implement and develop the creativity of your own team.

Reviving Liturgy in the Relevant Church :: An Introduction

In many ways, the contemporary worship movement has been a reaction to "old church" function and form. For good reason, pioneers have sought to make worship personal and relevant, but it hasn't come without any cost. One thing that I believe we've lost out on is comprehensive liturgy. Many traditional churches follow the three year cycle of Common Texts that assist in creating seasons for the church as well as covering stories and theology from varied sections of the Bible, to keep the material covered in worship diverse and varied. Very few contemporary churches that I know of stick to the three year cycle.

As "application" has taken a more prominent role in modern preaching, we instead build sermon series' around felt-needs of the congregation and community. This does have many benefits, but it can allow a church to stick to some of its favorite themes in the Bible rather than push the church leaders to continue learning and searching for deeper truths and a more dynamic understanding of who God is.

Churches that have a defined liturgical calendar have a great opportunity to grow the spirituality and biblical knowledge of their congregation. Beyond the benefits of a varied biblical learning experience, it creates an environment of integrated learning for every age of attendee, lays a strong foundation for other worship elements and gives parishioners material for personal devotions.

Learning about liturgy, the Consultation on Common Texts and the Book of Common Prayer has been an exciting experience for me - I have a lot to learn yet on the topic though. I invite you to engage the ideas I present and contribute some thoughts from your own experience in your church by commenting below. I'll attach links and commentary to help you if (like me) you did not have the privilege of experiencing this type of liturgy first-hand in the church.

Cornerstone Song - "Healing is in Your Hands"

It is good to serve a good God. Our God has a deep affection for us. It is so much deeper than the superficial love that this world has taught us - it’s so much greater and overwhelming than that love.

It’s easy to forget that. It’s easy to get caught up in the situations in this life that make us think for a moment that God isn’t in control or good to us. But He’s proven his love through the ultimate act of forgiveness and sacrifice by giving us His Son. Just listen to what the apostle Paul says to the church in Ephesus...

“... so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Our eternal healing and salvation lies in the hands that have been peirced for our forgiveness. Stand and worship Him for His grace and mercy and love!

Cornerstone Song - "Healer"

Have you ever asked God to heal you? Is there some physical or emotional ailment that has held you back in some way or given you discomfort?

I’ve got great news. The same God that is the Creator, is also the Restorer. One day He will make all things new; restored to the image of His perfect creation!

Until that day, we cling to the promise of eternal healing. On this world, we may or may not find the healing that we are seeking - but God has a greater plan than we can understand. For the glory of His Kingdom, some may be healed. But, to keep our thirst for Him and His Kingdom others may not be healed on this earth.

The apostle Paul experienced this. He suffered from something he referred to as a “thorn in his side” and even though he asked God to take it away from Him, he went through life struggling against it. It made Him stronger though. It kept Him close to God’s will and gave him a dependence on God for his strength.

We worship God today because we know He is the great, eternal Healer. His power is unfathomable and we hold hope for the day He restores us! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Cornerstone Song - "God of Wonders"

I once took a spiritual disciplines test that gauges which avenues best connect you with God. In taking it, I discovered that one of my strongest spiritual connections was found to be through nature. It makes sense though; all of my life I’ve had a longing to be in awe of God in nature.

There’s something about the natural world in and of itself that inspires the soul and tells me that something greater exists. There’s a certain majesty in the mystery of nature.

Who made the stone walls of mountains stand high over the plains? How did water get pushed aside for land masses to emerge? Who made the human heart to pump just enough blood into our bodies to sustain life?

We believe in a creative, loving God that made this world and all that is within in it for our pleasure and His glory. He is an awesome, holy God and we stand before Him today, humbled by His greatness to proclaim that we are compelled by the mystery of His wonders to call on His name.

*Written for the bulletin for May 28, 2011 at New Hope Adventist Church 

Cornerstone Song - "Surrender"

When you find yourself spiritually face-to-face with the sovereign God of the universe, there is but one response: surrender. This is what happened when Job came to God in the midst of the chaos that the devil brought about in his life.

As Job begins to question God’s favor and goodness, God speaks to Him through a storm (Job 38-40). What God says is impressive, to say the least. Then Job gets the chance to respond to what God says and he is left speechless (Job 40:4) and humbled. He finally remembers that God is the merciful, loving Creator, that will deliver and restore us in His time.

As the story ends, Job surrenders to God. He acknowledges that in his finite understanding of existence he cannot understand the breadth and meaning of God’s purposes and acts. He chooses to believe in and serve God despite his circumstance.

That’s what it means to surrender to God. Take a leap of faith and choose to allow Him to have His way as you surrender it all to Him!

*Written for the bulletin for May 21, 2011 at New Hope Adventist Church

Everyone is a Worship Leader

Too often worship leading has been limited to the central figure on stage that plays piano or acoustic guitar and sings the melody most of the time, but what really leads the congregation to worship? Is it the experience of that one central person? What role do the others on stage play? Are the other vocalists and band members just there to provide the background music for the worship leader?

I believe that everyone on stage is a worship leader. It doesn't matter if you're on the electric guitar or singing a harmony part - if you are on the stage, you are leading the worship experience.

When someone walks into the auditorium or sanctuary and engages into the worship, they may or may not identify with the worship leader that is singing the melody. They may enjoy clapping as much as singing, so they're watching the drummer. Or they may be an alto that can't hit those melody notes from the Chris Tomlin song, but they can follow the alto vocalist or pick out the part based on what the pianist is playing.

So what do I do? Here are some simple and applicable suggestions for everyone on stage.

1. Be intentional about your worship. Know the songs and your role in them so well that you don't depend on a band chart or lyrics on the screen. Those things are great help and are fine, but avoid staring at them. Instead, be free of them!

2. Engage the congregation. I love a suggestion worship pastor and author Tom Krauter makes in one of his books. Identify one person in each quadrant of the church and make eye contact with them at least twice per song. This way, people throughout the congregation feel acknowledged and included.

3. Lead authentically. Authenticity means that you have to put in some extra preparation - you've got to get your heart and mind right with God. You have to adopt these songs as your prayers and make them your own. Apply the concepts, phrases and yearnings that come through in the music to your own life and walk with God - and you're set for a transformational experience yourself!

4. Sing, even if you don't have a mic or aren't supposed to be on-mic. One of the biggest things I ask of my worship vocalists that I work with is to sing off-mic. It shouldn't be limited to vocalists though - the entire stage should be engaged in the worship experience that they are leading and the most basic way to do that is to sing the words. Have you ever seen a drummer or bass player sing their heart out? It's moving. And think about it... we're asking the congregation to sing, why wouldn't we sing? We are very much a part of the church and congregation - we just happen to have microphones and instruments. We're all there for the same purpose; to lift up the name of Jesus, offer our hearts to God and our lives to the Holy Spirit.

The last thing to note on this topic is the heavy responsibility of spiritual leadership that lies within each person that takes up the call to be a worship musician. It's an incredible privilege to lead someone to the throne of the God of the universe to worship Him! Take it seriously. Take God seriously and remember that you are just a small part of the greater thing He is doing.

Worship Cornerstone - Palm Weekend

When Jesus entered Jerusalem in the days leading up to His death, something interesting happened. The crowd celebrated His entrance into Jerusalem as their new earthly king to rule over Jerusalem and the Jewish nations. Jesus had explained to His followers for three years that His kingdom was greater than one city, nation or the earth could even hold, but as an everlasting kingdom that knows no boundaries - and they still didn’t get it!

They wanted Jesus to be something that was so limited and focused on their own selfish needs. In their short sightedness, they could not see past their own agenda to accept and follow Jesus for who He truly was.

As we celebrate the triumphal entry of Christ today, sing to the God who knows no bounds or limits! Ask Him to be the King of your heart and to have His way in your heart and mind. Give it all to the God who knows the beginning and end, believing and understanding that His infinite knowledge and power will protect and guide us.

*Written for the bulletin for April 16, 2011 at New Hope Adventist Church

Cornerstone Song - "Stronger"

As I spoke with a friend this week, she expressed discouragement in light of recent battles in her own life and in the lives of those she loves. I resonated with her discouragement - feeling the weight of sin on my shoulders and wrapping my mind around the ugly existence of this world. As she said these words, I felt my own heart sink to where hers was... “it just feels like we can’t get ahead of the enemy.”

Then, I began practicing the songs for this weekend and God reminded me of one simple truth; He is stronger. We do not need to live weary lives afraid of the battles that we’re in, nor intimidated by the battles that are coming. Our God is almighty and has already won. Jesus has given us what no man could. He has provided a perfect sacrifice, which stands in our defense to the great and just God of the universe. He is the Lord of All!

As you face battles, remember that the war is won. Claim the promise found in Psalm 140:7, “Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.”

*Written for the bulletin for April 9, 2011 at New Hope Adventist Church