Music in the Church at Christmas.

Christmas time is one of the most exciting seasons for a musician.  There are all kinds of opportunities to play, sing, be creative, and just enjoy music.  I tend to be one of "those people" who start listening to Christmas music in July or August while sweating in the 100 degree heat.  I love Christmas music.  

My favorite things to listen to are new versions or arrangements of traditional carols or songs.  I love the classics, don't get me wrong, but I love to explore this time of year and see what other artists, bands, writers, and arrangers have come up with to put a new spin on a familiar carol or song.

What I've caught myself doing is that same thing in my church with music this time of year.   Exploring new songs to sing or different arrangements of songs that have been in the church for years.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing or that I will stop doing that all together.  However, the following article by Keith Getty brings up some excellent points about Christmas carols and what and why we sing this time of year.  

Enjoy and Merry Christmas.



5 Reasons for Musicians and Church Leaders to Love Caroling the Story
Written by Keith Getty

The ever-approaching beat of Christmas is enough for many church musicians (and their staff, family, and pastors) to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and lacking in creative freshness. We have to work harder, produce better, innovate wider, and handle over-committed volunteers and their opinions. All the while we're stressed, budget-squeezed, and of course, must still deal with all the usual personal and family pressures while wondering how on earth we can find a "new angle" on the Christmas story.
As a local church musician and composer who's involved in an annual touring Christmas production, I offer several instructive principles for this highly anticipated time of year.

1. Remember that Christmas is a huge opportunity to sing the gospel.

There are more people in our churches over Christmas who are on the outside looking in than at any other time of the year—children, children's families, nominals, friends, neighbors, and the needy of every description.

Moreover we have inherited this privilege through the faithful witness of generations of faithful believers. This season may not always be such an open evangelistic opportunity.

My high school music teacher opened my eyes to the real beauty of Christmas carols. He claims he wants his funeral to be a service of carols. Why? Because they tell the story of our faith. Indeed, the greatest carols tell the gospel story in all its undeniable richness. They tell it more beautifully, more succinctly, more elegantly than almost anywhere else.

Let's start with the rest so many long for in the advent season:

Come thou long expected Jesus
born to set they people free.
From our fears and sins release us
let us find our rest in thee.

Or the beautiful sense of forgiveness in the face of deep regret that pervades the season in Phillips Brooks's masterpiece:

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven
no ear may hear his coming
but in this world of sin
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.

These songs speak of the One who gives the peace and rest every soul craves to find. And while this gospel story should be the core of every Sunday worship service, it finds new hearers during Christmas when many who don't yet know the Lord attend a church service. What a great opportunity; what a great challenge—to clearly and artfully present this world-changing story in the songs we select, present, and sing together! In the eagerness for musical innovation let's not compromise on content.

2. Explore and immerse yourself in the abundance of historic church Christmas music.

These are the real “crossover” songs of Christian music—appearing in movies, musicals, television shows, commercials, novels, and radio charts; affecting the education of countless generations; sung more frequently and knowingly and passionately in the public square than any modern song likely ever will.

With traditional carols, there is a sense of familiarity, quality, depth, and relevance to the whole church body that a modern-based diet can almost never bring. Christmas music is the best place to see this contrast. The most widely known carols are written by the greatest composers in history, including Beethoven, Handel, Holst, and Mendelssohn. Others are a unique hybrid of folk music and church music traditions that have stood the test of time. The poems of Christina Rossetti, Phillips Brooks, as well as Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts arrest both the mind and heart.

Certainly congregations enjoy both innovation and the familiarity of tradition, new sounds and also the sounds they grew up hearing and singing. While everyone has different tastes, one thing the majority of young and old, the churched and unchurched have in common is that they love to sing carols at Christmas.

Let's worry less about being cool or doing something new and more about playing these hymns beautifully and creatively. Then when we add something it can be genuinely fresh.

3. Educate and reinvigorate your congregation to sing well.

Congregational singing throughout time is a huge witness—seen in the Old Testament, New Testament, and church history.

These are the days to confront your congregation with this truth: they will be a witness to the unbeliever who visits your church. They have no choice in the matter. By their engagement with the songs and participation in the singing, they will testify to the joy of an excited believer or betray the chill of a disinterested spectator.

By singing great songs they already know, in a season of joy and celebration, with more inspiring instruments, choirs, and arrangements, you have a great chance to really encourage your congregation to sing well. Let's make sure pastoral leaders are behind this goal of witness through congregational praise and that together you are preparing the church for it. Ultimately, the deepest part of ourselves—and of your non-believing guests—will respond better to authentic, passionate, a cappella singing of timeless carols than even the slickest production our churches can inspire.

4. Challenge and broaden the musical vocabulary of the church.

Traditional music invites re-interpretation—new sounds, new voices, new instruments. It’s an opportunity to be more of what you aren’t at other times of the year.

Think of it like this: If you were to chart the breadth of your personal musical taste as represented in your iTunes library, how would the breadth of your church musical expression compare? The natural posture and tendency of corporate leadership is to reduce, to find the common denominator, to extend the easy handle.

Christmas is about expansion—in the world of musical production from classical to pop almost everyone acknowledges that audience tastes are wider and more eclectic. And it’s a season when most churches welcome the role of performance music of all kinds in a worship context, from children to adult choirs, from instrumental to vocal solos.

Around 2008 and 2009 I had probably my worst ever period of creative drought—didn't write a single good congregational melody. So I decided to change things up. I started writing solo music for Kristyn, went back to my roots and wrote choral music, collaborated with a traditional Irish musician, and wrote instrumental music and carol arrangements. Then when Kristyn became pregnant we wrote children's carols and lullabies. It refreshed our creativity and we ended up being able to write better congregational hymns afterward.

If you are a church piano player, singer, choir director or writer—use Christmas to try new flavors or to refresh your artistry. If you're music hasn't grown for a few years you're probably really boring the people whose imaginations you are supposed to inspire.

5. Seek fresh opportunities to think outwardly and to take music outside of the church building.

For every 1 car that drives into your church 99 drive past—and I bet almost all love Christmas music.

The acceptance of Christmas music in certain parts of our wider culture allows a unique occasion for witness and thinking outside the walls of our chapel. Talk to your church leaders about how you can work together to reach the community around you. Perhaps we can use our innovation to play at schools, in retirement homes, and for military groups. We can go door-to-door carolling, host neighborhood open air events, hire a concert hall, or bring music to a house party. Many of us need to understand our musical gifts as being more in tune with the wider mission of our churches. 

Christmas is a huge opportunity for church musicians. If we can get that right, it sets us up for the next year and helps us re-adjust our thinking to ensure other things can find their rightful place.

Link to original article: 

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-reasons-musicians-church-leaders-love-carolling-story?utm_content=bufferbaec1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Prayers for my son.

Tomorrow my son enters into the world. I write this while laying in bed unable to sleep. Before we turned the lights off, I read scripture to and prayed for my son. I read him the story behind his name in 1 Kings 22, as well as Romans chapters 5-8. As I read so many of those familiar verses, they began to take on such a different meaning in regards to my son.  I'm so grateful for the power of the gospel in my own life, but now my prayer shifts to him. I pray he will see and embrace that power in his own life and that my life will so clearly demonstrate the gospel, that he sees its power through my love for him.

It breaks my heart that as he enters into the world tomorrow, he enters born into a sin nature.  He won't have to be taught to say "no". He won't have to be taught to lie to me or his mother. He won't have to be taught how to be selfish.  None of us had to be taught any of those things.  Ephesians 2 tells us we are "by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind."  This baby that I will hold in my arms tomorrow and will seem so innocent and perfect has a sin nature like the rest of mankind. 

However, it brings me great joy to think about and take hope in the truth that God has "formed (his) inward parts... Knitted (him) together in (his) mothers womb." (Psalm 139:13).  This whole process (that seems to have just started) has been ordained and guided by God! He is and has always been in control!  His will will be done! 

My prayer as a father is that Jesus will be made real to Micaiah. That he will see that he is a sinner. That he will humble himself, and surrender his life to Jesus, the One who willingly gave up His life for him.  I further pray that he will live up to his name.  Micaiah means "who is like Yahweh?". I pray he will see that there is no one like our God! I pray he will stand up for Jesus. Just as Micaiah in 1 Kings wouldn't compromise, but would only say that which the Lord said to him, I pray my son will stand and boldly proclaim the things of God!  Whether that will be through preaching, teaching, singing, or any other method of sharing the gospel, may he not give in to popular opinion, peer pressure, or anything else! I pray he stands and boldly and proudly says "Jesus saves!" 

Lastly, my prayer as a father is that Micaiah will see in me the love of Jesus. I pray that my love for him shows him the love of the true Father. I pray my love will be unconditional. I pray my care will be constant. I pray my chastisement will come with mercy. I pray my life points to the One who exemplifies all of these things far more and far greater than I will ever be able to.  I pray Micaiah sees Jesus in his father. 

I'm so grateful for my father, my papa, my grandpa, my father-in-law, and my grandfather-in-law who have been incredible examples of loving, Godly fathers. I pray I can live up to the legacy I've been given to follow. But more importantly, I'm grateful for the love of my Father in Heaven and for the love, that I read about to my son tonight, that God has for me in Christ Jesus.  

God grant to me the ability to love Micaiah the way you love me for Your glory. 

"...so that..."

People today are driven by purpose.  We want to feel important and significant.  We want to know that what we do matters.  We don't want to feel used or taken for granted.  We don't like to do things for no reason.  On the job, in our homes, and in our social groups, we like to feel like we have a purpose.

Not too long ago,  I preached through the entire book of Ephesians.  The book of Ephesians uses a phrase that I think is often overlooked; the phrase "...so that...".  Paul makes statements of truth and ties them to statements of purpose with this phrase.  It is used 6 different times throughout the book.  Because we are people driven by purpose, wanting to feel needed and important, I think we can look at this phrase and gain some idea of our purpose in Christ.

One of the things that burdens me in the church today is the fact that people don't realize their purpose or function in the body.  Ephesians 4 reminds us that there is one body.  Romans 12 tells us that we are all members of that body, each with different functions.  For the body of Christ to function Biblically, each of it's members have to be fulfilling their function properly.  I think in the church today we have too many members simply being a part of the church to see what they can get out of it rather than seeking to fulfill their purpose in the body.

In Ephesians we see this phrase, "...so that...", giving purpose to what Christ has done.  In the first chapter, verses 11-12 say, "In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory."  We have been predestined according to His purpose, to the praise of His glory!  Our purpose in living for Christ is simply to bring Him glory.  People in the church today get so bent out of shape when doing things and not getting recognized.  They serve and do things for their own glory rather than for His glory.  We need to realize that serving Him may not come with glory and recognition.  However, if God has impressed on your heart to serve in a certain area and called you fulfill your function in a specific way, you are to serve and minister in that capacity to the best of your ability...for Him!  He recognizes what you do whether people do or not.  Who are we really wanting to serve?  Jesus or people?

Chapter 2 of Ephesians begins by telling us who we are in our own nature before Christ (dead in our trespasses and sins, sons of disobedience, and children or wrath).  Verse 4 picks up and begins with "But God..." (one of my favorite phrases in scripture), and tells us what Christ has done for us and who we are in Christ.  Verse 6 says that He "...raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  In chapter 3 verses 9 and 10, Paul writes, "...to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for the ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."  God's plan is to show Jesus' love for the world through the church.  When we get so hung up on ourselves, what we want in the church or the service, what ministries we want to see, we get upset with other people in the church when our desires are not met. We will never be able to function properly and show the world the love of Christ in this way.  Ephesians 2:2b-3a says we are to "...bear with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit...".  When we get mad at other people in the church (or leave the church) over not seeing our desires met, we are not bearing with one another in love and maintaining the unity of the body.

We have a purpose.  Christ has called us to Himself, adopted us as His children, and promised us an inheritance.  He requires us to live for Him.  We are to serve Him by being a part of a local church, serving in the body, and bearing with those around us in love.  Will it be easy?  No, not all of the time.  Will you be recognized and praised?  Maybe, maybe not.  But the church is not here to please and appease you.  The church is the bride of Christ.  A bride is committed through the good and the bad.  A bride is to be cherished and protected.  A bride is loved by her groom and loves her groom with all her heart.  I heard one of my favorite preachers say that too often we treat the church like a harlot or prostitute rather than a bride.  We come to her when it's convenient for us, use her for what we want to get out of her, and then forget about her until we need or want something again.  This is not what the church is designed for.  

Church, we have a purpose.  And it's not your purpose.  It's not your desires or wants.  It's not what you think is right or wrong.  We are called into the family of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, SO THAT we can serve Him, love Him, and worship Him together as a family.  So I ask wherever you are, whatever church you are a part of, put your desires and wants aside. Put your own glory and need for praise and recognition aside.  Let's just serve Him together as one body, SO THAT the world will see the love of a Savior.  Let's be Jesus.

"Christian" Music

This morning, I was sitting in my office (which is right by the main entrance to our office wing at the church), when our children's pastor walked in, looked in my office, and said "You're listening to it again."  Confused, I said, "Listening to what?"  He replied, "Music!"  He's right, I constantly listen to music.  I remember being in college and even while I was studying or writing papers, I would have music on.  It's on in my car, it plays while I work, while I get ready in the mornings, etc.  I love music.  Music is very powerful in many ways.  It can set a mood, it can eliminate awkward silence, it can provide an atmosphere.  Think all the places you go where music is being played.  Elevators, restaurants, stores, shops, sporting events, doctors offices, just about everywhere there is music in the background.

Just like everything else in existence, I believe music was created for the purpose of bringing glory to God.  Also, like so many other things in the world, music has been perverted in so many ways that do not glorify the Creator.  Don't get me wrong, this isn't going to be on of those legalistic, "listening to anything other than 'Christian' music is sinful" arguments.  I'll admit, I don't listen to "Christian" music 100% of the time.  There are other styles and genres out there that I enjoy.  But, I do believe that we should use music to bring glory to Jesus.  My fear that is that "Christian" musicians today are striving harder to fit in with the culture and what's popular on every other radio station rather than simply seeking to glorify God with their art.

A question I get asked a lot is if I've heard "such and such" song on the radio.  Most of the time the answer is no.  I don't listen to a lot of "Christian" radio.  I use things like the music on my own iPhone, Pandora, or Sporify most of the time I'm listening.  I like to be able to control what I listen to.  I'm very selective.  Not necessarily picky, just selective.  If my the music on my phone is on shuffle, you don't know what you're going to get next.  Could be rock, could be rap, could be something from a musical, could "coffee shop" type music, could be spoken word.  The reason I don't listen to "Christian" radio very much could be that I'm just a control freak and only want to listen to what I want to listen to when I want to listen to it; but mostly it's because a large majority of the time it makes me mad.

This brings me back to my point of writing this blog.  I'm afraid that most of "Christian" musicians today are more concerned about being popular or keeping up with what pop culture is doing musically, rather than striving to glorify God and point to Jesus with their songs.  I was listening to "Christian" radio the other day (my phone was about to die and I didn't have any cd's in the car) and the song that was on when I turned the car on confused me so much so that I had to double check the station that was playing.  It literally made me think I was listening to a modern day pop station.  Yeah, the music itself sounded very pop-ish, but more than the music, the lyrics are what bothered me.  It sounded like a love song you could be singing to your boyfriend or girlfriend.  I'm all about being creative with the music that's going to accompany your lyrics, but the lyrics are what will point people to Jesus.  We need to be singing songs that are undeniably about the One who redeems us, saves us, sets us free, gives us hope, rescues us, died for us, and intercedes for us.  I had a previous post I wrote on Easter weekend that also addresses this point, "It's All About JESUS!"

You may be asking yourself as you read this why I've been putting the word "Christian" in quotations.  It's because the word "Christian" means to be like Christ, to be like Jesus, to be like the One who redeems us, saves us, sets us free, gives us hope, rescues us, died for us, and intercedes for us.  I think a lot of what labels itself as "Christian" is not like Christ.  Jesus, undeniably and unashamedly, pointed people to His Father.  He lived a life that was different than the world, and also in many ways was different than the religious culture of the day.  He had a mission and lived to accomplish that mission despite public opinion.  In John 17, Jesus prays to God the Father and says that He has sent us (the church) into the world for the same reason that He was sent into the world.  We have a mission.  We are to be like Jesus.  We are to be Christians.

So join in me in being selective with your music.  Don't buy into the popularity of an artist or a song just because they are on a "Christian" radio station or with a "Christian" label.  Put their music and more importantly the lyrics of their songs up against the gospel of scripture and make sure your entertaining yourself with music that is pointing to and glorifying Jesus!

Happy Anniversary Jennifer!

Today marks 3 years of being married to the girl of my dreams.  3 years of joy and struggles, excitement and frustration, happiness and anger, laughter and tears.  Yes, it's been up and down, but I wouldn't trade a single minute of married life to this women that God predestined to be my wife.  I don't mean to sound negative, just honest.  Marriage is hard.  Marriage is a struggle.  The truth of it is, we're two sinners trying to live together and do life together.  We're not perfect (didn't take us very long to figure that out about each other), but God has been abundantly gracious.  The other side is just as true if not more so, marriage is fun!  I think back on the many times where we've just enjoyed being married to each other.  Conversations, date nights, laughing together, praying together, doing ministry together, traveling together, worshipping together.  I truly mean it when I say I wouldn't trade a single minute of the past 3 years.  Yes, there are times that I wish I could take back how I acted, what I said, what I did (I know Jennifer feels the same about herself) but I also know that we both believe those times that weren't so fun, times that were hard and frustrating, have made us into the people and the couple that we are today.   It is amazing how God shows His grace and sovereignty in the lives of sinful, selfish people.  

As I look back to May 14, 2011, I remember the excitement and the nerves I felt all day.  I remember waking up and thinking my life is never going to be the same.  I remember the anxiety that I felt I as got ready.  It was such a surreal feeling.  I remember thinking of pictures of my parents and grandparents on their wedding days and thinking about how precious those memories are.  Then I realized, as I put my tux on, I'm about to take those same pictures that I will some day show my kids and grandkids.  We took some pictures, then came the worst part of my day.  Pictures for me were over until after the ceremony, but my groomsmen were still taking pictures with Jennifer and the bridesmaids.  Which left me by myself to just sit and think about what was to come in just about an hour or so (while I ate a leftover brisket sandwich).  That was the longest hour of my life.  I remember just pacing and thinking about what it was going to be like to see those doors open and to see my bride coming down the isle, presenting herself to me.  After a while, my best man came in, after taking some pictures with Jennifer, and said to me, "Man, she is beautiful."  This just made my anxiety and my excitement rise.  3:00pm couldn't get here fast enough.  

3:00pm did finally arrive and the ceremony started.  I escorted my grandparents and parents to their seats then joined the Pastor and my groomsmen back stage.  We came out and found our places on the stage.  Each bridesmaid made her way down the isle looking beautiful.  Then came the spot in the song that we planned out awhile back where I was to move over in front of the isle.  I walked over, turned to the back of the auditorium, and looked back to two closed doors with Jennifer's cousins standing in the windows like body guards so I couldn't her before the right time.   The audience stood, the "body guards" moved, the doors were opened and there she stood.  My bride.  She was breathtaking.  She and my father-in-law began to make their way down the isle towards me.  I remember saying out loud, "Wow!".  I remember the feeling of thinking, "She's mine!".  Then I remember thinking, "I don't deserve this."  Jennifer had kept herself pure for me (we even had a moment in the ceremony where she presented me with the purity ring she had worn for years as a commitment to me before I put her wedding ring on her finger).  She had lived a life commited to me even when she didn't know me.  She never compromised herself, saving herself for her husband.  What a testimony.  

As I sit here and type and reminisce, I'm reminded of the gospel.  I'm reminded that one day we will be presented as the bride of Christ to our Savior.  As I remember the way I felt as my bride was being presented to me, I am challenged to live my life in such a way that Jesus will feel the same way about me as I am presented to Him.  I also recall the joy I felt as I knew Jennifer had kept herself pure for me.  Romans 12:1 tells us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him.  Ephesians 5 tells us that the testimony of marriage should point people to the gospel.  I want to fulfill that and love my wife everyday the same way Christ loves me everyday.  I also know the heart of my wife is to submit to me the way we, as the church, submit to Christ.  Our prayer together is that in all of the years the Lord has for us in marriage, we will portray the gospel to the world.  

The church will be presented to and united with Him one day.  May we live in a way that is pleasing to Him so that as we are presented to Him, He is overjoyed.  May we live the gospel everyday.

I love you, Jennifer.  Happy Anniversary!

It's about JESUS!

Easter weekend is this weekend.  I always look forward to this Sunday and celebrating the life of my Savior.  Then I always get convicted the Sunday following Easter for not being as enthused and excited as I was last week. In the life of the believer, every Sunday is Easter!  Furthermore, in the life of the believer, every single day should be Easter.  Galatians 2:20a says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but CHRIST who LIVES in me."  The hymn writer Alfred Henry Ackley wrote these words, "He LIVES, He LIVES, Christ Jesus LIVES today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He LIVES, He LIVES, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He LIVES? He LIVES within my heart."  My God LIVES and He LIVES in me!  Every morning when our feet the floor we should celebrate Easter because our God LIVES!

Now, I want to point something out and remind you of something as we go into this weekend... It's all about JESUS!

You may think this is an obvious statement.  However, I feel that we may preach, teach, and sing about God more than Jesus Himself.  Now please don't get me wrong here.  I absolutely, 100% believe in a triune God and believe that Jesus Himself was and is 100% God.  So where is my concern?  

Most every religion has a god that they proclaim and worship.  Some even have a prophet or leader whose teaching they base their lives on.  My concern is this... As we preach, teach, and sing about God, are these sermons, lessons, and songs something that anyone in any religion could say or sing about their god?  I think many times the answer is yes.  In our churches we are saying and singing the same things about our God that others are saying and singing about false gods.  For example, "(G)od is great, (G)od is powerful, we worship you (G)od, we surrender to you (G)od, (G)od your will be done."  All of these things are completely true about the one true, Jehovah God.  However, other religions could possibly claim these same things about their god.  

So does that mean we shouldn't preach, teach, or sing these things about our God?  I'm not necessarily saying that.  What I'm saying is we need to make sure we are proclaim what is different and true exclusively about our God; Jehovah God.  

What is this truth?  What is the distinction we are to make in our lives and churches about Jehovah God?  I tell you this... The distinction is found solely in the person of JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus Christ is the center of everything.  He is the center of Bible.  He is the center of calendar.  Everything in our lives as believers is because of and centered around the person of Jesus.  The person who came to us, died for us, rose again, intercedes for us, and lives in us!  Every other religion is based on our efforts to reach god.  The Bible declares that God came to us!  We can have peace with God through Jesus.  Once we have peace with God, also through Jesus, we are equipped with power and purpose.  Other religions have that backwards.  They try to have power and purpose and accomplish things here on earth so that one day they will be able to achieve peace with god.  Jesus changed that!  He came to us, died for us, rose again, intercedes for us, and lives us.  He accomplished what we could not.   He absorbed the wrath of God that was meant for us.  He was perfect while we are sinful.  He is holy while we are disgusting.  He is righteous while we like filthy rags.  He conquered death, hell, and the grave so that we too can and will one day overcome death, hell, and the grave and live forever with Him!

This Sunday is one of the two biggest holidays in the world and they both are centered around Jesus.  So as we gather, we are celebrating the life of JESUS.  Proclaim the name of JESUS.  Sing the name of JESUS.  Preach the name of JESUS.  Teach the name of JESUS.  Not just this Sunday, but everyday may our lives, the lives of the church, proclaim, portray, shine, and lift high the "name that is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."! (Phil. 2:9-11)

You ask me how I know He LIVES? He LIVES within my heart!  


JESUS LIVES!

Why Practice? Why Rehearse? (For Worship Leaders & Worship Team Members)

Last week, immediately following our worship team's rehearsal, I had a great conversation with one of our members.  He asked me, "Why do you think God chose me to do all this stuff with music that I'm doing?"  What a question and what a humble attitude.  I told him I ask the same question just about every Sunday.  I don't know why God called me to lead worship.  I don't know why called me to be a minister.  I don't know why God chose me to be His child.  However, while I don't understand why, I'm confident in the calling He has put on my life.  

No matter what that calling is in your life, we are to fulfill that calling with all that we are and all that we have.  He deserves nothing less.  So for us as worship leaders or worship team members, how do we give him our all on Sundays or Wednesdays or any other time we have the opportunity to use our talents in music to usher people into a time of worship?

One of the ways we do so is through practice and rehearsals.  I want to offer some of my own opinions and suggestions about practicing and rehearsing that I have learned over my very short time or worship leading.  

Why practice or rehearse?

I feel like people in church music many times don't value rehearsal time as they should.  I have been told on more than one occasion by more than one worship team that I run tough rehearsals.  Rather than criticism, I take those comments more as compliments.  I take what we do as a worship team very seriously and I believe God does to.  I believe God is honored by hard work.  There are 2 main reasons I push myself and my team hard during rehearsals.

     1)  God deserves our best.

When we stand on Sundays or Wednesdays (or whenever we lead worship) we should be in a place spiritually and musically to offer the Lord our absolute best.  He deserves your best in every area of your life.  During services, but also during rehearsals, He wants you to give it your all.  So, next time your rehearsing with your worship team, stay focused, work hard, and learn your stuff!  I believe God is honored and worshiped when we have this kind of attitude even during rehearsals.

     2)  The main goal for a worship leader/team is to keep people's focus on God.

The number one thing that we should be doing for our congregations is pointing them to the Lord.  Shifting their focus to Him through worshipful lyrics and scripture.  We've all heard it said that we should disappear on the stage.  We all pray that God will be in the forefront of our worship.  He is why we do what we do.  He deserves our attention.  He deserves our focus.  He deserves our worship.  We, as worship leaders, deserve nothing.  Therefore, the congregation should be able to look past us and our instruments and see the Lord.  So, let's say the lead guitarist hits several wrong notes during his intro riff, or the drummer comes in at the wrong place, or the alto in the praise team doesn't know her harmony and is singing in who knows what key.  Now, where is the congregations attention and focus?  It's on the people on stage.  It's not on the Lord or the lyrics their singing.  Therefore, to truly disappear and let God be in the forefront of our worship  we have to be prepared!  Make sure you have your intros down, make sure you know the map of the songs, make sure you know your entrances and harmonies.  Keep people's focus on Him and not on yourself because you were ill prepared. 

Practice for Practice.

Practice for practice?  Crazy thought isn't it?  I can't tell you how much smoother practices would go and much less stress is on the leader if the team members came to rehearsals already knowing their stuff.  Leaders, know your stuff before rehearsal also.  Not much is more time wasting and frustrating than the leader trying to figure how he/she wants things done while everybody stands around and waits for the decision.  Or for the leader to be waiting around on the guitarists to figure our their chords or riffs or the piano player to figure out an intro.  If everybody already knows their stuff ahead of time and are prepared, things go so much smoother.  You'll find you'll be able to get more done in you allotted rehearsal time and that stress and frustration levels go way down!  Look at and learn your music ahead of time and show to rehearsals prepared and ready to go!

Refresh.

Most worship teams that I know will do a sound check/run through on Sunday morning before the service or Wednesday night before everyone shows up.  Set lists have been finalized, rehearsals have already been done, all that's left is double checking your mix and making sure the group is ready to go for the service.   This time is not a second or last minute rehearsal!  You've already had the time in rehearsal previously that week to stop and go over certain spots or practice the bridge 3-4 times.  The expectation is going to be that you remember everything that was already rehearsed (or at least to have taken good notes on your music that will jog your memory).  Therefore, in between your rehearsal and sound check on the day of the service, you need to refresh yourself on what was practiced.  Go back over the songs and sing your part or practice your instrument.  Don't simply say you "listened" to the songs on the way to the church right before sound check.  Actually take the time throughout the week to sit down, listen, look at your music, and truly refresh and prepare yourself.

All this is not just to make you a better musician, band, or worship team.  Our goal each time leading worship is not for the people to walk away saying what a great band or praise team we have.  We don't do what we do for our own glory.  We practice, rehearse and prepare so that we can offer God our absolute best and not distract people from focusing on Him and worshiping Him!

"Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory forever and ever!"  -- Psalm 115:1