Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

How God's Knowledge Can Strengthen Your Confidence Today

Be blessed by some thoughts from Tozer (Knowledge of the Holy)

“And to us who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before us in the gospel, how unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father know us completely. No talebearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn God away from us, since He knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us. ‘For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.'”

Proactive vs. Reactive Prayer

This past Sunday the worship team at APC began a study through the book of Colossians. I love our 15 minute devos on Sunday morning. Without it, I think we can get too song & music driven. It’s a healthy reminder that worship is about the presence of God and loving Jesus faithfully.

We started out with Colossians 1:1-14 and diagrammed Paul’s opening prayer to the Colossian church. Here’s what he prayed:

  • That they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom & understanding
  • That they would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
  • That they would be fully pleasing to God
  • That they would bear fruit in every good work
  • That they would increase in the knowledge of God
  • That they would be strengthened with God’s power for endurance & patience with joy
  • That they would give thanks to God

When you pray, do you pray like this for others? To be honest, Paul’s prayer here put me to shame. I tend to be REACTIVE in my prayer life: something happens to me so I go to God to bail me out. Or I simply resort to the wimpy “God, bless this food,” “Keep me safe,” “Help us have a good time” (what?), type prayers.

What if we were more PROACTIVE in our prayer lives? What if we prayed for each other as Paul prayed for his churches? I was challenged and this is what I challenged my team in.

What about you? Are you more proactive or reactive?

The War Between Theology & Practicality

A.W. Tozer:

” ‘Of what use to me is the knowledge that God is immutable?’ someone asks. ‘Is not the whole thing mere metaphysical speculation? Something that might bring a certain satisfaction to persons of a particular type of mind but can have no real significance for practical men?’

If by ‘practical men’ we mean unbelieving men engrossed in secular affairs and indifferent to the claims of Christ, the welfare of their own souls, or the interests of the world to come, then for them such a book as this can have no meaning at all; nor, unfortunately, can any other book that takes religion seriously. But while such men may be in the majority, they do not by any means compose the whole of the population. There are still the seven thousand who have not bowed their knees to Baal. These believe they were created to worship God and to enjoy His presence forever, and they are eager to learn all they can about the God with whom they expect to spend eternity.”

Wow.

Worship Coaching

I just read this great post from Jeff Leake on his ministry transitions from doing to living to coaching. And it got me thinking, “How are we as worship leaders doing as coaches?” Here are two questions to ponder:

  • “Are we using musicians/singers/worship leaders to further our own goals and make ourselves look better?”

Or

  • “Are we coaching musicians/singers/worship leaders to become the best they can be for the glory of God?”

I’m still pretty young, but I feel there comes a time when you realize ministry is not just about what you’re doing but who you’re raising up. It’s not just about where YOU are going but WHO is coming with you. You start thinking in terms of legacy rather than just personal effectiveness.

Your strength as a local church worship leader lies in seeing each member of your team reach their highest potential.

I want to be THAT kind of worship leader.

DS