Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

The One Habit That Could Save Your Songwriting

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How many bad songs have you written? How many bad ideas have you generated? No need to raise your hand. If you’re a successful songwriter, I’m sure it’s enormous. If you haven’t had tremendous success, it’s probably because you’re avoiding this one crucial habit of a successful writer.

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Interview with Andrew Ehrenzeller

The most refreshing album I have listened to in quite a while has been Andrew Ehrenzeller’s Beauty is What Remains. His music reminds me of a cross between Jason Upton, Dave Matthews, Steven Curtis Chapman, and the International House of Prayer.

I’ve been refreshed with every listen and I honestly can’t put it down. Andrew’s music is prophetic, intimate, and powerful. His voice alone demands your attention. I really believe this album needs to be heard. It’s that good.

Andrew was gracious enough to do an interview with me during a ministry trip to Norway. This was my first time recording a Skype interview, so I apologize for the low quality 🙂

If you can’t see the video, click here.

The winners of the CDs are:

  • Sarah Spegal
  • Jamie Cambers
  • Reba Schneider
  • Aaron Van Luven
  • Rob Still

If you won, The CDs will be in the mail next week!

    If you did not win, I strongly recommend you buy the album. You won’t regret it!

    What Worship Leaders Shouldn’t Learn From Rockstars

    In a recent post I talked about the positive things worship leaders could learn from rockstars. Feel free to check out that post here. But there are also some things worship leaders should not imitate. A lot of things. Worship Leaders may look like rockstars, but there are some profound differences. There NEED to be some profound differences.

    Wouldn’t you say?

    There are many temptations for a worship leader. With the popularity of songs, artists, bands, & musical innovation, it’s easy to get caught up in the spotlight. Worship leaders, first and foremost are servants. We set the table for the saints to come and feast at the table of the King. We must decrease while Jesus increases. We need to shine the spotlight on Christ.

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    20 Ways To Increase Your Team’s Desperation For God

    [This post is part of a series on Tips For Taking Your Worship Team To The Next Level. Check out the rest here.]

    Can you envision it? A worship team fully engaged in the vision. Musicians who not only play good music but worship with intensity. A worship team that is desperate to meet with God. A worship team in love with Jesus.

    Doesn’t that sound great? Sadly, many worship teams simply fade into routine boredom. There’s no magic formula to increasing passion on your team, but there are things you can do to help create the culture you want to see.

    1. Be what you want to see in your team.
    2. Speak your vision. All the time.
    3. Quote Scripture like it’s your breath.
    4. Recruit musicians who have a deep passion for Christ and the church.
    5. Give your team members individual, specific responsibility.
    6. Spend time with Jesus together. Just worship.
    7. Speak about what God is doing.
    8. Worship spontaneously.
    9. Share stories of how your team is making a difference.
    10. Ask your team’s input.
    11. Teach your team how to press deeper into worship.
    12. Pray together for the Holy Spirit to move.
    13. Have your senior pastor speak vision to the team.
    14. View your team as your community. And live like it is.
    15. Communicate consistently.
    16. Provide feedback and follow up.
    17. Do something difficult together (raise money, go on a missions trip, bless a smaller church).
    18. Revisit your vision weekly or daily or every minute. Go do that right now.
    19. Encourage your team to engage by speaking up. Don’t just talk at them.
    20. Talk about the meanings of the songs you sing more than just how cool it’s arranged.

    QUESTION: What are some other ways of creating a culture of desperation for God? What have you tried?

    Seth Godin’s “Poke the Box” Workbook for FREE

    One of the most insightful, unsettling, innovative thinkers in the world is Seth Godin. The few books that I’ve read from him have challenged me and got me thinking about my work in a deeper way.

    It’s impossible to read his books without being stirred to take action in your life.

    I recently purchased the Kindle edition of his newest book, Poke the Box (affiliate link), for $1 (it’s now $4.99 & more than worth the price). I am absolutely loving it so far. It’s a book about initiating & starting. Enough thinking. Enough risk avoiding. It’s time to make your ideas happen.

    I received this free PDF workbook and thought I would pass it along. Consider yourself challenged to start that “thing” you’ve been thinking about for too long: start that discipleship strategy, perform that song, start that blog, launch that idea, have the hard conversations. Don’t be afraid of failure. Get going.

     

    To download Seth’s “Poke the Box” workbook, click here.

    Let’s not just talk about making a difference in our ministries. Let’s do it.

    Today.