Worship Podcast & Blog
When it comes to finding great songs for church, look no further than Phil Wickham. Phil’s songs have a theological depth and pop sensibility that get stuck in your head like no other. His new record, Living Hope, might be his best yet.
So I wanted to bring Phil on the show to talk about his journey, running, his local church, songwriting, and whatever else we talk about. It’s a good one, folks.
Enjoy!
There’s something about Pat Barrett’s voice and songs that have a re-centering effect – they call us to focus on what matters. Listening to his music makes me want to pick up the pen and write with a similar honesty, depth, and melodic sensibility.
A lot has happened since Pat was on the show a few years ago. We talk about life transition, new songs, memes, instagram accounts, worship leading, and more.
Enjoy!
Sometimes I wonder how the people who walk through the greatest sorrow have the most joy. And then I’m reminded that’s how God works. He’s faithful. He’s good. He doesn’t promise the road will be easy but He promises to satisfy our souls.
This is the story of Alisa Turner, a true fighter who has weathered so many storms and lived to sing about it. Her new record Miracle Or Not is a beautiful testament to God’s faithfulness.
In this interview we talk about all she’s gone through, the new record, cows (yes), and the goodness of God. If you’re feeling lost, alone, or without hope (or walking with someone who is), this is for you.
Enjoy!
When was the last time you heard, “Worship was awesome today!”
As long as the drum kit didn’t fall over, your band was in the same key, and you didn’t miss every lyric, you probably heard it.
But what makes worship awesome? What makes it meaningful for people? What makes it effective for the gathered people of God?
When I categorize a worship set as “awesome,” it has something to do with a solid band, my favorite songs, well programmed lighting, and hands in the air. There’s a direct correlation between the work we put in and the result that we see.
However, what does God do in corporate worship? What is the Spirit’s responsibility? What activity can we only attribute to Jesus and His work?
OK, Worship Pastors. Let’s get real. Have you ever had to explain what you do?
Have you ever had to answer a random stranger the question of what you do for a living? You can’t just say, “I’m a worship pastor.” Because that doesn’t make sense.
Unless you’re a church person, you’ll have no idea what that means. Typically that question is answered with, “I’m a music pastor. I lead worship. I oversee the music in my church. But it’s more than just a Sunday job. There’s a lot of other things I do too.”
I could go on and on. It’s a long answer.
But what do we actually do? Of course, this post isn’t about explaining ourselves. I simply want to help you have a good week.
Oftentimes we live in two different extremes. On one side we’re planning, dreaming, brainstorming the future. We want to break new ground. Stay ahead of the curve. Anticipate what’s coming next. Many of us are there. But many of us are also buried, drowning in the sea of mundane maintenance. We’re not inspired. We’re not advancing. We’re just getting by.
You may even be asking the question, “Am I supposed to be here?”
But what if you could engineer a great week? What if you could plan a week that was filled with real, genuine ministry? Not just tasks, todo’s, and endless busy work. It’s possible. It just takes some advanced planning and a resilience to keep at it.
Do you remember what the Bible says about ministry?
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
We are not here for ourselves. We are not here to simply be busy. We are here to equip.
Here we go.
1.Make Phone Calls – Email and text messages have overtaken our lives. Yes, they’re more convenient. Yes, it’s easier to get an answer. But a phone call goes the distance. You’ll never know how effective a phone call can be in someone’s life. Look at your team roster and call people randomly. No agenda. Just to thank them for serving and to pray for them. Simple, but so effective.
2. Develop Someone – Who are you going to develop this week? Who are you going to pour yourself into? This needs to be a main agenda for every week. Maybe you feel threatened by more talented team members. Maybe you fear someone will take your place. The truth is, the most important and effective Worship Pastors are those who develop others. You won’t be known for the strength of your talent but the strength of the team underneath you.
3. Connect With Your Lead Pastor – Be proactive. Don’t wait. Plan how you’ll serve your Pastor. Think through the weekend services before he comes to you. Corporate worship isn’t a place to do what you want. It’s a place to serve a local body and the vision of your Pastor. The better you serve the vision, the more you connect, the more he or she will trust you with your vision.
4. Expand Your Team – How will your team grow this week? What steps can you take to build connections with people and grow your team? There is an ebb and flow to church life. There are seasons where you may not “need” musicians. But if you know anything about ministry, you know those times don’t last long. Always create context for more involvement. Keep the door open for new disciples.
5. Spend Time With Jesus – I know that’s an answer everyone knows. It’s common sense. But if you’re ministry doesn’t flow from a living reality in Christ, it won’t work. This isn’t a profession. It’s a calling. This isn’t a good career move. It’s a commission. Always be moved by Jesus. Keep your heart in a soft place. Stay close to your Bible.
What would you add?
How do you structure your week to get things done and do real ministry?
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