Worship Podcast & Blog
Ministry is anything but easy. Especially when there are big events to pull off and busy weekends to make happen.
For some of you, this is all the time. Over the years I’ve found these heavy seasons can be very fruitful – many people coming to Christ. Creative teams rising to the next level.
But I’ve also found it to be a strain – a strain on physical health and family health. Holiday weekends can fly by without hardly seeing your family. If you’re in ministry you know the tension.
If you lead worship, you know who Elevation Worship is. Over the last decade they have led the charge on building great team culture and writing powerful original songs for churches.
Today, we welcome lead producer/songwriter Mack Brock to the show. It takes so many people to pull off large projects like Elevation’s new “There is a Cloud” but Mack, more than anyone else, sees the project through from start to finish.
In this chat we talk about the new album, writing for church, picking songs & sets, worship culture, & more. Enjoy!
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For anyone who creates, inspiration is gold.
When we feel inspired, we make things. It’s like a jolt of energy, a spark in the darkness. What once felt so difficult seems to flow with ease.
The problem with inspiration, though, is that it hardly ever comes. When we look at world class works of art, we imagine that it just happened upon brilliant people because they were born, well, brilliant. Songs coming out of thin air in a massive LA studio. Book writing over a balcony off the coast of Italy.
That’s the story we want to hear. But the truth is, it’s plain old work. Hard work. What actually makes art world class is the tenacity and scary commitment an artist has to creating. They can’t be stopped. Their vision won’t be interrupted.
When I asked Brian Johnson about his songwriting process, he said, “I work my butt off.” While you don’t necessarily need to lose your gluteus maximus in the process, you do need to expect work. Time. Sweat. Wrestling.
Aren’t you glad you read this today?
When I let people be amazing at what they do, things change.” – Brian Johnson
Today we welcome Brian Johnson back to the podcast. Brian & his wife Jenn lead the amazing ministry that is Bethel Music. The sheer number of great songs & amazing artists on the Bethel roster is quite remarkable.
I wanted to talk to Brian about the early days of Bethel Music and some of the values he built into the culture early on. We talk about leadership, how to lead leaders, songwriting, the new album, and more.
Enjoy!
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Church is imperfect. Leaders are imperfect. You are imperfect.
And it’s really time to get over the backbiting, the bickering, and the slandering of your church. I have a better idea: what if you decided to love it?
I remember when a friend was struggling in his marriage. The feelings weren’t there. They were fighting often. Tension was high and romance was low. Do you know what turned it around? He decided to love her. He decided to appreciate her. He made a decision to romance. He learned that what you invest in, grows. What you appreciate, appreciates.
My wife had to stay home with our sick daughter this weekend. But Tyler came with me Saturday and Sunday. He hung out for all 8,000 rehearsals. We sang together. We talked to people together.
I’m glad he can grow up in a church. not a perfect church. But a church, nonetheless.