Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

The Most Powerful Worship Song You Will Ever Sing

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Sometimes there’s a lyric that just smacks you in the face and roots your life back in reality.

One of those phrases is from the song Unbroken Praise by Matt Redman. It goes like this:

“Let my deeds outrun my words. Let my life outweigh my song.”

Ouch. I feel so often I can stress and strive for my art to get recognized – for people to love my worship leading. For the church to love my songs. For people to appreciate what I make. But in reality, I would rather be known for my life than for the art I create.

So much of this has been said before. Especially from a writer like Redman.

Coming back to the heart of worship…

Now to live the life…

A life of worship isn’t new information. It’s on the t-shirts.

If our lives don’t back up our songs, it’s empty.

Worship leaders, if our personal worship doesn’t outshine the stages we stand on, we’re missing the point.

But what is the answer? To stop singing altogether?

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#94: Spirit And Sacrament: Integrating Modern Worship With Traditional Liturgy [Podcast]

Spirit and sacrament (2)

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It’s a good day when you’re in the same room with guys like Glenn Packiam & Aaron Niequist. I was honored to catch up with them at the Spirit & Sacrament conference here in Pittsburgh.

Both of these guys have backgrounds in modern worship but are also integrating traditional liturgical practices in their ministries. Just so you’re warned, this interview is short but loaded with more nuggets of wisdom than you can probably handle in one listen. Might need to return to this one a few times.

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An Honest Confrontation With Fear, Insecurity, & Doubt

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Ever wonder why you do what you do?

I have that problem often.

There’s people who are so much better than me. There are better singers. There are better musicians. There are better songwriters. There are more organized, administrative people better suited to lead a ministry. There are better leaders, better looking people, people with more experience.

I know, this is starting to sound ridiculous. I could keep going and before you know it, disqualify myself from doing anything in life. Why? Because I’m insecure. Because I don’t want to fail. I don’t want to be seen as a fake. I don’t want to be looked down upon.

If I’m honest, sometimes I just want to hide and play it safe. I don’t want to put myself out there on this blog. I don’t want to step up on stage and lead worship. I don’t want to share that song I wrote. I don’t want to cast a vision and lead my team towards the attainment of goals.

That’s a risk. It might fail. I might be responsible. I might get my heart broken.

But what’s the alternative? Doing nothing. Hiding. Playing it safe. In my opinion, that is the greatest risk of all.

If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone.

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#93: Matt Redman On Crafting & Contending For Songs [Podcast]

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One of the biggest influences on my worship leading and songwriting is Matt Redman. It was such an honor to catch up with him on the podcast.

I don’t know anyone who is a better lyricist with worship songs than Matt Redman. Every word has feeling. Every word makes sense. Every syllable is meticulously placed.

This is definitely a songwriting episode. We discuss his songwriting habits, collaborative writing, the new album, and discuss his upbringing.

Unfortunately I was a bit sick during this interview, so you’ll hear that as well 🙂

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6 Tips for Leading Modern Worship In a Multi Generational Church

6 Tips for leading modern worship

If you’re a worship leader, you know the struggle.

It’s not a new struggle. As long as the church has been in existence, people have fought over music.

In the Reformation days, Martin Luther was accused of bringing secular tunes into the church.

In 1540 John Calvin stated that only the Old Testament Psalms sung in a metrical rhythm were appropriate for corporate worship. This caused quite a stir of controversy between Calvin’s followers and Luther’s.

Gregorian chants were criticized when vocal harmonies were introduced.

David & Dale Garrett were some of the first to use drums and guitars in worship back in the 1960s. You probably know the criticism that received.

Fast forward to the present day: If you lead worship in a multi generational church, you know the worship wars.

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