Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

A Songwriter's Arsenal

As a guy who writes songs for my church to sing, I’m always trying to improve. Here are a few things I use that assist me in my songwriting process. Hope this helps.

  • Evernote – I’ve already talked about the beauty of Evernote. As an iPhone user, this is my preferred way to capture ideas. I’ll record a melody or type a lyric and it automatically syncs from my phone to my desktop to the world wide web. Yay.
  • A Notebook – While I do love Evernote, sometimes it helps to do it the old-fashioned way. Write it out. I find it easier to process my thoughts when I physically write.
  • An inspiring guitar – I personally play a Martin DC-16 GTE. Wonderful. If you are able, purchase a guitar (or keyboard, or pan flute, or didgeridoo) that you love to pick up. Sometimes the instrument alone can inspire new songs. A few of my friends rave about these.
  • Recording Software – I’m a raving fan of Propellerhead, a music software company from Stockholm, Sweden. I use Reason & Record. Garageband is a great, simple tool that most people have. When crafting songs, it really helps to hear it back with quality sound. I’ll usually create drum loops, add keys, bass, strings. Good recording software can help inspire your writing and take songs in unanticipated directions.
  • Bible – As a worship songwriter, this is what I go to first. The tendency in songwriting is just to write what’s on the top of your head, which is typically cheesy, cliched phrases. Dig into Scripture and find fresh ways to articulate the truth.

I’m always looking for new things to inspire. What has been helpful in your songwriting?

 

Do You Disciple Your Worship Team?

What I love most about leading worship (I guess besides actually worshiping God) is making disciples. Each member of the worship team is someone called by God whom I have the privilege of pouring into.

I believe sometimes we can short circuit what God wants to do through our worship team because we give excuses. “I can’t afford to hire good musicians.” “I just don’t like asking him all the time.” “This schedule is just too busy for people.” “There’s too many services at this church!” Or we just get into ‘weekly maintenance mode’ and lose the big picture of what we are doing.

Let me ask you a couple questions. What culture are you creating with what you’ve got? Do you have a process within your worship team where individual growth is intentional? Are you creating enough margin in your schedule to dream dreams and seek God’s vision for your worship team?

I’d like to share our process with you in hopes that if you don’t have a discipleship strategy for your worship team, that you would start. Or if you do, keep doing it. I’m not saying this way is the only way. Just let it stir your imagination. And let me know if you come up with even better ideas.

When I’m thinking about worship team discipleship, I’m asking the question, “What can we do WEEKLY, MONTHLY, and ANNUALLY?”

WEEKLY

  • 15 minute band devotions on Sunday morning (study a good book and/or book of the Bible)
  • Pre service prayer (short, declarative prayers)
  • Rehearsals (rehearse songs & ‘flow’ moments)

MONTHLY

ANNUALLY

  • Refresh Night (a rehearsal night where we meet off-site and simply worship, cast vision, and hang out. We do this 3x/year.)
  • Attend a local conference

What is it that you are doing? What has been helpful for your worship team?

Which Drink Are You?

My post for this morning may seem vain at first sight. But this is for real. No joke. I’m sitting in Starbucks and I’m baffled once again by how much money people pay for coffee. I mean, people stop in here 2-3 times a DAY for their drink. Starbucks is an experience so many people can’t miss…daily. Amazing.

I’m probably a once or twice a week Starbucks drinker (since we use a fabulous Keurig at home).

I typically get a tall bold in a grande cup. My bro taught me this. Usually they’ll give you a grande size, and if not, you get plenty of room for cream.

So will you help me with my research? I’m dying to know, which drink are you?

How to Turn Setbacks Into Stepping Stones

There is something that I believe with all my heart.

There are no setbacks for the man or woman of God. Only stepping stones.

“What are you talking about,” you may ask?

Well, when Satan attacks. When trials come. When sickness and pain rack your body. When your faith is tested. All seeming setbacks. But for the Christian following Jesus, God uses those very trials as stepping stones into greater faith, destiny, and influence.

Consider:

  • David – anointed to be King but then hunted like sport for years before he saw the fulfillment
  • Joseph – given a dream that he would be a ruler but sold into slavery and put in prison for wrongdoing not his own
  • Jesus – the Son of God becoming a man to bear our cross and carry our sin

All seeming setbacks at first glance. But from God’s perspective, merely necessary steps in the process towards Christlikeness and powerful destiny.

What do you consider your setback today? How could you shift your perspective and begin to believe God for greater faith, destiny, and influence through it?

What is the Primary Purpose of Corporate Worship?

I’m curious to know what your thoughts are on corporate worship. What is the primary purpose of us gathering together to sing?

Do we gather primarily to sing and align our hearts with truth?

Do we gather primarily to experience the breakthrough power of the Holy Spirit?

Do we gather primarily to sing well performed worship songs?

Do we gather primarily because we like the worship leader?

Do we gather primarily to give our praise to God?

Do we gather primarily to receive blessings from God?

I’d love some comments here. Where do you stand when it comes to corporate worship?