Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

Proactive vs. Reactive Prayer

This past Sunday the worship team at APC began a study through the book of Colossians. I love our 15 minute devos on Sunday morning. Without it, I think we can get too song & music driven. It’s a healthy reminder that worship is about the presence of God and loving Jesus faithfully.

We started out with Colossians 1:1-14 and diagrammed Paul’s opening prayer to the Colossian church. Here’s what he prayed:

  • That they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom & understanding
  • That they would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
  • That they would be fully pleasing to God
  • That they would bear fruit in every good work
  • That they would increase in the knowledge of God
  • That they would be strengthened with God’s power for endurance & patience with joy
  • That they would give thanks to God

When you pray, do you pray like this for others? To be honest, Paul’s prayer here put me to shame. I tend to be REACTIVE in my prayer life: something happens to me so I go to God to bail me out. Or I simply resort to the wimpy “God, bless this food,” “Keep me safe,” “Help us have a good time” (what?), type prayers.

What if we were more PROACTIVE in our prayer lives? What if we prayed for each other as Paul prayed for his churches? I was challenged and this is what I challenged my team in.

What about you? Are you more proactive or reactive?

The War Between Theology & Practicality

A.W. Tozer:

” ‘Of what use to me is the knowledge that God is immutable?’ someone asks. ‘Is not the whole thing mere metaphysical speculation? Something that might bring a certain satisfaction to persons of a particular type of mind but can have no real significance for practical men?’

If by ‘practical men’ we mean unbelieving men engrossed in secular affairs and indifferent to the claims of Christ, the welfare of their own souls, or the interests of the world to come, then for them such a book as this can have no meaning at all; nor, unfortunately, can any other book that takes religion seriously. But while such men may be in the majority, they do not by any means compose the whole of the population. There are still the seven thousand who have not bowed their knees to Baal. These believe they were created to worship God and to enjoy His presence forever, and they are eager to learn all they can about the God with whom they expect to spend eternity.”

Wow.

Worship Coaching

I just read this great post from Jeff Leake on his ministry transitions from doing to living to coaching. And it got me thinking, “How are we as worship leaders doing as coaches?” Here are two questions to ponder:

  • “Are we using musicians/singers/worship leaders to further our own goals and make ourselves look better?”

Or

  • “Are we coaching musicians/singers/worship leaders to become the best they can be for the glory of God?”

I’m still pretty young, but I feel there comes a time when you realize ministry is not just about what you’re doing but who you’re raising up. It’s not just about where YOU are going but WHO is coming with you. You start thinking in terms of legacy rather than just personal effectiveness.

Your strength as a local church worship leader lies in seeing each member of your team reach their highest potential.

I want to be THAT kind of worship leader.

DS

Get Behind the Vision of Your Local Church

When it comes to being a worship leader in today’s church, “commitment to a local church” is not always the most popular thing we want to hear. Somehow we’ve inadvertently adopted a mindset that true success as a worship leader is writing hit songs, getting “discovered”, and going on tour. Without wanting to bash the touring worship leader model, which has its place in the kingdom, let me describe something less sexy, more biblical, and more enduring.

I believe God is seriously moving in the area of church planting. The local church will (and always has been) the hope of the world. We carry the Gospel message. What we need is not more worship leaders running out of their churches to tour, but more worship leaders seriously committed to strengthening the spirit of worship in their local congregation, building a devoted team, and raising up the next generation. I have nothing against touring. I have nothing against traveling ministry. I simply think we need to see the incredible value we are adding to our local congregations and invest the energy to make it great.

If you are a worship leader who tours, my point is not to discourage you. I’d love to do some more personally. I have some friends who do it with excellence. Here’s the catch: don’t isolate yourself from a local church. Stay connected to a congregation. Stay accountable to a pastor. We appreciate what you do as well. For those considering it, touring is not as “glamourous” as you may think it is 🙂

If you’re a worship leader who leads worship in a small, local congregation and you’ve wondered if it’s worth it, what you do week in and week out is way more difficult than leading worship for a stadium of worship connoisseurs. It’s the truth. Realize how much your needed. Keep pressing on. God is using you.

Let’s not view our worship ministry as a global enterprise to our own gifting. Let’s get behind the vision of our senior pastors, invest our heart and soul into the church family, disciple musicians and worship leaders, be patient with our volunteers, and raise up an army on-fire for Jesus.