Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

40 Days of Consistency – Scripture for Week 1

Psalm 43

Theme: Anticipation for God’s Presence

“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

I’m amazed by the brutal honesty of the Psalms. David and the other writers were not afraid to verbalize the depths of their pain, yet at the same time they revealed their faith in God.

What strikes me about this passage is the singer’s anticipation to be in God’s presence. His soul is cast down and in turmoil from the oppression of wicked people. Where does he run? What is his place of security? You ready?

GOD WAS HIS EXCEEDING JOY.

What if we approached our worship times as if God was our exceeding joy? What if our highest longing was to be in the presence of God?

Let’s cause our worship focus this week and our preparation for Sunday to be on God our exceeding joy. Think and pray and prepare in such a way that your heart is longing to be with Jesus. Anticipation paves the way for genuine worship.




Jesus Culture Music

jc_music_logo1I’m highly impressed with the worship music of Jesus Culture, the youth/young adult ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. It has high production quality, great voices, anointed songwriting, and a unique edge. Passionate artists such as Kim Walker, Ian Mcintosh, Chris Quilala, & Kristene Mueller. This has a freshness to it that is different than United, Desperation Band, Lakewood, and others.

I think you should like it too.

Young Adult Study Week 4 – "The Heart of the Story"

We continue our study of Nehemiah this week in the LifeMatters Bible Study:

How do I meet others’ needs when I’m distracted by my own?

  • Hear the Hurt (Nehemiah 5:1-5) – We need to slow down and notice the needs of the people around us.
  • Confront the Wrong (Nehemiah 5:6-13) – Taking time to process and pray through an act of compassion is essential if you want it to have a lasting effect.
  • Set the Example (Nehemiah 5:14-16) – Show people what a young leader can do with Godly character like Timothy and a relational mindset like Nehemiah. Set an example that others will follow.

The Atmosphere of Worship?

What is an atmosphere of  worship? Is it a sweet keyboard pad? Is it dim lighting with candles, coffee, and couches? Is it the third key change of ‘Shout to the Lord’?

Last night at our worship team Refresh Night, I shared a little tidbit out of the book of Acts, relating to a particular ‘atmosphere’ of worship. Check this out:

“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3).

I notice three things about this ‘atmosphere’ that was cultivated through their worship:

  1. The Holy Spirit spoke
  2. The will of God was revealed
  3. People were commissioned

What if this happened more often when we gathered to worship God? As we single-mindedly set our hearts upon glorifying Christ, He speaks to us, reveals His will, and sends us out with His boldness.