Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

The Most Influential Worship Leaders in My Life

Throughout our lives we all have people who directly or indirectly influence us and help us become who we are today.

With the release of my first album, I am incredibly grateful for a few worship leaders who taught me so much about music, spontaneity, prophetic ministry, songwriting, theology, and much more. I have not only listened to worship music over the years, but have been a complete nerd when it comes to them – studying the musicians, producers, songs, artwork, ministries, and fill in the blank.

Following is a list of the most influential worship leaders in my life and why they are special:

David Ruis – this amazing Vineyard worship leader has taught me so much. Vineyard worship in general was very formative in my journey – intimate, prophetic, passion for the presence of God. In the early days David wrote songs like ‘You Are Worthy of My Praise’, ‘We Will Dance’, and ‘Let Your Glory Fall’. More recently he has taken a tremendous departure into prophetic, intercessory electronica. I was once at a conference where he opened his worship set, reading and singing a scripture. He always has a Bible with him. Prophetic, creative, weird, and powerful.

Matt Redman – Matt has taught me so much about songwriting. He is able to say the most profound truth in the fewest words. Along with his unbelievable songwriting, he has a very humble disposition when leading worship. He is not flashy, but simple and God-directing.

Reuben Morgan – Melody and simplicity. Wow. Reuben’s songs are much more well known than himself. His songs are very singable, the melodies are incredibly stirring, and the content is awesome. My recent favorite is “Stronger” off the new Hillsong “This is Our God” album.

Brian Doerksen – Not only are Brian’s songs outstanding, he delivers them in a way you can feel. I get the sense that he feels Scripture and truth deeply. He has taught me how to connect my brokenness to the Father heart of God. I think my obsession with speaking scripture also comes from Brian.

Lindell Cooley – My life was changed during the Brownsville Revival. I never experienced the presence of God like that and never experienced worship like I did with Lindell. Incredibly prophetic, passionate, and spontaneous. He led worship like a desperate, wild man. I guess that’s a good thing.

Delirious – The band that introduced a whole new style of worship. These guys seemed to carry a song for my generation that really led us to run hard after God. History Maker, anyone?

Who are your biggest influencers?

Song Story: "For the Glory"

One of my personal goals as a writer is to craft songs that challenge and inspire. If the Bible says something that is hard (“Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me”), I want to do what it says. We need songs that speak of the tender heart of God but also songs that lead us to embrace the cost of following Jesus. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously quoted, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die”.

“For the Glory” is a song for the church that articulates its mission and heart. Our purpose is to bring glory to God on this earth. We are giving our lives to see the nations stand before God at the end of the age, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ! I wanted to write a song that reminded us of what Christ graciously demands – offering all we are, knowing the Word, praying without ceasing, taking hold of the cross, counting the cost, etc.

May you be challenged to count the cost of what it means to follow Christ today and surrender all in pursuit of His highest glory!

Wide Awake Study Guide: Chapter 5

FOCUS – The Seer

•    What stood out to you after reading this chapter?

•    Read Matthew 14:22-33. What was Peter’s focus before he sank? What was his distraction?

“We get distracted by our surroundings and circumstances and everything happening around us, and they pull our attention away from where we are supposed to be going. The nemesis of focus is distraction.”

•    The “waves” and the “wind” are inevitable throughout our lives. What are you focusing on beyond this?

•    What really matters to you? What are you passionate about? Share your thoughts with the group.

•    As a child, Jesus was preparing for who He would be at age 33, when he began his public ministry. What has God created you to do?

“When you have focus, you see beyond the moment into the future. You see beauty when others only see tragedy. You see hope when others only see despair. You see possibilities when others only see problems. You see others when others only see themselves. You see eternity when others only see history. You see God in everything. You are a seer.”

Song Story: "That All May Worship"

The song “That All May Worship” was directly inspired by one of the most uncomfortable Bible passages that I know of – Amos 5:18-27. The harsh language that God used towards the Israelites really made me think about the nature of our worship today. I like to think of this song as a “redeemed” cry of Israel.

Throughout the Old Testament era Israel was a stubborn, rebellious nation. They were called to reveal the one true God to the nations – instead they peddled in the pagan sins of those very nations. Amos chapter 5 expresses Israel’s sin of longing for the coming day of God, yet refusing to lay their lives down and extend their hands in true justice and mercy “today”.

They were neglecting the poor. They refused justice and righteousness in court. They despised the truth – all the while living in luxurious mansions, caring for lush vineyards.

It is GOOD to desire the coming day of God (In the New Testament we are actually commanded to speed its coming), but if we are neglecting the very will of God for today, than something is wrong. I pray that this song would be a “redeemed” cry of Israel for the church today – that we would shout with expectancy, “Come Lord!”, yet at the same time give our lives away for the Kingdom and glory of God on earth today.

I had the verse and chorus crafted for months and couldn’t seem to give it that finishing touch. My good friend, Brad Bichsel, helped me write a bridge that really blows the top off for me. I love the choir of voices that help me sing on the bridge. I suggest you lend your voice as well.

We worship the risen Christ who is calling all nations to Himself!

We are waiting for the kingdom come
We are desperate for Your glory, God
We are longing for the coming day
When every tribe and tongue will see Your face

Yet today we pray
Yes, our lives will say today

Let justice roll through our actions
Let mercy extend through our hands
That Christ may be seen by the nations
That all may worship Him

We worship the Lamb that was slain
We worship the Christ Who was stained
For the nations of earth to kneel and proclaim
You are God

Song Story – "Habakkuk's Prayer"

This song has to have the most interesting title on the whole album. For a long time I have been fascinated by Habakkuk’s prayer at the end of his book. We all know we’re supposed to have joy in our trials, but when the pain is so strong, the last thing we want to do is rejoice. It’s in these situations I want my heart and mind to be informed by Scripture, not my own mind dictating my response.

This song was birthed directly out of a painful physical battle. To this day, I am still not fully healed, but I am awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promise for me.

Habakkuk’s prayer in 3:17-19 lists his own struggle with the promise of God’s justice. I almost decided against writing this song because the struggle of Habakkuk seemed irrelevant to today – fig trees, fruit, the produce of olives, flocks, herds – not your everyday prayer request.

But then I was confronted with this truth: if we dismiss parts of the Bible as irrelevant, we are in danger of deciding for ourselves what to apply and what not to apply.

I wrote this song mainly word for word from the ESV translation of the Bible, and added a few of my own struggles through this difficult time. Each line has significant meaning for me personally. I was feeling the ‘the pain of loss’ as a worship leader unable to sing, a musician unable to play an instrument, and a leader unable to lead due to health problems.

This is a song I go back to when the pain is strong and God feels far away. “I will take joy in the God of my salvation!”

Though the fig tree should not blossom
Nor fruit be on the vines
Though the produce of the olive fail
And the fields should yield no food
Though the flock be cut off from the fold
And their be no herd in the stalls
Though justice seems so far away
I know that I am yours
Yes, I am yours

And I will rejoice
I will rejoice in the Lord
I will rejoice
I will take joy in the God of my salvation
I will rejoice

Though weakness be my only state
And the pain of loss so strong
Though I don’t understand your ways
I know I’m held in your arms
And this will be my song

You are my strength, O Sovereign Lord
You make my feet just like the deer
You enable my heart to tread the mountains
You bring hope, You are hope