Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

Worship Leader, Are You Believable?

WORSHIP LEADERARE YOUBELIEVABLE-

Ever met someone that you couldn’t trust?

They’ve stretched the truth enough times that it’s difficult to believe what they’re saying?

I hate to say this, but a major hindrance to corporate worship is the believability of the worship leader. Do they mean what they sing? Are they sincere? Do they love Jesus? Or are they self centered, going through the motions, and in love with themselves?

Of course, worship isn’t simply about the performance of a worship leader. As the worshiping church, it’s our responsibility to press into the fullness of God whether we like the worship leader or not.

But still, worship leader, you’re not off the hook. You can hinder how well people engage. You have the power to distract people from feasting upon the glory of God. Your poor song choice can leave people feeling empty. Your stage presence can cause people to observe you rather than participate. You carry a lot of influence.

My question to you today is, are you stewarding that influence well?

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#118: Rita Springer on Prophetic Worship, Championing Others, & the Sufficiency of Jesus [Podcast]

SAN MARINO

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Do you want royalties or do you want to raise the dead?” – God’s word to Rita

It’s so easy to get our hearts set on the wrong things. We can be worship leaders but not actually worship. We can be Christians but be more in love with God’s gifts than God Himself. That’s why I love this conversation with Rita Springer. It’s a wake up call – a refreshing, prophetic challenge.

Rita is a special soul who has inspired many through her worship leading, songwriting, and records. She’s also the founder of DIVE, a worship school dedicated to help unleash creativity.

I love the honesty and passion in this interview. We talk about worship, her days with the Vineyard, playing the piano, what it means to lead prophetic worship, and so much more.

Enjoy!

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Dear Church Musician: Stop Limiting Yourself

DEAR CHURCH MUSICIAN-

I love making music in the church, for the church, to the glory of God.

It’s one of the greatest joys of my life to craft songs, liturgies, services that tell the story of Gospel and help people find their place in it. There’s nothing like hearing the raised voice of a worshiping congregation and seeing the look on people’s faces when they are meeting Jesus.

It will never grow old.

However, I want to talk about another side of the coin if you are a worship musician. If you play music in the local church you’ve probably noticed a trend, at least I have.

Music has become a means to an end.

A great means and a great end, but still, music has become a tool to execute a worship service. I find myself only playing my instrument when I have to prepare for Sunday or when I’m writing a song.

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#117: Building A Thriving Worship Department With River Valley Worship [Podcast]

BUILDING A

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Sometimes you just need to look behind the scenes of another worship ministry. In today’s podcast, I chat with two of my very good friends from college who just happen to lead an incredible worship ministry at River Valley Church in Minneapolis, MN – Aaron Johnson (@ajondrums) & Ryan Williams (@ryan_wllms).

We also discuss the release of their new album, Edge of Heaven which contains some powerful declarations of worship. And as usual, it sounds great.

Check it out!

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Confessions Of An Inconsistent, Terrible Bible Reader

CONFESSIONS OF AN

I’m going to be totally honest: I didn’t read my Bible much last year.

I started out strong with my Bible reading plan but it soon fizzled out.

It’s not what I ran to first thing in the morning. It’s not what I memorized. It’s not what I meditated upon day and night.

It’s not that I was lazy. I was actually fairly productive and got a lot of things done. But productivity without a sense of purpose connected to the Kingdom of God is meaningless.

I’m bringing this up because I know my own weakness. I know how to be a great worship leader but not know my God. I can memorize a worship song in 30 seconds but not open my Bible for months. I know how to read inspiring book after book but never seek God’s Word for myself.

For a while, I didn’t see this as much of a problem. I’ve read through the Bible multiple times in year’s past. I was raised in the church and knew all the stories and the general arc of Scripture. I had gone to Bible School, read Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, and boasted a massive ESV Study Bible.

To put it bluntly, I knew how to coast my present on what I learned in the past.

But I’m finished with that plan. Because it’s not working.

Is Scripture something that needs to be looked at, meditated on, pored over consistently? The answer is a resounding yes.

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