Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

How to Develop a Strong Relationship Between Pastor & Worship Leader

Have you ever worked with someone you couldn’t stand?

If so, you probably wouldn’t consider that situation paradise. I’m sure it was character building, but not a place you want to invest yourself, long term.

In the ministry world, there’s probably no more tumultuous relationship than a Lead Pastor and a Worship Pastor. There’s more misunderstanding on both sides of this equation than in any other role in the church. But when these two leaders are in unity, respecting what each other provides, there’s no stopping what God can do.

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What The Next Generation of Worship Leaders Need

For those of us who have been leading worship for quite a while, it’s healthy to look back and see what we are leaving in our wake.

Because there’s a generation behind us that is observing, learning, and picking up what we’re putting down.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been immersed in many viewpoints when it comes to corporate worship:

  • It’s all about flow.
  • It’s about structure.
  • It’s about excellence.
  • It’s about the Spirit.
  • It’s about good songs.
  • It’s about spontaneous songs.
  • It’s not about songs.
  • It’s about trendy.
  • It’s about hymns.

At one point we were all concerned if clicks and loops would hinder the moving of the Spirit.

I don’t think we’re in danger of not using enough click tracks and loops. The danger now is an over-dependence on them. It’s too easy for us to pull off songs with tight execution and call it done.

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#189: Phil Wickham on The Songwriting Process [Podcast]

When it comes to finding great songs for church, look no further than Phil Wickham. Phil’s songs have a theological depth and pop sensibility that get stuck in your head like no other. His new record, Living Hope, might be his best yet.

So I wanted to bring Phil on the show to talk about his journey, running, his local church, songwriting, and whatever else we talk about. It’s a good one, folks.

Enjoy!

Click to Listen

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What Makes Corporate Worship Awesome?

When was the last time you heard, “Worship was awesome today!”

As long as the drum kit didn’t fall over, your band was in the same key, and you didn’t miss every lyric, you probably heard it.

But what makes worship awesome? What makes it meaningful for people? What makes it effective for the gathered people of God?

When I categorize a worship set as “awesome,” it has something to do with a solid band, my favorite songs, well programmed lighting, and hands in the air. There’s a direct correlation between the work we put in and the result that we see.

However, what does God do in corporate worship? What is the Spirit’s responsibility? What activity can we only attribute to Jesus and His work?

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How to Have a Great Week as a Worship Pastor

OK, Worship Pastors. Let’s get real. Have you ever had to explain what you do?

Have you ever had to answer a random stranger the question of what you do for a living? You can’t just say, “I’m a worship pastor.” Because that doesn’t make sense.

Unless you’re a church person, you’ll have no idea what that means. Typically that question is answered with, “I’m a music pastor. I lead worship. I oversee the music in my church. But it’s more than just a Sunday job. There’s a lot of other things I do too.”

I could go on and on. It’s a long answer.

But what do we actually do? Of course, this post isn’t about explaining ourselves. I simply want to help you have a good week.

Oftentimes we live in two different extremes. On one side we’re planning, dreaming, brainstorming the future. We want to break new ground. Stay ahead of the curve. Anticipate what’s coming next. Many of us are there. But many of us are also buried, drowning in the sea of mundane maintenance. We’re not inspired. We’re not advancing. We’re just getting by.

You may even be asking the question, “Am I supposed to be here?”

But what if you could engineer a great week? What if you could plan a week that was filled with real, genuine ministry? Not just tasks, todo’s, and endless busy work. It’s possible. It just takes some advanced planning and a resilience to keep at it.

Do you remember what the Bible says about ministry?

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”

We are not here for ourselves. We are not here to simply be busy. We are here to equip.

5 Ways to Have a Great Week as a Worship Pastor

Here we go.

1.Make Phone Calls – Email and text messages have overtaken our lives. Yes, they’re more convenient. Yes, it’s easier to get an answer. But a phone call goes the distance. You’ll never know how effective a phone call can be in someone’s life. Look at your team roster and call people randomly. No agenda. Just to thank them for serving and to pray for them. Simple, but so effective.

2. Develop Someone – Who are you going to develop this week? Who are you going to pour yourself into? This needs to be a main agenda for every week. Maybe you feel threatened by more talented team members. Maybe you fear someone will take your place. The truth is, the most important and effective Worship Pastors are those who develop others. You won’t be known for the strength of your talent but the strength of the team underneath you.

3. Connect With Your Lead Pastor – Be proactive. Don’t wait. Plan how you’ll serve your Pastor. Think through the weekend services before he comes to you. Corporate worship isn’t a place to do what you want. It’s a place to serve a local body and the vision of your Pastor. The better you serve the vision, the more you connect, the more he or she will trust you with your vision.

4. Expand Your Team – How will your team grow this week? What steps can you take to build connections with people and grow your team? There is an ebb and flow to church life. There are seasons where you may not “need” musicians. But if you know anything about ministry, you know those times don’t last long. Always create context for more involvement. Keep the door open for new disciples.

5. Spend Time With Jesus – I know that’s an answer everyone knows. It’s common sense. But if you’re ministry doesn’t flow from a living reality in Christ, it won’t work. This isn’t a profession. It’s a calling. This isn’t a good career move. It’s a commission. Always be moved by Jesus. Keep your heart in a soft place. Stay close to your Bible.

What would you add?

How do you structure your week to get things done and do real ministry?

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