Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

How To Craft A Worship Setlist That Flows

[This post is part of a series on Your Guide to Selecting and Leading Songs for Worship. Check out the rest here.]

Ever force a family member or friend to ride a roller coaster they didn’t want to ride? And they hated you for it? Sometimes our worship sets are like a crazy roller coaster…that people are forced to endure. Up, down, spinning around, stop, go, headache, whip, punch-myself-in-the-face-this-is-so-awful.

Why? Because there’s no continuity – no flow. It’s simply a hodge podge of songs. I’ve been in worship services (and led worship services) where this was the case. I’d rather not do it again.

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What Trumpets and Conductors Can Teach You About Leading Worship

Do you know that your style of worship leading could be hindering people from entering in? Could it be that, good intentions and all, you are a distraction to worship? Before you write me off, consider the possibility and allow me to explain.

When you prepare your worship services, the first thoughts on your mind are probably not trumpet solos and conducting. At least that hasn’t been the case for me. But they both have important lessons to teach us on how to engage a congregation in worship effectively.

This topic of engaging a congregation has really stole my attention the past few months. I’m not content to just perform well. I want people to truly experience God. And based on the fact that you read this blog, I assume that’s your desire too.

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Do You Have What it Takes To Tour Full Time? [Video]

Brad & Rebekah are full-time traveling worship leaders. They write their own music, do their own booking, social media, graphics, & a host of other things. What I appreciate about these guys is that they work extremely hard at what they do. While their core value is to trust God and rely on Him to open doors for new opportunities, they are not passive about it. They go for it.

I wanted to record this interview for a couple reasons. First, I want you to get to know Brad & Rebekah. Buy their music. Lead their songs. Consider inviting them to lead worship at your church. You won’t regret it.

Also, maybe you would like to tour someday. Hopefully you can glean some insight into what it takes.

Here are the three poins Brad outlines to be a successful touring artist:

  1. REASON – the “why” behind the “what”
  2. WILLINGNESS – to serve wherever, no matter how small. Excellence in the little things.
  3. HARD WORK – develop an ‘up-to-date’ social media platform, contact hundreds of churches, write songs, network.

Question: If you tour, what are the key things that make you successful? If not, do you have any desire to tour someday?

How To Use the “H” Word in Worship Without Starting a War

[This post is part of a series on Your Guide to Selecting and Leading Songs for Worship. Check out the rest here.]

I never knew the phrase “we should do more hymns” would feel like a stab in the heart. It hurts even more when it’s followed up with the leg sweep of “we don’t like your songs”.

So as I lie there bloodied and battered down, I wonder, “Do these people know how much time I put into worship for Sunday morning?” Praying through the setlist, scheduling the band, preparing for a great rehearsal, praying for God to move, showing up early, getting nervous, pouring my heart out.

And then I hear it echoing through my head like an annoying baby toy: “we should do more hymns, we should do more hymns, we should do more…”

I know that was maybe slightly dramatic. But in all honesty, it’s how we as worship leaders feel when it comes to hymns: it’s an all-out war! The elder segment of the church desire the rich theology of the songs they sang when they were saved, while the young people desire the new, fresh expressions of worship because they just don’t “get” the hymns.

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