Worship Podcast
Bob Kauflin’s new book, “Worship Matters“, is a fantastic resource for worship leaders and pastors alike. Part 3 of this book lists some ‘healthy tensions’ that we as leaders need to balance in our ministry. Here they are for your contemplation:
What do these mean to you?
My excitement continues to grow. Mastering for the album is taking place in two weeks. Music is such a diverse art. One individual hears a sound and is disgusted with it. Another hears the same sound and is crying tears of joy. Some like country, jazz, rock, pop, metal, hardcore, the list goes on. The bottom line is that music effects people. My personal heart and vision for this music is more than simply entertainment, though I do listen to music for entertainment at times. I want it to be a journey into the Word of God and hope it stirs you to love it and do what it says. Certain music through the years has influenced the way I view God and has been a soundtrack for the ministry I do everyday. I pray this music effects you spiritually. You may not like the sound. You may love the sound. One sound of music rarely, if ever, is everyone’s preference. But I pray you feel the passion, hear the Word of God, and feel the tears through which many of these songs were written.
Over the next couple weeks I am going to post some song stories for you to know the background of why they were written. Mini Bible studies, if you will. They all have a purpose and a story.
Thanks for reading (and listening!).
“Will our time together cause people’s view of, trust in, and desire for God’s glory in Christ and him crucified to increase?”
– Bob Kauflin (Worship Matters, 79)
As a leader, are you asking this?
What is your natural response when disappointment strikes? When things go wrong? To put it bluntly, when life is pretty much crap? Depression. Disillusionment. Feelings of abandonment. Ponder a few Psalms with me:
“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction” (Psalm 119:92).
“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight” (Psalm 119:143).
“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:10-11).
I love how the word ‘delight’ jumps out of these verses. I know when you are in the middle of a difficult, prolonged struggle, this seems impossible to do. But I think it’s the most important action. Let your delight be so rooted in the Scriptures so that when disappointment comes, your true joy and true life remains.
The Word of God is enduring.
Jesus Christ is faithful.
He cannot let you down.
And as Psalm 147 reminds us, God’s delight is not in our human strength, talent, or ingenuity. He delights in those who simply fear him and hope in his love.
Be strengthened today.
Just watched this very powerful song story from Hillsong Australia. What makes this song powerful is it’s backed by a life of desperate faith in an all-sufficient Savior. Lyrics cannot just be lyrics. Lyrics must be lived. It’s hard to hold the tears back on this one.