Archive - April, 2011

6 Reasons Why You Should Host A Songwriting Retreat For Your Worship Team

April 29, 2011 in Songwriting with 14 Comments

Writing your own songs is not a life or death issue for your worship team.

You don’t need it to be successful. It’s quite OK to sing the great songs of worship leaders like Matt Redman, Paul Baloche, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton, Kari Jobe, and others.

The presence of God can still be present in your gatherings and the favor of God can still fill your ministry.

But I think you should give songwriting a try. And, I think you should consider hosting a songwriting retreat with some members of your worship team.

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15 Things You Might Not Want To Say To Your Lead Pastor

April 28, 2011 in Worship Leaders with 16 Comments

Lead pastors are awesome. I serve with one of the best in the world. I’ve written a lot on the blog about owning your senior pastor’s vision and understanding your pastor’s values.

So, let’s have some fun today. Worship leaders, because your pastor is so awesome, you might want to keep your vocabulary free from these sayings:

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Confessions Of A Worship Songaholic: What Singing Too Many Songs Taught Me About Worship

April 27, 2011 in Worship Leaders with 13 Comments

[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

When was the last time you were desperate for God?

When was the last time you lost track of time worshiping?

When was the last time you cried in the presence of God?

When was the last time you talked about Jesus, rather than just your favorite songs?

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Organized Chaos: Executing Everything On Your Schedule…On Purpose

April 26, 2011 in Leadership with 6 Comments

Feeling a little too busy?

Wish there were more hours in the day to get things done?

Busyness can take its toll on you in more ways than one. You lose sleep. You’re stressed. You do mediocre work. You forget things. Life becomes exactly what you never wanted it to be.

It’s time you start doing everything on your schedule on purpose.

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How To Plan An Effective Worship Set AND Flow in the Spirit

April 25, 2011 in Worship Leaders with 10 Comments

[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

There has always been a tension between crafting an effective songlist and flowing in the Spirit. We want to be organized, but we also want to follow what God is doing in the moment.

It’s important that you learn how to do this. Great worship leaders plan powerful setlists, but also follow the Holy Spirit, wherever He may lead.

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When Does Worship Become Just A Performance?

April 23, 2011 in Worship with 18 Comments

[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

How far is too far?

Does performance have a place in worship?

When does worship slowly become about performance?

When does it become more about the stage than about the cross?

When does it become more about a killer band than a risen Savior?

Are we in danger of “emptying the cross of its power?”

Is our worship an echo of the Apostle Paul’s concern in Corinthians that we speak wise words but have no demonstration of the Spirit’s power?

How can we know if we’re performing too much?

How can we know if we’re not performing enough?

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Why I’m Taking You Off the Worship Team Schedule

April 22, 2011 in Musicians with 13 Comments

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You are so much more than a musician.

You’re not just a replaceable, dispensable instrumentalist.

You play a significant role in leading people to encounter God by your skill, your sensitivity, your humility, your stage presence, your worship.

That’s why we as worship leaders love when you’re prepared. You make it easier for people to meet with Jesus.

But I’m going to have to ask you to step down for a season. Trust me, it’s not an easy decision to make. We’re actually in need to your particular instrument. I like you. I believe God has a massive purpose for your life on this earth.

But there are some things that need to change.

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Is Worship More About Proper Theology or Personal Response?

April 21, 2011 in Worship with 32 Comments

[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]

I’ve been to many churches throughout the years and have seen both sides of this.

At one church you have robust, theological songs and hymns, sung by people who look like they’re being tortured.

In other churches you have intimate love songs sung by people who are falling all over the place.

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Why You Should Consider Ditching iTunes for Rdio

April 20, 2011 in Music with 13 Comments

Actually, maybe “ditching” is a strong word. I like iTunes.

I’m sorry iTunes. That was insensitive.

But Rdio is capturing my attention right now.

Rdio is a new social music service that centers upon unlimited internet music streaming. I have been loving it so far. In this brief video I walk you through some of the features. By the way, I didn’t realize it was pronounced (ar-dee-o) until after I shot the video. My sincere apologies.

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Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions

April 19, 2011 in Worship Leaders with 29 Comments

This new blog series is all about the differences we have when it comes to worship. Head and heart. Skill and passion. Unbeliever and Christian.

We all come from many church traditions. Everywhere we’ve been affects what we believe and where we are going. What you value may be different than what I value.

The question is, do you now what you value? Why do you do the specific things you do as a worship leader? In this series we’ll face these tensions head on and discuss practical ways to lead our teams and our congregations through them.

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