The idea of flowing in the Spirit can be a turn-off to many.
We’ve seen enough crazies to know we don’t want to be “that guy.”
The problem is that worship isn’t simply a performance of worship songs. It’s participation in the living, ever-present, life-changing presence of God.
Yea, that changes things.
In today’s episode, that’s what we discuss. There’s also an interview with Shalon Palmer, creator of a great new flow resource called Pad Loops.
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How to Flow
1. Come with Expectation
2. Come with Understanding
3. Come Willing to be Used
4. Come Prepared
- Know Your Music
- Harness the Power of Your Instrument
- Listen – Watch – Pray
- Know the Nashville Number System
- Chords in Major Keys: I ii iii IV V vi
- Master the Art of the Medley
Practical Flow Tips for Your Instrument
Bass – Bass adds energy, but is not a lead instrument. The worst thing you can do is fumble around on your fretboard trying to figure out what the chord progression is. Just hold still and worship. When the music builds and you’re confident in the progression, start to play simply. When in doubt, don’t play at all.
Electric Guitar – If you’re the lead instrument, strum a simple chord progression. If not, wait for the music to build and add some volume swells and eventually big chords on the downbeats.
Acoustic Guitar – If you’re the lead instrument, strum a simple chord progression as well. If not, just hold back for a while. Don’t play leads and do practice your chromatic scales
Keys – Keys are usually the lead instrument. Pay close attention to where the leader is going. If he builds, you build. Add energy with your playing. Interpret the moment with your dynamics.
Drums – The most important! Understand the psychology of the “drum build.” Start with simply cymbal swells. Slowly add kick drum. Add energy on the toms. Stay close to the moment and, be focused, and add energy.
Post Resources
- Book: Music Theory for the Music Industry by Jeffrey Kunde
- Pad Loops: use promo code davidsantistevan for a 25% discount
- Blog Post: 7 Worship Leading Skills No One Ever Taught You
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Question: How do you practice flow with your worship team? What does it look like in your services? Join the discussion and leave a comment by clicking here.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
David,
Thank you so much!! I can say this was one of the most helpful tools that I have heard for flowing in worship.To be quite honest it is an answer to my prayer, I just prayed that I would be able to flow in worship. So I thank God for this podcast. Thanks for sharing!!!
Good to hear, Lauren. Have you ever tried any of this stuff?
Playing and worshiping in he Spirit was very common in the 70’s. however, it wasn’t laid out like this. It wasn’t laid out at all. We played and sang and it worked. We lost track of time. We didnt jump or roll down the aisle. We were in God’s presence and we didnt want to leave. It was amazing. I haven’t had experiences like that since. Somewhere along the way we lost the awe and wonder. We show up now with the service so tightly packed there’s no time for God to move. It feels so fast, going from one element to another. But it’s my job to be lead to God so I try to focus on that.
Holly – do you think the programming of our services leaves no time for God to move? Or do you think God can also move in our planning?
This is a good one to ponder – we just went through a transition from 45 minutes of worship to 30 minutes of worship because we found that people were leaving service in the middle of worship, or waiting until the end of worship to come to service for the message.
The key phrase in that statement was “It feels …”. That was me – it FELT too fast, and certain days it still feels fast. But in getting this direction, God led me to Genesis 1, when He spoke light into being in an INSTANT! We talk about “creating room for God to move”, but He reminded me that HE is One who is not bound by time in accomplishing His purposes, and already knows way in advance what’s going to happen (25 cent word – omniscience), so he can do FAR MORE in an instant than we can imagine. When I caught this, it blew the walls off my box in terms of what He can accomplish in a “mere 30 minutes.” Hope that helps.
Cheyne, this is a great perspective. I came to the same realization with my 20 minutes each Sunday.
Your right Holly, it’s easy to lose focus, awe and wonder. It seems like everyone wants ‘instant coffee’ instead of the whole process of the ‘coffee-making’? The encounter to acknowledge the God of awesomeness begins with quality time face to face with Him.
Thanks David! and everyone else for sharing also!
I wanna ask: what about practical tips to flow for vocals? Any tips how to flow better?
Claire – that’s a great question. I didn’t think to include vocalists because they’re as much as a “flow” instrument. But here’s what I would say: know when to come in and when not to. There’s no need to sing all the time. It’s OK to worship apart from the mic so you don’t clutter up the mix.
On another note – I would challenge singers and worship leaders to learn how to “flow” in spontaneous singing. Know how to declare and sing your own melodies.
Thanks for sharing about Pad loops. I love this product! It sounds awesome and really adds to the flow and ambience of a song. Can’t wait to try it on a Sunday.
This is very practical and essential. Thank you David for taking your time consistently to share with us. It helps me to understand more details about flow