Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

Archives for August 2016

#131: Michael Farren On Pastoring Over Performing & Writing Songs for Church [Podcast]

PASTORING OVER PERFORMING &

There’s a lot of people standing on stages in front of the Church that Jesus loves, and they don’t have a pastor’s heart.” – Michael Farren

Something special happens when you merge a heart for people with a passion for music. Songs become less of a performance vehicle and more of a pastoral one – speaking truth to weary souls. That’s why I love the ministry of Michael Farren.

Michael is the songwriter of many popular songs, including Let it Rain (Michael W Smith) and Trust in You (Lauren Daigle). He’s also a worship pastor, record producer, and leader of All About Worship, a ministry that resources local church worship pastors and songwriters.

In this podcast we talk pastoring, songwriting, music, doing the work, and more. It’s a good time.

Enjoy!

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Spontaneous Or Structured Worship: Which Is Better For Our Churches?

SPONTANEOUS,

Planned worship. Prophetic worship. Structure or Spontaneity? Beyond the wars of modern or traditional, rock band or liturgical, is another worship war. Do we allow the band to flow in the moment or do we create a tight plan?

If you lead worship, I’m sure you’ve wrestled with this before.

For some, corporate worship is nothing more than executing a plan. It’s like hitting play on a worship album. No room to breathe, no seeming space for the Holy Spirit to move.

But for others, prophetic worship is often an excuse for lazy music, lazy production, and lazy planning. It’s just not done well.

Spontaneous worship done well is the result of disciplined practice, relational connection, and intimacy with God. But so often it translates into something so poorly done it doesn’t connect with anyone.

But if you want to do spontaneous well, let’s define what it is.

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How Genuine Worship Gets Replaced With Ego, Envy, & Self Centeredness

#GENUINE WORSHIP

You know what’s easy? Noticing what everyone else is doing wrong. You know what’s hard? Admitting when you’re the problem.

Jesus knew that when he said to remove the log in our own eye before we remove the plank in another’s. And so when I talk about genuine worship, I long for that reality in my team – that every musician, every singer, every volunteer would be focused on the main thing. But I know it starts with me.

Leader, it starts with you. Really, it starts with all of us taking responsibility for ourselves. You may be a worship leader, a singer, an admin, or a guitar genius.

Guard your focus. Most people enter into ministry or volunteering in a local church with a passion for the glory of God. They’ve tasted and seen He is good and they want others to see what they have seen. To taste what they have tasted. To know the God they have come to know.

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#130: Brian Zahnd on Blending Traditions, Pop Christianity, & The Centrality of the Sacrament

BLENDING TRADITIONS

We need the whole body of Christ to properly form the body of Christ. This much I’m sure of: Orthodox mystery, Catholic beauty, Anglican liturgy, Protestant audacity, Evangelical energy, Charismatic reality—I need it all!” – Brian Zahnd

One of my favorite books of 2016 is Water to Wine by Pastor Brian Zahnd. It’s a well-written, fascinating, honest story of his theological journey. It will challenge you, make you uncomfortable, and delight you all at once.

In this exclusive conversation Brian and I talk about the book, music, the writing process, theology, church, worship, communion, and much more.

Don’t miss it!

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Why Your Stage Presence Matters

WHY YOUR

Stage presence. It’s a conversation that excites some and infuriates others.

Some pay attention to it, others don’t seem to care.

Truth is, you can’t afford to ignore it.

But let’s set the record straight. Your stage presence is important, but not of primary importance.

Just as your talent doesn’t force the Holy Spirit’s hand, neither does your boundless energy. He isn’t waiting for your voice to hit high notes, your team to sing certain songs, or your stage energy to reach higher levels of insanity.

God isn’t waiting for you to develop better musicians, use Ableton Live, record a live album of original songs, and get booked for youth events around the country.

Here’s the reality: The Holy Spirit is present, ready, and moving…no matter what.

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