Worship Podcast & Blog
When I don’t know who I am…
Good art invites the listener to have as big a part of the interpretation as the one saying it.” – David Gungor
No one would debate that 2016 was a polarizing year. But in the midst of such political unrest & cultural anxiety, The Brilliance created a record. And a beautiful one at that.
David Gungor & John Arndt have been creating beautiful music for the last few years that has challenged and inspired many. In this conversation we talk about the new record, songs in church, and living lives of love.
Don’t miss it!
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If you lead worship, you know what it’s like to need musicians.
Sometimes all it takes is a living, breathing human who can hold an instrument and they’re welcomed to the stage with open arms.
You want to sing? You’re on the team.
You know what a keyboard is? Consider yourself scheduled.
Played the guitar once? How’s this Sunday look?
It’s just the nature of the ministry – people come and people go. You need people to fill out your team. The problem is that we give more thought to people’s skill than we do their attitude. And bad attitudes can erode a team’s culture.
Have you ever thrust someone into a leadership role because they were super talented? But you didn’t do the hard work of teaching them how to love and serve God’s people? Yea, me neither.
There are just some people who can’t help but complain about everything. I especially see this in church. Rather than dive headfirst into what is happening in the Kingdom of God, they’d rather sit from a distance and complain about it.
The problem with this attitude is that Jesus loves his church. And he’s not asking you to reform it as much as he is asking you to be it.
In the midst of all this talk about improving the worship experience, picking better songs, raising up greater talent, and leading powerful worship, lies the hearts of our team members. And therein lies my heart and your heart. God has given us talent and He calls for excellence, but excellence with a bad attitude is not honoring to God.
That’s why, today, we’re talking attitudes. Excited?
One of the struggles we face with modern worship is how closely the form resembles your typical rock show. There’s a stage, lights, hazer, and an audience with their eyes on you. And it’s not only the rock worship band who is prone to this. Anyone who’s been on stage knows, it can be an addicting experience. You feel important, valuable, liked, maybe even adored. The thought of “serving your local church” may not even enter into the equation. Because you’re a musician and you belong on stage.
Right?
So what do you do? Sunday morning becomes a gig. You roll in with your gear, play the sets, and roll out. It’s quite possible that the only time you’re in church is if you’re on stage.
This is unhealthy on a number of levels. Believe me. I’ve been there.
Let’s consider I Peter 4:8-11:
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
I love this verse. Let’s draw from this our theology of attitude:
1. Serving in the Local Church is About Love – The motivation that should rise above all motivations is that of love. The reason you play your guitar in church is to love people. The reason you are on stage is to love. And this verse doesn’t just say love. It says to love each other deeply. That lays bare my selfish motivations. How dare I step into a leadership role on stage, leading the Church who Jesus died for, and seek to use their attention for my own gain? Lord have mercy.
2. Serving on the Worship Team is a Ministry of Hospitality – I love this idea of “offering hospitality to one another without grumbling.” At its core, Sunday morning ministry is about hospitality. We are creating an environment for people to encounter God, not to bask in our awesomeness. What does it mean to be hospitable? It means to create a warm, friendly, welcoming environment. If I’m on stage with a scowl, fully immersed in my own parts, tone, and image, how is that being hospitable? It actually has the opposite effect. Imagine visiting a restaurant where all the hostesses and waitresses were taking selfies and didn’t even acknowledge your presence? I don’t think you’d stick around.
3. Using Your Gift is an Extension of God’s Grace – If you can sing, play keys, or lead a production team, it’s not just a reflection of how talented and hard working you are. At its core, it’s a distribution vehicle of God’s grace. This is of massive importance. Why? Because it keeps any of us from taking credit for something we are not responsible for. Rather, we do what we do in the strength that God supplies. And in the end, God gets the glory. We work hard, we develop our gift. But we do it because of God’s grace, for the glory of God’s name.
So let’s have an attitude check. Look inwardly at your own attitude. If you lead a team, take a hard look at how you’re leading your team to have a great attitude.
Teach them how to love the church, be hospitable, and serve in the strength that God supplies.
What struggles are you facing in regards to attitude? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
The writing process is always hard, but if you keep pushing through it you get more adjusted to the difficulty of writing songs.” – Ryan O’Neal
If there’s anyone who knows how to write lyrics and melodies, it’s Ryan O’Neal from Sleeping at Last. For years I’ve been inspired by how Ryan approaches his craft – with discipline, hard work, joy, and purity. If you’ve never heard his music, you’re welcome. Now is the time.
Ryan isn’t your typical musician – rather than releasing an album every 3 years, he releases new songs every month. He’s done this for years now and it has worked incredibly well for him. In addition to all his albums and projects, his music has been featured on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen, So You Think You Can Dance, and commercials for Mercedes Benz, Budweiser, and more.
Trust me, his music will help you savor life more, persevere through hard times more, and help you see the beauty in all things.
Today we talk about creative process, lyric writing, software instruments, recording, production, movies, and more. Let me know what you think!
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