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This week’s podcast is all about keeping things fresh.
Without a doubt, we all get stuck in ruts. We go through the motions. We get stale in our leadership. In order to be a great worship leader, we need to cultivate a massive imagination – to see more and more of God in His Word and in the world, to learn new musical ideas, to step into what is unknown.
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In This Episode You’ll Hear More About
- Why a massive imagination is important for worship leaders.
- How to avoid burnout.
- The problem with copying what others are doing.
- What to do when you don’t feel appreciated in what you do.
- Why God wants to do something fresh through you, in your life and community.
- What David Gungor has to say about leading worship and knowing your context.
- 8 Tips for Growing Your Imagination
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Know Your Room
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Know Your People
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Forget About What You Think is Cool
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Sing the Bible
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Surround Yourself with Interesting People
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Do Something Crazy
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Write
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Lead Different Generations in Worship
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Question: How do you cultivate wonder and imagination as a worship leader? How do you keep it fresh? Always love to hear from you! You can leave a comment by clicking here.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
David–thank you for the encouragement to stay in the word.
Your encouragement to work with children–Beautiful! You sparked my imagination.
Concerning my heart. My dad would say,
“What’s in the well comes up in the bucket”
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman and allowed her to give him water, her imagination did a run-away. At the conclusion of her encounter with him, she said,
“This man told me everything I have ever done.” (John 4)
Many people put their faith in Jesus because of her life and the words of Jesus.
Jesus stayed in Samaria for two days and the Samaritan people now tell the woman,
“We no longer have faith in Jesus because of what you told us. We have heard him ourselves, as we are certain that he is the Savior of the world!” (v.42)
–I wonder just how significant it is to have Jesus tell us everything we have ever done?
–I wonder how much I believe only because of someone else’s encounter and transformation? Such belief can only copy-cat.
–I wonder how much I express my faith only because I was told to do it that way.(religion)
–I wonder how many of us who stand before the congregation as a director–a pointer–a facilitator, lose touch with the ambition of God? “We are certain that he is Savior of the world!”
How about a fresh imagination that results in, “We no longer worship Jesus because of what you told us–we worship him as we are now certain that he is the Savior of the world.” ? I imagine such independence in worship. I long for all the congregation to need no leader–merely a facilitator.
How about a fresh imagination that results in, “We no longer worship the way we were told and shown–we worship the way we do because we are certain that he is the Savior of the world. (end of the rubber-stampers) Local indigenous character is fresh, but quite rare.
I am not convinced that those of us who “lead” (I think “worship leader” is an unfortunate misnomer–we are merely facilitators) want to give up this much perceived power and control.
I so often can act as an owner when I am merely a humble manager. This fact alone stifles and boggles the imagination. Not to mention exposes my ego. Not to mention fosters dependence and co-dependence on me, not God.
I like the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him put on his swim suit”. I can lead a horse–I can lead people, But I cannot lead worship. In fact, my attempts are why so many rebel and won’t put on their swim suit. They’d rather pretend than comply with what goes against their inner truth. If I really am interested in leading them to Jesus, I must get out of the way–I must decrease–He must increase.
Therefore, I contend, that a “Massive Imagination” is not always a good thing.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:5
I think we are giving way too much power to the position of Worship Leader. Where is any of this stuff we read and see that goes on in some churches in scripture? I think we over complicate it when it just boils down to: be close to God and that overflow will spill out on others AND natural musical gifting. There is a prescribed way to worship. We are to worship HIM in spirit and truth. Let’s dig into that to find out what scripture says about that! Enough of this man made hoopla. Many popular worship leaders with their “hit” music actually come out of churches that are in theological error! Some are just plain old whack jobs! Really! So why are we listening to them? We can easily drift away from the simplicity of Christ as REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE. “They that compare themselves among themselves are NOT wise”. 2 Corin. 10:12
I agree to me the worship helps to prepare for the people to receive the word the word always takes presidence over the music otherwise the church will lack direction its the word that keeps us on track.The worship helps to lift us and encourage us walk in that word and gives us the opportunity to give thanks back to him.
I have been in a church that the music leaders rebeled against the leadership and it caused a split in the church it was awful there was a lot of hurt people.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after going through many of the articles I realized I can’t find my way back!!! Haha… Lucky me!! I’m definitely pleased I found it and I’ve book-marked it this time! Thank you so much for sharing!! Luv your blog!!
Thank You David, God is using you. Thank you so much for your words, what I needed this week.
It is the holy spirit that we need to seek for the music or any ministry even secular work for what he wants us to do we must follow him we also need to live the christian life turn from sin in every area dont have any footholds if you do that you will be effective.
The other morning i woke up with a song on my heart and i am preparing to be involved with a worship service this sunday anyway when the music leader told me the songs and it was one of the songs i knew that that song has the holy spirits blessing he is going to take charge of it.We havent done that service yet so am expecting him to touch lives with that song this weekend.That makes it exciting i dont know what is going to happen but am trusting God.