Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

What Does It Mean To Be A Christian Musician? (New Blog Series)

Have you ever been told that listening to or playing secular music is wrong?

Have you ever wondered what it means to be a Christian musician in the “marketplace”?

We know it’s OK to play Christian music, but what about the Christian who sings, gigs, and performs in the “world”? What are the differences between a musician who is a Christian and one who is not?

Should there be a difference or is it simply a job for both?

This is the tension we find ourselves in today.

Will you help me tackle this?

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Why Do You Serve God?

I love this verse from the book of Hebrews:

“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Hebrews 6:10).

We all know we’re supposed to have love for God and love for people. But what drives your desire to serve – to be a small group leader, to pastor, to lead a worship team, to work with disabled children, to work with young people, etc?

What sustains your leadership and keeps you from burnout?

According to this verse, it’s love for God – the honor of His name.

If you pursue ministry for any other purpose than love for God’s Name, you will burn out. Love for God sustains service for God.

Question: Do you agree? What sustains you in your service for God?

10 Ways to Define Success as a Worship Leader

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A couple weeks ago I poised the question, “What do successful worship leaders do?” How do we define it?

If it doesn’t necessarily involve big tours and best selling records, what does it involve?


Here’s some ways I define success:

  • A congregation that engages in the worship experience
  • Musicians that improve musically
  • Musicians that grow closer to Christ
  • A team that grows numerically
  • Other worship leaders are being raised up
  • Music serves people rather than distracts
  • A team that worships and has a passion for God’s glory
  • A discipleship plan is in place
  • A team that follows and respects your leadership

Notice that all these items don’t just involve you. Effective worship leaders don’t just look internal, they pour themselves out for others. That’s the nature of leadership and the nature of a successful worship leader.

Notice there were only 9 ways listed. The last one is for you to add. What defines success for you as a worship leader?

Nobody is Talented

This book and this book ruined me for blaming extraordinary performance on talent.

It’s true that if you’re 4′ 5″ you won’t beat Lebron James in one on one. Your physical DNA is a good starting place for certain career paths.

But it’s not everything.

Those who are extraordinary:

  • work extremely hard
  • show up when they don’t feel like it
  • seek out mentors
  • invest hours upon hours of time improving
  • increase their knowledge
  • practice well
  • fail a lot
  • refuse to give up
  • invest financially in getting better
  • contribute more than consume
  • wake up early
  • think differently about failure
  • consume a lot
  • manage their time well
  • don’t watch much TV
  • think differently about success
  • see their work as more than work
  • would do what they do for free
  • admit when they’re wrong and where they’re weak
  • learn things wherever they are and whomever they’re with
  • have a driving passion

Don’t blame your inability to succeed on ‘not having enough talent’.

What do you think? Are people talented or do they just work hard and have unique experiences that make them better?