Worship...It's not just for the holidays!

Read: Hebrews 10:24‭-‬25, John 4:24, John 15:19, John 17:14-16, 1 John 2:15, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 96:8; Psalm 84 (Emphasis on verses 4 and 10)

The culture we live is vying for us to follow them and in many ways, it wants us to worship it. However, we are called to worship an audience of ONE...The Lord our God! 

We're to love God and not this world or the things of this world. We need to remember that the trappings of this world or temporal and everything will pass away but God and things of The Lord are eternal.

We're to be in and not of it as we're not to conform to this world. We're to be different and shine His light into the darkness. This is counter culture but we're either going to be In Christ or we are not. 

Worship and being an active part of The Body of Christ is a vital part of our faith and walk in Christ. This is also counter culture. 

We are called to worship with our lives and God's Word also places special emphasis on gathering together weekly to be instructed in The Word, Worship in Song, Fellowship, Give God the first fruits of your labor through your tithes and offerings, Caring for one another and more.

We shouldn't make gathering weekly a "sometimes" thing like only during special holidays. We also shouldn't make attending and being committed to the local church something that we do only when we "feel" like it because feelings come and go. No, we should be committed to the local church because God instructs us to do so and He knows what's best for us! 

You and I shouldn't attend out of legalistic reasons or just out of "obligation", rather, we should want to to be committed to attending because you know God wants us to do so.

Worship is a gift from God that in turn we give back to Him through our lives and weekly in a corporate setting or whenever or wherever you gather together with other believers. 

So, worship with your life and worship in connection to your attendance and heartfelt commitment to the local church because of God's great love for you and because The Body of Christ needs you as The Body isn't a complete body without you. 

In Christ,

Your Brother and Servant,

Randolph Koch

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9 Reasons why people aren't singing in worship

Some of you in the church may sadly blow this off as it doesn't fit into your philosophy, or as harsh as this sounds...maybe you don't care, or something else but I've observed and experience over the years many of things the author outlines.

I wonder if in the current state of church affairs (Specifically the church in US) if some of the "modern" worship leaders will be courageous enough to #1 read the below linked post (even if you don't agree), then #2 honestly pray and seek God about this, dare I say...#3 actually listen to the wisdom in your congregations, and #4 then adjust where necessary to steer the congregations back to genuine worship? 

This isn't really a matter of style or traditional vs. modern worship rather it's a matter of the heart and leadership/shepherding as well as everyone who attends desire to worship God in song genuinely and completely. Worship in Song is very important part of the life of the church so we ought to honestly and continually "check and adjust" to make sure we're on course. 

The Issue of Age in Modern Worship

I read an excellent blog post recently regarding The Issue of Age in Modern Worship and I wanted to share it here on my blog.

http://manuelluz.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/the-issue-of-age-in-modern-worship/ 

This definitely is a growing trend in many churches in the US and is something The Church as a whole should be concerned with. 

It is a concern I've had and I've witness this trend in many churches across America and is something that the church as a whole needs to consider and seek God about! The post focuses on Worship but I think this (the issue of age) is something that plagues other areas of the church as well.

"Age", "Coolness" and "looks" shouldn't be the deciding factor...maturity, capability, skill, talent and most of all "Calling" are many of the things that should be taken into consideration. If this is being used to grow the church the short term gain in numbers via the draw of a younger "face" of the church will not necessarily equate to true growth through the growth and development of the people who attend the church.

I also realize this issue can fall on both ends of the age spectrum. However, the last several years its fallen on the older end of the spectrum which is troubling because God isn't finished with us yet. (anyone over 20 something is seemingly considered old these days)

The issue in part comes down to balance...in other words the leadership needs to seek The Lord's help to find the right people to call and to utilize in ministry ...paid or volunteer...and that could be someone older or on the 20 something side of the spectrum. It just shouldn't be an issue of age.

God can use everyone!! We should seek to honor God in everything because it's about Him and we as leaders and followers of Christ will be accountable to Him!

God is not finished with any of us yet and in this particular case...the people in the "old" category still have a lot left to give and serve God and the Body of Christ with in the area of Worship and a multitude of other areas within The Church!

I wonder what it would take for The Church, as much as possible to become more Multi-Generational?

I don't know the complete answer to resolve this but I pray The Church (Not just one specific church, rather The Church as a whole) will consider this and seek to balance this so the young and the "old" (anyone seemingly over 20 something) will be used for and be allowed to use their gifts, talents and most of all for the calling God has placed on their lives.

I pray that we will prayerfully consider what the author shares in the above article.

Please take time to read the article and then come back and share your thoughts here. 

I would love to dialogue with you about this as it's an issue the church needs to wrestle with!

Prayerfully and with Hope,

rlk 

What happens when songs are too high (and too loud)

The author makes some great points about what happens when worship songs are too high. Check out the article here: http://tinyurl.com/kfog9gs 

Something to think about if you are a worship leader or worship pastor. Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. 

I have to interject that it does seem that today's worship songs are purposely high and loud and there's no in-between. Worship leaders, let me encourage you to shepherd your congregations by encouraging them to sing to their God via songs that are in a range that you don't have to be a "bird" to sing. ;-) 

Yes, the songs are just one mode of worship but an important one and a huge part of the weekly services so, shepherd them supporting their need and responsibility to worship The Lord in song and do so in a fashion the focus doesn't shift to things related to what the author says in the article. 

This isn't Chris Tomlin's congregation (or any other well known worshiper/worship leader for that matter) it's your congregation that God has given you responsibility over, so don't take that for granted. 

Also, the fallacy that seems to exist today that the music has be super loud in order to be good or to "lead people" in worship....it's wrong. Many churches are actually making ear plugs available to the congregation and I have to wonder...if people have to use ear plugs in order to "worship" is that really leading them in worship or does it detract from worship? 

For the ear plug utilizers, I'd say it must detract from their worship so I'd say, worship leaders, be mindful of the audio levels...if you turn it up...just make sure it's not up there too much as it does detract from what everyone is there to do and with both of these issues (too high and too loud) it can detract from you properly feeding the flock through your roll as worship leader/pastor/shepherd... food for though and prayerful consideration.

Praying the Lord uses all of you mightily and helps you strike the right balance in all these things.

Would love to hear your thought on these topic so please leave a comment to this blog post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

rlk

Open Thoughts on Worship

 

What does authentic congregational worship in song look like?

We see in the scriptures that in Biblical times it was most often people joining together to worship God and encourage each other with songs, hymns and spiritual songs. We are meant to focus our hearts on God and to be an encouragement to those who join together.

What if we did just what the above brief paragraph says? What would worship in song look like in today's "modern" church? 

Over the last several years I’ve observed a lot of different trends happening in worship at churches and I’m sure you have as well - Some are good and some are bad. Some are authentic and some are not. Some are genuine and some are gimmicks. 

I've been a part of church and around enough churches to see a whole range of things!...and I draw some of these from my own experiences in leading worship in Small Groups, Sunday School Classes, Retreats, Men's ministry as well as Sunday morning corporate worship.

So, I started to put together a list or “open thoughts on worship” sort of a do’s and don't's list not that it's really meant to be that rather, just a list of contrasting thoughts. Not a definitive list but as start and not in any particular order. Or, Maybe it's a list of "does" or "does not" look like list...

Some are meant to be funny although they resemble reality while others are meant to be a bit sobering.

I also want you to encourage you to join the conversation by adding to this list by leaving a comment here. 

I will continue to add to this list in the months to come and hope you will too as we seek to understand and dialogue about “what does it look like to truly worship the Lord in song and lead the congregation in worship?” (from the Worship leader as well as the worshiper standpoint.)

Blessings,
rlk

Do:

• Begin with prayer as a team and as you begin to lead the congregation in worship. (as much as possible)
• Select Christ centered songs
• Select songs that are Biblical
• Select a balanced mix of the old and the new songs and hymns as there's depth in both (like adding some hymns into the mix from time to time and doing them in an updated fashion is fine as long as you don't change the words/truths of the original hymn)
• See your role as shepherding role and then shepherd the congregation in worship in song
• Avoid songs that focus on man’s feelings or man in general
• Select songs that focus on God
• See worship as an opportunity to help focus and prepare the congregations hearts to receive the Word of God.
• Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit! 
• Sing in a Key that is comfortable to not only you but more importantly the congregation
• Sing the melody when you lead (only do harmony on occasion) because the congregation needs to hear their part and follow you!
• When praying if you want to some light transition or musical accompaniment - allow someone else to play like the keyboard as it sounds better and it’s not distracting
• Be Authentic/Transparent
• Be Humble
• Encourage
• Be respectful to the worship team - respectful of their time/investment and respectful of who they are as individuals
• Be professional in conduct
• Connect with the congregation
• Assess if you're truly called to lead worship
• Enjoy what you’re doing
• Express joy during worship
• Practice!
• Remember that you're also a worshiper! 
• Strive to be an effective leader.
• Give thought to coordinating the songs you select with the message that will be given - there might be a way to tie it together or complement the message rather than detract from it
• Seek out a mentor - Someone who can help you grow spiritually (Disciple you) and as a worship leader or team member
• Shepherd your team
• Build a strong and like-minded worship team or teams
• Remember who you’re worshiping and leading others in worship unto
• Allow others to lead – you don’t always have to be in the center of leading worship
• Allow the congregation to respond to the Lord in prayer, etc. and build that into the "worship set" from time to time.
• Pray
• Be in the Word
• Be an enabler
• Set an atmosphere of worship (this can mean a combination of things)
• Make sure you're not running the sound system too hot (loud). 
• Allow others to use their gifts and talents
• Select people who have proven character and a heart to serve
• Open your eyes as you lead people
• Avoid gimmicks
• Encourage the congregation to leave the troubles of the week at the feet of Jesus

Don’t:

• Select man-centered songs
• Select songs just because they’re popular
• Act like you’re a soloist or singing a solo when you “lead”
• Sing the harmony if you’re leading – the congregation needs to focus on singing praises not trying to find their part!
• Forget to teach new songs –actually try to teach it /run through it with the congregations.  Just because you know it and your team knows it doesn’t mean they do!
• Show boat
• Be a fake
• Randomly yell /shout - it's OK to be excited but there should be a purpose, order, reason for everything we do!
• Add in random or pointless vocal runs
• Sing in a key that only dogs can hear and birds can sing in. :-)
• Although emotions are part of a natural response to worshiping the Lord, don’t make worship out to be some emotional thing or an emotional device. There's a HUGE difference between being Spirit-Led and and emotion-led.
• Think worship in song is a your ticket to church growth
• Try to professionalize worship as you miss authenticity by doing so – this isn’t to say that we shouldn’t do our very best for the Lord just don’t discount non-professionals or complicate  things by making worship something it’s not
• Be in the spotlight or seek to be in the spotlight
• Make a big production out of worship
• Forget that you're NOT giving a performance
• Run the sounds system too hot (loud) as it's not a "rock concert" and you can seriously impede peoples worship and potentially damage peoples hearing. (No Joke)
• Have a huge ego
• Come across as impersonal
• Stop having a choir just because you think "modern churches" don't have them anymore. There still may be room for choir as part of the "modern" worship.
• Randomly strum your guitar while you pray…it’s distracting
• Discount non-professionals
• Confuse being spirit-led and your emotions. Grow to discern the difference.
• Select the worship team based on looks alone
• Select a worship leader just because you think they’ll drive up numbers of visitors and congregation
• Select a worship leader just because they are young and hip
• Select worship team members who seek to be up front
• Select a worship team just because they are “professional”
• Use fog machines and fancy lighting – leave that stuff for concerts at your local performing arts center as they don't really add to the worship
• Keep your eyes closed the entire time you sing – you can be heartfelt while you worship and lead but you can’t shepherd the congregation with your eyes closed the entire time

On the Senior Pastor’s Level of Involvement in the Worship Ministry

I came across the below video regarding the Sr. Pastor, (Or sometimes called Lead Pastor today) involvement on Pastor James MacDonalds blog called "Straight Up" which is a ministry to pastors.

I appreciated what he shared and wanted to share it with you.

Worship is so much more than just music, (although music is important) as we have the opportunity to worship the Lord with our lives each day and during our weekly services, we are able to worship Him in spirit and truth through song, the proclamation of The Word of God, and more.

Watch this short video and then feel free to post your thoughts on worship here by leaving a comment.

Let's pray that all of the body of Christ, The people as well as the churches within it will evaluate our worship and take a full balanced approach to this essential part of our walk with God!

As always, you'll want to pause the music via the right navigation bar where it says Tunes so you can hear the audio properly.