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Should An Unbeliever Be A Part of The Worship Team

Article by Darin Browne November 10, 2011 in Guest Blog with 5 Comments

As a worship leader it will be significant that you simply contemplate the question of whether or not an unbeliever might be a part of your worship program. I’m typically asked this question when two situations happen in a church: there are few team members obtainable for the worship program, and the person who just isn’t a Christian is a very proficient individual. You probably have a large church with many proficient musicians then the question could not have an effect on you as much, but if your team is small and a very gifted musician or singer is in the wings, are you able to willingly accept them into your worship program with a clear conscience?

What is the Worship Program Really About?

When considering your team, it’s essential to cease for a second and ask your self what the worship program is all about. Is it about having an important sound, or being professional or rocking the congregation’s socks off? Or is it about leading your church family right into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Lord?

I might counsel to you that the worship program must be about leading people to God in worship. Certain, we want to be professional and to play and sing to a high and exquisite standard, but I might suggest that these are secondary concerns in your worship program. A worship program is a spiritual occasion, not a live performance, so the concept a non-believer can be part of your team is unquestionably out of phase with the goals of your worship program team.

Who Qualifies Somebody to Take Half in the Worship Program?

In groups that I’ve lead, one of many core requirements of crew members is that they know Jesus and have a relationship with Him. Non-believers can undoubtedly play effectively, sing well, and doubtless perform properly, however they haven’t any idea of the very central concept of the worship program: nearer communion with the Lord. Yes, we wish it played and sung brilliantly, however we do not want to compromise the spirit of our worship program simply to sound a bit better.

One of the first main worship program teams I assembled featured an excellent drummer who was not a Christian, but who proved to be a demanding and slightly aggressive team member. We had a backup drummer who was relegated to percussion, and who was just happy to be a part of the worship program at all. When the unbelieving drummer didn’t trouble to show up to observe twice over because he mentioned he was ok, I appointed the Christian guy. He could not play as properly, however he had an amazing spirit and understood what humility and serving within the worship program was all about.

Can the Worship Program Be a Instrument To Reach Team Members?

In most fashionable churches, the pressure is on worship leaders to sound great and act professional (and this implies accepting talented people whose lives should not proper with the Lord) and I consider that worship leaders have to make a stand in their worship program. I have heard of non-believers becoming Christians due to their involvement within the worship band, but I don’t really feel that that is the way we should be operating. Why not lead them to the Lord first (when there isn’t any ego opportunity at stake), then introduce them to the entire idea of worship, both personal and corporate.

Using worship team involvement to win a proficient unbeliever to Christ is a bit like marrying an unbeliever to witness to them and lead them to Christ. It’s across the wrong way! It’s troublesome to seize a true spirit of worship when the workforce to your worship program is unequally yoked!

So, worship leaders and pastors, let us make a stand for what is right and ensure our worship crew is focused on the true activity of leading folks to Christ. We must worship in Spirit and in reality, not simply have skilled music and presentation. Don’t permit your worship program to be held to ransom by talented non-believers.

Worship

Article by Jessie Lee Sember November 3, 2011 in Guest Blog, Worship with 1 Comment

Worship Team. Worship God. Worship Him. Worship the Lamb. Worship the Lord. Let’s Worship.

If I could count how many times I’ve heard the word worship during the weeknight practice for the worship team (there, I said it again…) and on Sunday morning during both services, I would probably lose count. Have we become so comfortable with the word “worship” that we don’t even recognize the power that word alone holds anymore?

Sovereign Worship is worship to God and to God alone. It is not in the music we make, the notes we play, the tones of our voices or whether or not we raise our hands in abandonment or clap or lay them on the seat in front of us trying not to touch our neighbors coat. We focus so much on perfecting our gifts for that one or two hours on Sunday morning and making sure that we all have the same colors to wear, that sometimes, the team gets emphasized over the worship. Why is it that those random nights by a bonfire at the pastors house or a car ride to the beach often yield impromptu songs of worship that sound perfect coming out of honest hearts, and require no Thursday evening practice time at all?

Sovereign Worship is the connection between the exterior worship (all of the things we practice and plan for) and interior worship (our individual internal adoration we have for God). For perfect worship to exist, it must be an even marriage of both. Our attitudes toward interior worship are individual and unique from everybody else, and when exposed into outward manifestations of praise and worship, prove to be our own internal convictions with our own relationships with God. Some people shy away from the jumping and clapping while others embrace it. Some people fall in abandonment and others cannot shut their eyes. We each have separate and individual experiences with God and differing testimonies. We don’t all worship alike. The only thing we do have in common is our eternal future: praising forever the God we serve.

It may seem elementary to go back to where we began, the first time we stepped on stage and learned about what a worship team stands for. One of us has definitely prayed a few days ago before service that “they will only see You through us, God!”. It is so important that given the amazing gifts of song and music that we remember that there are two types of worship, that both must be present to be presented to God and create the most amazing experience for each person partaking in Sunday morning worship.

The word has power, don’t lose it!

How Do You Connect With The Worship Community?

Article by Jason Whitehorn October 28, 2011 in Guest Blog, Worship with 1 Comment

helpwanted

We’ve Grown…

We are happy to be growing – but constantly challenged to continue providing current and relevant information. To be frank – it amazes us that some many of you come on a daily basis to hear what we have to say. “got worship? Media” was founded by one man sharing his simple thoughts, rants, and praises…and it literally grew overnight. It started with just one person…one person with a thought to share.

I can’t help but think that there are others out there with a thought to share…we just want to provide you a vehicle.

Grow with us…

Got a worship related topic you can write about? We’d love to have you contribute as a regular or guest contributor on the blog! We are looking for for a few people who can write in one or more of the topics below:

Youth Worship Leading

Worship Planning

Worship Electric Guitar

Worship Acoustic Guitar

Worship Bass Guitar

Worship Drums

Worship Keys

Worship Piano

Worship Choir

The Worship Pastor/Leader’s Spouse (now THERE’s some interesting discussions!)

Audio Tech

Video Tech

Stage Worship Production

Drama

Worship Theology

Perhaps there is another area of interest you have? Let us know! Fill out the information below and take the first step!

Once you have completed the form above and successfully submitted it – click on the link below (that says “CLICK HERE”) to be taken to our registration page for new writers.

CLICK HERE for got worship? Media Writer/Blogger Online Registration

Writer Terms and Considerations

The articles you contribute for gotworship.net should abide by a few guidelines. First, all articles must be approved by the editor before placement on the site. After a trial period of the editor’s discretion, the writer may be self-published without permission of the editor. The posts you contribute to this site must clearly be written by you and cannot contain any material elsewhere copyrighted. The articles should not have appeared on any other sites unless the site in question is your own personal site that you have 100% control of. Posts should be in standard article form and over 200 words in length.

Flashback Friday: “I Cant Get My Head Out Of This Song”

Article by Rebekkah January 21, 2011 in Another thought, Guest Blog, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Yesterday I heard my son humming in the back of the van. He wasn’t very loud, and I have no idea what the melody was meant to be. What really snagged my attention, other than the fact that no one behind me was picking on anyone else, was that he seemed to be humming the same line over and over. And over. Finally he looked up and, catching my eye in the rearview mirror, said, “Mommy! I just can’t get my head out of this song!”

Later on, recalling this little anecdote and rating it on the “how cute is that scale” all mothers use to prove the wit and worth of their offspring, the thought occurred to me: maybe the little genius had a good point.

What would happen if our lead worshippers got their head out of the song? What if every guitar picker, every soloist, every team member from the lead vocalist for this morning’s choir number to the guy on the far left surrounded by triangles and cowbells stopped stressing each mistake and just gloried in the music? What if, after the hours have been put in at home and the early morning rehearsal has been counterbalanced by three cups of coffee—followed by an emergency bathroom run while you pray that your mic pack really is off—What if we just let go and really worshipped?

You know, if God wants perfection, He can just order up some Mozart over the heavenly PA system. He’s got David and Gabriel and Rich Mullins up there with Him if He’s in the mood for a harp and trumpet duet or some really great lyrics. He certainly doesn’t need to listen to us just for the sake of our pretty noise. What He really wants, what He craves, is our unfettered, unworried, unhampered worship. He created each of us, knowing we would become who we are. He gave us our gifts and our talents, some in limited quantities and others in abundance. He desires our excellence, absolutely. But much like my son, humming away at a tune no one could identify other than himself, how much more joy would there be if we could allow ourselves to truly worship: flat notes, missed cues, broken strings included. How beautiful would that music be to an adoring God who would much prefer that we have our soul in our song, rather than our head.

About Rebekkah Webber, Guest Blogger for “got worship?”

Rebekkah writes preschool Sunday School curriculum for Randall House Publishing, and have hopes of having a collection of children’s stories printed soon. Rebekkah and her husband are both actively involved in the worship ministry and have three children.

Keeping Worship Fresh

Article by Jim Williams January 20, 2011 in Guest Blog with 0 Comments

As a worship leader do you find yourself struggling week to week when it comes to the task of planning the worship service? Planning a fresh worship service week after week, month after month, year after year, can become quite a daunting task. Even the most creative of worship leaders can hit a wall when planning the worship service.

Over the years I have discovered a key step that has not only helped me develop as a worship leader, but it has become my foundation for planning and preparing to lead worship. Now I know that some worship leaders don’t have the freedom to create the service from start to finish. But no matter what your involvement in the planning process, this step will make a huge difference in the freshness of the worship service and in your development as a worship leader.

So what is this step? Here it is.Before you write down the first song, before you build the order of the service, before you do any phase of planning, ask God what He wants our worship to look like. What a novel idea! I mean if the service is to God, for God and about God,Wouldn’t be wise of us to begin by asking God what He wants our worship to look like? Well, what things should I ask? God, what do You want the service to look like? God, what songs do You want sung? God, do You want any scripture read?God, do You want anyone to give a testimony of Your grace?

You get the picture. The point is that in asking God what He wants His worship to look like, it will always be fresh. Another plus is that no one can complain that you only sing and play the songs you personally like. Especially if you let them know that you ask God what songs to choose, what the order will be and so on. How can anyone argue with that? Well actually they can, and someone might, but at least this way you can share with them your process, and you’ve got God backing you up.

To take it a step further, I have even gone as far as to place a piece of paper on the stage with the following words: God, what are You doing today? I will follow You! Talk about fresh worship! Especially when we are allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us.This week as you begin planning for the service, I want encourage you to begin by simply asking God what “He” wants His worship to look like.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/how-worship-leaders-can-keep-the-worship-service-fresh-668139.html#ixzz1AlzEGjbc
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Guest Blog: Top 5 Worship Leader Tips

Article by Darin Browne January 13, 2011 in Guest Blog with 1 Comment

I’ve been leading worship in small and enormous conferences around the globe for the final 25 years, and I imagine it’s time these of us who’re skilled encourage others who’re following! The purpose of this text is to share with you my high five worship leader tips, ideas and methods that I’ve proven time and again on stage, in hope that it’s going to encourage you in your ministry if you happen to’re simply beginning out.

Worship Leader Tips 1: Select Your Songs Fastidiously

One of the best worship leader tips I can supply is that you just select your songs carefully. One of the classic mistakes young worship leaders make is that they select songs that they like, reasonably than ones that the viewers enjoys. Only ever introduce one new song, and ensure all the opposite songs are known and liked by your congregation. In actual fact, even in case you lead poorly, in case you have chosen the right songs that people love and revel in (and know) then you’ll be standard!

Worship Leader Tips 2: Keep to Time

If you want to keep away from criticism top-of-the-line worship leader tips I can supply is that you simply hold to time. To go grossly over time is disrespectful of your pastor and in addition your congregation, however younger worship leaders usually get so caught up in what they are doing they suppose that everyone is having fun with it as a lot as they are. So whether the worship goes properly or badly, at all times make sure you keep to your allotted time.

Worship Leader Tips 3: Blend Your Songs right into a Continuous Experience

Blending your worship songs into each other supplies a continuous experience for your listeners, and one that they may enjoy excess of a sequence of cease-begin songs. If you’re competent musicians, attempt to choose songs in a similar key that allowed them to be run together, and if all goes well your viewers will lose themselves in worship!

Worship Leader Tips 4: Read your Audience

Some of the vital worship leader tips I can offer is definitely a talent that you must develop. It is important that you be taught to read your viewers, so you may see if they’re with you or not as you worship, and you may encourage them along the way. Many novice worship leaders are worshiping on stage, but the congregation are yawning and checking their telephones! You have to learn your audience and lead you audience into a deeper expertise of God.

Worship Leader Tips 5: Get Some Coaching

One of the vital vital worship leader tips is to get some training. There’s some nice worship leader training courses, and lots of of those are far less expensive than attending a conference! Nevertheless, as a result of you may learn the fabric many occasions over and slowly but absolutely apply to your individual ministry, the precise form of worship leading coaching can make a vast distinction in your ministry.

As an extended-time period and experienced leader, I’ve many concepts and techniques that I’ve made available to the young worship leader. In the event you take the time to review the suitable materials, you’ll be able to supercharge your leading by incorporating the precise worship leader tips into your own ministry.

How to Recruit Church Musicians

Article by Junjie Huang January 12, 2011 in Guest Blog with 1 Comment

Many churches have difficulty finding quality musicians to play for their church services. “We’ve put up notices” they tell me. “And no one responds!” Even worse, they find themselves stuck with musicians with either inappropriate skills or poor attitudes, and have to make do because they couldn’t find anyone better.

If you want to have the best odds for finding the right musicians for your church services, follow the guidelines I am sharing here. Continue Reading…

Blending Styles of Worship

Article by Rick Muchow October 15, 2010 in Answer Bag, Guest Blog, Worship with 0 Comments

(got worship? Editor’s note: Recently, we’ve been talking about worship styles and traditionalism in worship. During the week, we had range of comments on our poll…including this one:

“We do whatever the staff thinks is popular with the younger attendees.” Continue Reading…

Vocals, Song Writing & More on Day #3 NWLC10

Article by Curtis Kent October 8, 2010 in Another thought, Guest Blog, NWLC, Worship with 0 Comments

I am amazed at all the effort into teaching song writing. I think I have been to more workshops, seminars, and classes on song writing. BUT there is always something to learn.

Day 2 of NWLC Wrap Up (Guest Blog)

Article by Curtis Kent October 7, 2010 in Another thought, Guest Blog, NWLC with 0 Comments

Just happy to be here. Learning. Listening. Loving taking it all in. Its almost hard to be able to process this event while I am sitting in the atrium a lunch. Last night Session ONE was amazing. Steve Berger spoke about the PITS from Psalm 40. The side note here is that Psalm 40 is a scripture that God has been constantly bringing to my attention. My wife woke up in the middle of the night (4am) a few weeks ago and felt like this was the scripture that God had given her and us as a family right now. It is wonderful when God speaks and then re-affirms. Continue Reading…