Comments on: Worship is a Risk http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Russell Martin http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-504 Russell Martin Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:32:22 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-504 I think another way to break the mold is to be writing original songs for your congregation to sing. Our team too listens to the CD and can emulate it very well, however you should see what they come up with when you give them something that has never been done before. Often times I have the basic chords and melody, but they will help the song find it's groove. I think another way to break the mold is to be writing original songs for your congregation to sing. Our team too listens to the CD and can emulate it very well, however you should see what they come up with when you give them something that has never been done before. Often times I have the basic chords and melody, but they will help the song find it’s groove.

]]> By: melody http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-73 melody Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:49:42 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-73 Worship is a sacrifice. It's risky climbing up the mountain like Abraham, but if our focus is in obeying God's direction, God will provide for us the sacrificial lamb and eventually our sacrifice being accepted by God...our WORSHIP ACCEPTED by God. As worship leaders, our focus is in leading the people to God's presence, and when in HIS presence, we all together worship Him. However, many worship teams tend to immitate their favorite band, just because they are the "hit" songs, and apply during the worship service; the songs programmed, neglecting some aspects as discerning the need of the people. That's why if there's a need for more of God, then give songs that have lyrics as "More Love, More Power, More of you in my life...for You are my Lord". And if the worship leader discerned that the people (generally) needs to drawing close to GOD, then sing songs that have lyricsthat brings draws the people to God , i.e. "Draw me close to You". In worship, we take risk. Climbers need preparation and skill inorder to climb Mt. Everest. Without it, their life will be at risk. Worship leaders also need preparation and skill, specially the Annointing of God. PREPARING includes discerning the Voice of God, even until the worship time when we need to know "is it time to release the people to worship? Are we already in the pesence of God? In Genesis, Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac, but Abraham was so sensitive and heared God's voice and instructed him about another lamb to offer. Taking risk includes laying down our will, and say let Thy will be done. This includes laying down our isaacs ...our voices...our music...our drums...guitars...keyboards...and others...and putting Jesus Christ alone in our hearts... worshipping God in His Presence! Worship is a sacrifice. It’s risky climbing up the mountain like Abraham, but if our focus is in obeying God’s direction, God will provide for us the sacrificial lamb and eventually our sacrifice being accepted by God…our WORSHIP ACCEPTED by God.
As worship leaders, our focus is in leading the people to God’s presence, and when in HIS presence, we all together worship Him. However, many worship teams tend to immitate their favorite band, just because they are the “hit” songs, and apply during the worship service; the songs programmed, neglecting some aspects as discerning the need of the people. That’s why if there’s a need for more of God, then give songs that have lyrics as “More Love, More Power, More of you in my life…for You are my Lord”. And if the worship leader discerned that the people (generally) needs to drawing close to GOD, then sing songs that have lyricsthat brings draws the people to God , i.e. “Draw me close to You”.
In worship, we take risk. Climbers need preparation and skill inorder to climb Mt. Everest. Without it, their life will be at risk. Worship leaders also need preparation and skill, specially the Annointing of God. PREPARING includes discerning the Voice of God, even until the worship time when we need to know “is it time to release the people to worship? Are we already in the pesence of God? In Genesis, Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac, but Abraham was so sensitive and heared God’s voice and instructed him about another lamb to offer. Taking risk includes laying down our will, and say let Thy will be done. This includes laying down our isaacs …our voices…our music…our drums…guitars…keyboards…and others…and putting Jesus Christ alone in our hearts… worshipping God in His Presence!

]]> By: Brad Loser http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-61 Brad Loser Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:21:36 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-61 First, let me say thanks for the encouraging words to step out and try new things. I think that a lot of corporate worship leaders feel like they have to play the latest "worship hit" available by the newest "worship artist" so that the people they serve are always on the "in" with worship music. (forgive all the quotations) I think the biggest risk (but probably the most rewarding) most corporate worship leaders could take would be to STOP doing the latest and greatest and START doing some research with some hymns. Most hymns are just lyrics - the tunes were usually added later on by other musicians. Go find some hymns, that are typically much more objective in content, and put a new spin on them. Don't try and rehash the last "Top 20" worship song wonder - people can't help but subconciously compare it to the original - - go find some lyrics that haven't been sung in the last hundred years and reteach it with your bands own creativity. I'm not bagging on modern worship songs - I just don't think changing one of those songs is risky - it might be fresh and different - but not risky. Risky would be doing songs with words that you might actually have to explain. This will not only serve your congregation well by deepening their understanding of God by engaging more of their minds, but it will also build confidence in your team that they don't have to rely on "worship artists" for ideas and arrangements to serve and lead well. Brad Loser www.thinkworship.com First, let me say thanks for the encouraging words to step out and try new things. I think that a lot of corporate worship leaders feel like they have to play the latest “worship hit” available by the newest “worship artist” so that the people they serve are always on the “in” with worship music. (forgive all the quotations)

I think the biggest risk (but probably the most rewarding) most corporate worship leaders could take would be to STOP doing the latest and greatest and START doing some research with some hymns. Most hymns are just lyrics – the tunes were usually added later on by other musicians. Go find some hymns, that are typically much more objective in content, and put a new spin on them. Don’t try and rehash the last “Top 20″ worship song wonder – people can’t help but subconciously compare it to the original – - go find some lyrics that haven’t been sung in the last hundred years and reteach it with your bands own creativity. I’m not bagging on modern worship songs – I just don’t think changing one of those songs is risky – it might be fresh and different – but not risky. Risky would be doing songs with words that you might actually have to explain.

This will not only serve your congregation well by deepening their understanding of God by engaging more of their minds, but it will also build confidence in your team that they don’t have to rely on “worship artists” for ideas and arrangements to serve and lead well.

Brad Loser
http://www.thinkworship.com

]]> By: Bobby Gilles http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-54 Bobby Gilles Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:53:15 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-54 Great thoughts. God has uniquely gifted each of us. He brings churches and worship teams together through his sovereign will. There is no reason to think that a band in Louisville should sound exactly like a band in Philly or San Antonio. Or, for that matter, that two bands in San Antonio should sound exactly alike. Great thoughts. God has uniquely gifted each of us. He brings churches and worship teams together through his sovereign will. There is no reason to think that a band in Louisville should sound exactly like a band in Philly or San Antonio. Or, for that matter, that two bands in San Antonio should sound exactly alike.

]]> By: Billy Chia http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-22 Billy Chia Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:35:16 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-22 I love chucking the CD, creating, writing, aranging. It's freeing and inspiring when your whole teams gets in on the process and I believe it leads to more passionate worship on Sunday morning. CD's are all evil though. Doing the CD arrangement can lead to more risk. When you always throw new arrangements at your musicians and tech crew they become insecure and don't play out on Sunday morning. Instead they hold back, afraid to make a mistake. By following a set, planned out pattern you free your musicians and tech crew to perform with confidence for the Audience of One. I love chucking the CD, creating, writing, aranging. It’s freeing and inspiring when your whole teams gets in on the process and I believe it leads to more passionate worship on Sunday morning.

CD’s are all evil though. Doing the CD arrangement can lead to more risk.

When you always throw new arrangements at your musicians and tech crew they become insecure and don’t play out on Sunday morning. Instead they hold back, afraid to make a mistake. By following a set, planned out pattern you free your musicians and tech crew to perform with confidence for the Audience of One.

]]> By: Kim Bontrager http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-21 Kim Bontrager Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:38:05 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-21 Great thoughts Jeremy. One of our keyboardists -- who is moving into a band leader/arranger role -- HATES being tied to 'how it is on the CD'. Just by growling when anyone refers to the CD arrangement, he pushes all of us to be more creative... to really hear what WE sound like, really think about what we COULD sound like, and make creative decisions accordingly. I do think this requires a high level of maturity among band members, however, both personally and musically. When I've worked with younger bands (like high school students), aiming for something-in-the-general-ball-park-of-the-CD is in itself a risk. Maybe for developing musicians, that's an important step toward developing personal and band creativity. Which then leads to the dilemma of how to risk, push, and pull in a band that includes people with widely varied levels of experience and ability. Great thoughts Jeremy.

One of our keyboardists — who is moving into a band leader/arranger role — HATES being tied to ‘how it is on the CD’. Just by growling when anyone refers to the CD arrangement, he pushes all of us to be more creative… to really hear what WE sound like, really think about what we COULD sound like, and make creative decisions accordingly.

I do think this requires a high level of maturity among band members, however, both personally and musically. When I’ve worked with younger bands (like high school students), aiming for something-in-the-general-ball-park-of-the-CD is in itself a risk. Maybe for developing musicians, that’s an important step toward developing personal and band creativity. Which then leads to the dilemma of how to risk, push, and pull in a band that includes people with widely varied levels of experience and ability.

]]> By: Fred McKinnon http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-20 Fred McKinnon Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:57:52 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-20 This is so true, Jeremy. We are overwhelmed with so many great resources, it's easy to just let other gifted people "make the sacrifice" for us, and we just use their leftovers. There's nothing wrong with using great resources, covering great songs, etc .... but I agree, we should press on and take some risks ... some sacrifices, and put our own signatures on some of what we offer to God. Do you remember that story where the man was going to freely give the threshing floor to the prophet for an altar, and the prophet said "I won't sacrifice anything to God that didn't cost me something" (paraphrase) This is so true, Jeremy.

We are overwhelmed with so many great resources, it’s easy to just let other gifted people “make the sacrifice” for us, and we just use their leftovers. There’s nothing wrong with using great resources, covering great songs, etc …. but I agree, we should press on and take some risks … some sacrifices, and put our own signatures on some of what we offer to God.

Do you remember that story where the man was going to freely give the threshing floor to the prophet for an altar, and the prophet said “I won’t sacrifice anything to God that didn’t cost me something” (paraphrase)

]]> By: Ryan Egan http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/worship-is-a-risk/#comment-14 Ryan Egan Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:56:36 +0000 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/?p=40#comment-14 I think it's very restrictive for worship teams (especially in small churches) to feel like they have to do things "just like the CD." How can you do things just like the CD if you have no electric guitar player and no system available to play an electric guitar track? It's also restrictive to the congregation to have to do 5 choruses at the end of the song plus the bridge that's way too high for them. We also should take risks to lead the congregational in physical expressiveness. Sometimes we're afraid to do what we want the congregation to do. This might involved finding a way to get your singers to not use music stands. This is a risk, but it will pay off in the end! I think it’s very restrictive for worship teams (especially in small churches) to feel like they have to do things “just like the CD.” How can you do things just like the CD if you have no electric guitar player and no system available to play an electric guitar track?

It’s also restrictive to the congregation to have to do 5 choruses at the end of the song plus the bridge that’s way too high for them.

We also should take risks to lead the congregational in physical expressiveness. Sometimes we’re afraid to do what we want the congregation to do. This might involved finding a way to get your singers to not use music stands. This is a risk, but it will pay off in the end!

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