Starting with this chapter, the book changes gears. It goes from self evaluation to job description and brings up some very interesting discussion questions. Read the quote from D.A. Carson at the bottom of page 53 before reading any further.
Wow! What a concept. Fact of the matter is that if you ask many people the question "What isworship?" don't be surprised if you get answers like, "when we sing music at church." Singing is a form of worship, but not the only form. After a conversation with a friend of mine, I have tried to emphasize that on Sunday mornings. Typically I will say something to the effect of "...as we continue our worship through reading, listening, and giving." Not sure if many or anyone catches that but I do not want people to have narrow minded views of worship. Worship is lifting our praises to God through song, but it is also worship to read his word and listen to what he has for each of us. It is worship to give our money and our time.
What is your thought on eliminating the term "worship leader" because of its descriptive inaccuracy? Any thoughts or ideas.....
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Chapter 5 - My Life: What Do I Model
For me, the most profound moment of this chapter was in the section about conduct.
"God wants our conduct to be an example to others. If the way we live doesn't back up what what we proclaim on Sunday morning, we're not only deceiving the church-we're misrepresenting the God we claim to be worshiping." (p 45)
OUCH! Many times I have screwed this up on a Sunday afternoon. We can't live the life of a worship leader for just a few short hours on Sunday, I am convinced it has to be a lifestyle. And, at the objection of some, probably more than the average christian. You see, the word "leader" in our title subconsciously denotes a level of expected behavior from others. Right, wrong, or otherwise, it does. We just need to keep that in the forefront of our minds as we live out our daily lives.
Comments, thoughts....
"God wants our conduct to be an example to others. If the way we live doesn't back up what what we proclaim on Sunday morning, we're not only deceiving the church-we're misrepresenting the God we claim to be worshiping." (p 45)
OUCH! Many times I have screwed this up on a Sunday afternoon. We can't live the life of a worship leader for just a few short hours on Sunday, I am convinced it has to be a lifestyle. And, at the objection of some, probably more than the average christian. You see, the word "leader" in our title subconsciously denotes a level of expected behavior from others. Right, wrong, or otherwise, it does. We just need to keep that in the forefront of our minds as we live out our daily lives.
Comments, thoughts....
Chapter 4- My Hands: What Do I Practice?
Ah....the practice word. You have heard me say many times that satan uses bad music. Anytime he can take the focus of the Lord, Satan will do so. Anything to disturb focus.
Bob really hammers home the idea of the importance of practice in this chapter. He points out that skill is a gift from God himself but points out that we must take time to develop that skill. Once the skill is developed, how it is used in worship is still important.
Basically, a willing heart with out rehearsal is not enough and vice versa. God wants us to take our skill, practice it, and , whole-heartedly, without any expect for gain or praise use it to glorify His name.
Yes, practice can be boring and tedious, but our Father is worth this tiny little sacrifice that we sometimes look on as annoying.
We hear great music everyday when we turn on the TV or listen to it in the radio. Most of the time, those people we are hearing have spent their lives focused on practicing to make great music. Hours upon hours PRACTICING.
We brag to our family and friends about a "Great Night of Praise and Worship" or the "Awesome" Easter program we do. Things don't become "Great" or "Awesome" without the required practice. Nor do they become that way because of practice. It becomes that way when the practice and commitment to serve Jesus intersect in just the right place. When that happens, God can work a magic that only He is capable of.
Bob really hammers home the idea of the importance of practice in this chapter. He points out that skill is a gift from God himself but points out that we must take time to develop that skill. Once the skill is developed, how it is used in worship is still important.
Basically, a willing heart with out rehearsal is not enough and vice versa. God wants us to take our skill, practice it, and , whole-heartedly, without any expect for gain or praise use it to glorify His name.
Yes, practice can be boring and tedious, but our Father is worth this tiny little sacrifice that we sometimes look on as annoying.
We hear great music everyday when we turn on the TV or listen to it in the radio. Most of the time, those people we are hearing have spent their lives focused on practicing to make great music. Hours upon hours PRACTICING.
We brag to our family and friends about a "Great Night of Praise and Worship" or the "Awesome" Easter program we do. Things don't become "Great" or "Awesome" without the required practice. Nor do they become that way because of practice. It becomes that way when the practice and commitment to serve Jesus intersect in just the right place. When that happens, God can work a magic that only He is capable of.
Chapter 3- My Mind: What Do I Believe?
Bob has done a really good job in speaking to the regular, everyday worship leader here. Through his work with others in music ministry, he comes up with some common misconceptions. The first was the one that hit me the hardest.
Misconception 1-Studying the Word should not be so hard.
In our microwave society, we have gotten ourselves in a position of "I want it and I want it 5 minutes ago." The fact that God may take time to reveal Himself to us in a time frame other than our own is absolutely foreign!
I feel like my life is very busy and, at times, complicated. God knows how busy I am, therefore, his revelations to me should be quick and concise. I get frustrated when they are not.
I think this way of thinking is a direct result of putting things before God. Instead of letting our time with The Almighty dictate where our other time lies, we just fit God in where ever we can. As Sherman says, we "throw God a bone" and expect him to do miraculous things in our lives.
Talk about messed up theology.....Thoughts....
Derek
Misconception 1-Studying the Word should not be so hard.
In our microwave society, we have gotten ourselves in a position of "I want it and I want it 5 minutes ago." The fact that God may take time to reveal Himself to us in a time frame other than our own is absolutely foreign!
I feel like my life is very busy and, at times, complicated. God knows how busy I am, therefore, his revelations to me should be quick and concise. I get frustrated when they are not.
I think this way of thinking is a direct result of putting things before God. Instead of letting our time with The Almighty dictate where our other time lies, we just fit God in where ever we can. As Sherman says, we "throw God a bone" and expect him to do miraculous things in our lives.
Talk about messed up theology.....Thoughts....
Derek
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Chapter 2-My Heart: What Do I Love?
Chapter 2-My Heart: What Do I Love?
The author explores the idea of idolatry and how it can hamper our worship. He says that the most important thing we bring on Sunday morning is our heart. Where are our hearts? He asks a series of questions (p 26) that will make you look deep inside your own heart. When I broke away from the "Sunday School answers," I started to see a disturbing pattern. Sometimes, the most important things in my life had nothing to do with God and everything to do with my own thoughts and desires. There was a whole lot of "me" and "my" and "I" in my answers. And, ashamedly, not nearly enough "God" in my answers.
Now, don't get me wrong. My answers are noble in the eyes of the world. But, God wants me to love Him more than my kids. He wants me to love Him more than my wife.
CRAZY THOUGHT-By putting God first, I can love my family more than I ever could by putting them first.
The author explores the idea of idolatry and how it can hamper our worship. He says that the most important thing we bring on Sunday morning is our heart. Where are our hearts? He asks a series of questions (p 26) that will make you look deep inside your own heart. When I broke away from the "Sunday School answers," I started to see a disturbing pattern. Sometimes, the most important things in my life had nothing to do with God and everything to do with my own thoughts and desires. There was a whole lot of "me" and "my" and "I" in my answers. And, ashamedly, not nearly enough "God" in my answers.
Now, don't get me wrong. My answers are noble in the eyes of the world. But, God wants me to love Him more than my kids. He wants me to love Him more than my wife.
CRAZY THOUGHT-By putting God first, I can love my family more than I ever could by putting them first.
Chapter 1 The Important Things
Chapter 1-The Important Things
I have stepped on stage before with the same thought as the author expresses, "What difference will this make? These people have no clue what worship is about and I am the only one who gets this whole idea of worship." Somehow, I got the crazy idea that I had been the only person in the room that God had imparted with the wisdom of how to worship.
While attending a conference a few years back, I attended a class where the speaker said something like, "how dare we as worship leaders assume that the way we worship is the only way and that God can only receive glory when people worship like me!" OUCH!!! Fact of the matter is that, while on this earth, our tiny, finite, little minds will never understand an infinite God. And, no matter how great I think I am at the whole worship thing, I will never be able to give God enough glory. I can not sing enough songs, lift my hands long enough, or say the most elegant, beautiful prayer, to give God one single ounce of the glory He is worthy to receive.
I have stepped on stage before with the same thought as the author expresses, "What difference will this make? These people have no clue what worship is about and I am the only one who gets this whole idea of worship." Somehow, I got the crazy idea that I had been the only person in the room that God had imparted with the wisdom of how to worship.
While attending a conference a few years back, I attended a class where the speaker said something like, "how dare we as worship leaders assume that the way we worship is the only way and that God can only receive glory when people worship like me!" OUCH!!! Fact of the matter is that, while on this earth, our tiny, finite, little minds will never understand an infinite God. And, no matter how great I think I am at the whole worship thing, I will never be able to give God enough glory. I can not sing enough songs, lift my hands long enough, or say the most elegant, beautiful prayer, to give God one single ounce of the glory He is worthy to receive.
Let's Go...Week 1
During the course of this study, I will share my insights. I am hoping you will do the same. Please, invite others to this site and encourage them to read this book.
My goal is for us to cover 4 chapters per week. That will take us about 8 weeks. Broken down, that's about 6 pages per day. I think it is manageable.
The first five chapters of this book get intensely personal. It asks you to evaluate some tough questions to see where you really stand. The author calls it "The Important Things." When we get honest with ourselves, that is not give the "Sunday School answers," we will start to grow like we never have.
Try to post your ideas and comments in each chapter heading. I think that is the best way we can organize this.
My goal is for us to cover 4 chapters per week. That will take us about 8 weeks. Broken down, that's about 6 pages per day. I think it is manageable.
The first five chapters of this book get intensely personal. It asks you to evaluate some tough questions to see where you really stand. The author calls it "The Important Things." When we get honest with ourselves, that is not give the "Sunday School answers," we will start to grow like we never have.
Try to post your ideas and comments in each chapter heading. I think that is the best way we can organize this.
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