I so appreciate and agree with your, “Worship isn’t about comfort or our own personality issues is it? Is it not supposed to be about Him?” statement. Having that mindset and attitude, takes the focus off self and makes it about our amazing and deserving God.
I’m also in complete agreement with educating people on what worship is and how we express our worship of God not only in the gathered setting, but also away from the “church”.
All good comments…the one thing that I would say is that people’s genuine response/worship has to do with their God-given personality and comfort in expressing themselves. I would hate to pressure, guilt, or manufacture anyone’s outward “worship”. That said, as a worship leader, I believe in modeling worship (on and off the platform) – not that I have it perfected at all.
When I first started leading worship, I “gauged” the “worship” by the responses I saw (clapping, raised hands, etc [not too much shouting or dancing...I'm Baptist!]) – which we know is wrong. Personally, I am a firm believer in outwardly expressing my worship of our amazing God. It is biblical and when done with a right heart (which only God can see) and with pure intent (again, which only God can truly know), it honors and glorifies God and encourages and spurs others to worship God (Heb 10:24-25).
I think the bottom line is striving to balance orderly worship (which is just as biblical as expressive worship) without inhibiting the freedoms in Christ to express our love for Him!
Fred, I’m nowhere near you (& most) in numbers of followers and followings; but I’ve never auto-followed. I’ve heard too many bad things.
I do keep a close look on new follows each day – call me freaky. My things is, I just have this thing about someone reading a tweet of mine, then they consider following me, check out my followers, and see “[insertfemalenamehere]4829″ at the top!
Look forward to reading your Unfollow post! Have a grat weekend! Rock for the Lord on Sunday!
Fred – Wow, one year…thank you for corralling us. I joined at week 37 and so appreciate the interaction, encouragement, and great exchange of ideas. I look forward to what the next 52 hold!
Wayne (& LeAnn) – see my reply to my original post. I totally understand. It is a generational thing. While I see where they are concerned that younger generations are losing pride in America, I think expressing it as a part of worship may be the wrong place. One thing I think it turns the service into is a sing-a-long almost rather than a time of worshiping our amazing God.
I plan on starting our service with a medley (America The Beautiful / My Country ‘tis of Thee / God Bless America) then prayer. The rest of the service will be ALL about our Everlasting God!
I started leading worship at our church in 2003 and that July 4th weekend was my fifth time leading (I was previously on the vocal team). I was still getting comfortable leading (and people with my leading!) and was so focused on heart-felt song selection that I forgot about July 4th (that Sunday also happened to be Communion.) Technically, Sunday was the 6th, so I figured that the holiday had passed and I didn’t need to worry about patriotic songs!
I was wrong! A of number of people (mostly those who were more “mature” than me) asked why I forgot to sing July 4th/patriotic songs. It wasn’t the end of the world – in fact, maybe my “learned” comment makes it sound a little worse than it was.
The hardest part I find about leading worship on any holiday (other than the standard, Church holidays) is balancing some people’s desire to focus on the holiday rather than worshiping God. I lean toward mentioning the holiday verbally and focusing on worshiping God.
We usually do a medley at the start, but the bulk of the service is always about glorifying and worshiping God. [I think the first year I led, I didn't do any...I learned!]
Slight revision/enhancement as I am teaching through Francis Chan’s book CRAZY LOVE in our Sunday School.
“…am not loving God or others as He loves them.”
This week’s chapter talks exactly about this, using Gal 5:13-14 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Still falls within the overall definition of “worshiping God”, just thought I would share!
Rom 12:1 “…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” [The Message]
2 Tim 2:15 “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” [The Message]
Col 3:17 ” Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” [The Message]
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A Profound Truth
February 1st, 2010 at 3:52 PMAmen Fred, Amen.
Sunday Setlists #75 - Worship Service Recaps #sundaysetlists
December 27th, 2009 at 10:44 PMFred – ver cool way to remember how God lead the establishment of your church! Happy New Year!
From the Word: Clapping and Shouting?
December 25th, 2009 at 2:17 AMRobert – great thoughts…
I so appreciate and agree with your, “Worship isn’t about comfort or our own personality issues is it? Is it not supposed to be about Him?” statement. Having that mindset and attitude, takes the focus off self and makes it about our amazing and deserving God.
I’m also in complete agreement with educating people on what worship is and how we express our worship of God not only in the gathered setting, but also away from the “church”.
Blessings!
From the Word: Clapping and Shouting?
December 21st, 2009 at 3:33 PMAll good comments…the one thing that I would say is that people’s genuine response/worship has to do with their God-given personality and comfort in expressing themselves. I would hate to pressure, guilt, or manufacture anyone’s outward “worship”. That said, as a worship leader, I believe in modeling worship (on and off the platform) – not that I have it perfected at all.
When I first started leading worship, I “gauged” the “worship” by the responses I saw (clapping, raised hands, etc [not too much shouting or dancing...I'm Baptist!]) – which we know is wrong. Personally, I am a firm believer in outwardly expressing my worship of our amazing God. It is biblical and when done with a right heart (which only God can see) and with pure intent (again, which only God can truly know), it honors and glorifies God and encourages and spurs others to worship God (Heb 10:24-25).
I think the bottom line is striving to balance orderly worship (which is just as biblical as expressive worship) without inhibiting the freedoms in Christ to express our love for Him!
Sunday Setlists #58 - Worship Service Recaps
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 AMRevelation Song! We’re doing it this coming Sunday.
Sunday Setlists #57 - Worship Recaps
August 24th, 2009 at 11:18 PMFred – Praise God for you successful surgery! Taking a break was the right thing to do! Blessings!
Sunday Setlists Week 56 - Worship Confessionals #sundaysetlists
August 17th, 2009 at 10:58 PMGlory to God Forever ROCKS!!! Thanks for your ministry Fred!
Sunday Setlists #55 - Worship Service Recaps (#sundaysetlists)
August 10th, 2009 at 1:55 AMLove Mighty to Save! Thanks Fred!
10 Reasons I Stopped Following You on Twitter
August 8th, 2009 at 3:44 PMSlamdunkness! Pretty much the criteria I use… Great two-part series Fred!
Twitter: My Follow Strategy (Revised)
August 7th, 2009 at 10:27 AMFred, I’m nowhere near you (& most) in numbers of followers and followings; but I’ve never auto-followed. I’ve heard too many bad things.
I do keep a close look on new follows each day – call me freaky. My things is, I just have this thing about someone reading a tweet of mine, then they consider following me, check out my followers, and see “[insertfemalenamehere]4829″ at the top!
Look forward to reading your Unfollow post! Have a grat weekend! Rock for the Lord on Sunday!
Sunday Setlists #54 - Worship Service Recaps
August 5th, 2009 at 12:17 AMFred – hope you’re enjoying a break!
#sundaysetlists - One Year Anniversary of Worship Service Recaps
July 27th, 2009 at 4:32 PMFred! Thanks for wrangling us all! Blessings upon you man!
Sunday Setlists #52 - Concluding 1 Year of Worship Recaps
July 21st, 2009 at 12:09 AMFred – Wow, one year…thank you for corralling us. I joined at week 37 and so appreciate the interaction, encouragement, and great exchange of ideas. I look forward to what the next 52 hold!
Blessings!
Do You Sing Patriotic Songs in Church?
June 30th, 2009 at 4:37 PMWayne (& LeAnn) – see my reply to my original post. I totally understand. It is a generational thing. While I see where they are concerned that younger generations are losing pride in America, I think expressing it as a part of worship may be the wrong place. One thing I think it turns the service into is a sing-a-long almost rather than a time of worshiping our amazing God.
I plan on starting our service with a medley (America The Beautiful / My Country ‘tis of Thee / God Bless America) then prayer. The rest of the service will be ALL about our Everlasting God!
Do You Sing Patriotic Songs in Church?
June 30th, 2009 at 4:30 PMMy “learning” experience:
I started leading worship at our church in 2003 and that July 4th weekend was my fifth time leading (I was previously on the vocal team). I was still getting comfortable leading (and people with my leading!) and was so focused on heart-felt song selection that I forgot about July 4th (that Sunday also happened to be Communion.) Technically, Sunday was the 6th, so I figured that the holiday had passed and I didn’t need to worry about patriotic songs!
I was wrong! A of number of people (mostly those who were more “mature” than me) asked why I forgot to sing July 4th/patriotic songs. It wasn’t the end of the world – in fact, maybe my “learned” comment makes it sound a little worse than it was.
The hardest part I find about leading worship on any holiday (other than the standard, Church holidays) is balancing some people’s desire to focus on the holiday rather than worshiping God. I lean toward mentioning the holiday verbally and focusing on worshiping God.
On another July 4th, I showed this video http://www.sermonspice.com/product/505/old-glory and someone complained that it had Nixon in it. Hey, you can’t please everyone…
Sunday Setlists #49 - Worship Recaps
June 30th, 2009 at 3:46 PMFred – love “You Gave Your life Away. Great set! Thanks wrangling us each week!
Do You Sing Patriotic Songs in Church?
June 30th, 2009 at 12:00 PMWe usually do a medley at the start, but the bulk of the service is always about glorifying and worshiping God. [I think the first year I led, I didn't do any...I learned!]
Sunday Setlists #46 - Worship Confessionals
June 7th, 2009 at 9:15 PMFred – Forgot…The Adams Family intro sounds like it was a hit!
Sunday Setlists #46 - Worship Confessionals
June 7th, 2009 at 9:09 PMFred – Once again, thanks for getting us together each week!
Several takeaways from your post today:
- incorporating youth. We/I need to do this at my church!
- Planning the lighting with a purpose!
Blessings!
Do You Show Your ....
June 1st, 2009 at 3:52 PMFirst and last slide…just like a music video.
Sunday Setlists #44 - Worship Recaps #sundaysetlists
May 25th, 2009 at 1:46 PMFred – sounds like a great series and set list…wow, horns! I gotta plug in Happy Day in our catalog.
Monday Muse - One Word Status? #mondaymuse
May 4th, 2009 at 3:41 PMExpectant.
Monday Muse - I Am Most Likely To Sin When I ...
April 30th, 2009 at 2:20 PMSlight revision/enhancement as I am teaching through Francis Chan’s book CRAZY LOVE in our Sunday School.
“…am not loving God or others as He loves them.”
This week’s chapter talks exactly about this, using Gal 5:13-14 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Still falls within the overall definition of “worshiping God”, just thought I would share!
Monday Muse - I Am Most Likely To Sin When I ...
April 27th, 2009 at 11:57 AM…not worshiping God.
The deets:
Rom 12:1 “…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” [The Message]
2 Tim 2:15 “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” [The Message]
Col 3:17 ” Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” [The Message]
Sunday Setlists - 40th Week of Sharing Worship Recaps #sundaysetlists
April 26th, 2009 at 6:54 PMMarvelous Light – such a great song! Thanks for wrangling us Fred…it is so cool to see what others are doing and how God is working all over!