Worship Gems

One of the passions of my life and ministry has been to gain a deeper understanding of the subject of worship and what it means to lead God's people in worship. The following are some simple but foundational concepts I've been meditating on in recent years...

Worship in its essence is not music or programming, but is characterized by an encounter and response of the human heart to the person and presence of the Living God.

Worship by definition is participatory, expressive and passionate. (Mt. 22:37, Ps. 42:1-2) Jesus challenged us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mt. 22:37). Paul challenged us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord, which is our spiritual service of worship. (Rom. 12:1)

Biblical worship centers around our response to two fundamental questions: “Who is like unto our God?” (Ps. 113:5) This question focuses on who God is regarding His attributes and character. And “What is man that Thou art mindful of him?” (Ps. 8:4) This question focuses on what God has done in terms of His mighty works and redemptive acts. The "language of worship," as reflected largely in the Psalms, is a response to these two questions.

I believe a Biblical view of congregational worship recognizes God as the audience, the musicians and singers as prompters and the congregation as the actors, if you will. The goal for each worship service is to facilitate for our people a throne-room encounter with the Living God, utilizing music and the arts to encourage times of corporate and individual communion with Him. I believe the role of a worship pastor is to encourage and facilitate in a congregation the passionate pursuit of authentic Biblical worship.

I deeply desire to personally do all I can to insure that, this side of heaven, God receives the maximum amount of praise possible. I also want to do my part to encourage and challenge believers toward becoming the mature worshipers God has created and called them to be. I continually remind my fellow musicians that our goal is not to create a "worship ministry" so much as it is to build a "ministry of worshipers."

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about cleaning the inside of the cup. It’s not enough to have excellent music and presentation. Whenever we lead in worship we are asking the Lord (and the people) to drink from our cup. If we are not seeking to walk in holiness and purity, then at some level, the taste of our ministry is affected. Therefore the discipline of regularly "cleaning the inside of the cup" is vital for worship leading musicians.

The Unaffordable Luxury

It was the summer of ’93. For the previous hour I had been standing before a group of 40 high school and college age young people, reading from God’s Word…weeping and reading some more. This was my fifth summer as a director with the Continental Singers and Orchestra. I often joke that, no matter how well a pastor knows his congregation, he doesn’t have to live with them on a bus for three months at a time. Each summer I would travel with a new group around the country and the world singing about God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. But this summer something had gone very wrong.

It started with small things; an unkind word, a thoughtless action. But over time it had grown. Cliques, camps, the in-crowd, those on the outside, until our reason for being had somehow been lost and forgotten. And yet each night we would present a two hour program about how knowing Jesus had changed our lives.

As I and my leadership team attempted to deal with each issue…each heart, we were met with surprising resistance. Rationalizing, justification, blaming others and finger pointing. My heart began to sink. Maybe it was time to cancel the tour and send everyone home. As I prayed for guidance, I asked God for special wisdom. We were meeting the next morning. After that I would know what to do. I couldn’t sleep the night before, I was so grieved. I spent the whole night pouring over God’s Word which spoke so clearly and directly to these issues.

When the group met the next morning I said, “You know, according to Matthew 5:23-24 if we are presenting our gift at the altar and remember that our brother has something against us, the Bible says we should leave our gift at the altar and not even attempt to worship until we have reconciled with them. The fact is, unless we are right with one another, our worship is worthless and even offensive to God. And if we can’t even love our brothers, how are we ever going to love our enemies?”

“But I’m sorry to say it’s even worse than that,” I went on. “According to 1 John 4:20 the one who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he hasn’t seen. That means that if we refuse to love each other, then we’d better shut up about our Christianity, because according to this passage, it doesn’t exist. The bottom line is, we can’t afford the luxury of unresolved relationships.”

There is something about the Word of God that tends to cut through all the smokescreens and clutter, and gets right to the heart of the matter. I cried a lot that day. We all did. But slowly hearts began to break…and open. For another two hours one by one group members cried and shared and prayed. No blaming or finger pointing. Some confessed their faults. Others asked forgiveness.

Things weren’t healed overnight. But slowly, and sometimes painfully, we began to learn how to die to ourselves; how to seek the last place and to serve; how to yield our rights and any personal advantage; how to wash one another’s feet; how to become less and less, that He might become greater and greater; how to let God break us, so that He might better use us. We saw 400 people make decisions for Christ that summer.

Obedience Feeds Me

Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me." John 4:34

Some years ago God began to teach me about the power of obedience to His will. He showed me, for example, that Jesus' power over His temptation in the wilderness was not just in the words He spoke to Satan. (I've often spoken similar words with less effective results.) No, the power was in the fact that Jesus authentically lived the words He spoke. Jesus’ life and practice were integrated with the equally powerful words He quoted from God's Word.

James encourages us to be "...doers of the word and not hearers only, who deceive themselves." James 1:22 Many believers never truly grow in their walk with Christ because they believe that knowledge of God's Word is all they need. In his book Seven Laws of the Learner author and speaker Bruce Wilkenson shares that in the Hebrew Bible the root word for teach is the same as the root word for learn. And both of these are active verbs. The bottom line he shares is this; by Biblical definition, no matter how much we've been taught, until we're "doing the stuff," we haven't truly learned it.

When I was in junior high I discovered a library book on scuba diving. For some reason the subject peaked my interest and I took the book home and read it cover to cover. When I was through I had learned a great deal about scuba diving. I could discuss the subject intelligently and "amaze friends and family" as they say. I could also cover up one very important fact: to this day, I have never been scuba diving. Until we act on what we know, our true understanding will always be severely limited.

Many believers wonder, "What is the secret of maintaining a vital walk with Christ." Obedience. Obedience to God's Word is much like an iceberg. We only see the small section of the iceberg that appears above the surface of the water. The much larger part is below the surface. When people look at our lives, they see only the part that appears above the surface. They may look and wonder at our powerful walk with Christ (or at the lack of power). What they don't see is the quality of our inner life, below the surface. Have we laid a foundation of acting on God's Word? Bottom line; a life of obedience to the Word of God is the unseen foundation of a vital walk with Christ.

When I first began seminary I was required to read a small book by Helmut Thielicke called "A Little Exercise for Young Theologians." The premise of the book was that learning theology was heady stuff. It can puff you up and make you prideful. This is why Paul warns that "knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know." 1 Corinthians 8:1b-2

The thing is, no matter how much we learn, about Martin Luther for instance, we still don't share his experience. We're sitting in an armchair reading the things he wrote and yet, not only don't we share the suffering that accompanied his revelations, but without meaning to, we add our personal experience of comfort and ease to his words. This greatly enhances the possibility of misunderstanding what he is saying.

That's the way many believers are. We can talk at length "about" the Word. We may have even deceived ourselves into thinking that we truly know what we're talking about. After all we've heard many sermons, attended many Bible studies. But until we are committed to living a life of obedience to the Word and actively "doing the stuff," we haven't really understood what God is trying to teach us.

As a young believer I was never discipled by a more mature believer. In fact I was a Christian for several years before I even knew what discipleship was. For that reason I’ve prayed for years that, at every point in my life, God will give me someone to disciple. I want others to have an advantage I didn't have. As I disciple young believers the question inevitably comes up, "How do I grow in my faith?" They are often surprised by my answer. "Find one thing in God's Word and do it." For many believers it’s far less intimidating (and more inviting) to look at Christianity as a body of knowledge to be mastered, than as a life to be lived. Knowledge is important, even vital, but the experience of obeying the Word is the indispensable next step, if we are to grow.

The fact is, the person who finds something to do in God's Word, then does it, will be granted more light and greater understanding. This then becomes the foundation for searching God's Word for the next thing to do, which again will grant even more light and understanding. This person will always be miles ahead of the scholar, for instance, who knows all about the Word, but may not have applied it in their personal life.

If, on the other hand, a person reads or hears a command or exhortation from God's Word and doesn't do it, according to James, they are on the road to self-deception. He exhorts us to “…be doers of the Word and not hearers only, who deceive themselves.” (Jas. 1:22) That's why to regularly hear and read the word, without the intention of doing it, can be a dangerous practice. And if we make a lifestyle out of this approach, we can become as blind as the Pharisees of Jesus' day.

Jesus said to them, "You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify of Me." Jn. 5:39 Though the Pharisees had spent their whole lives studying the scriptures, they had become so blind that they couldn't see what was right in front of their faces!

As a youth pastor some years ago, I once showed my teens a picture of a knife. I asked, "What is this?" "A knife," they replied. I then showed them a real knife and asked, "Then what is this?" "A knife," they said again. "But you just said this was a knife," I said, showing them the picture. "No" they said, "That's a picture of a knife." I then held up my Bible. "This is a picture of the Word of God." You see, Jesus did not come just to speak the Word. He came as "...the Word made flesh." John 1:14 God doesn't want us just to read the words, only to leave them on the page. The Word was given to us to be taken off the page and to become flesh in our lives.

Just the other day I was sitting in church and the Holy Spirit prompted me on this subject of obedience. He reminded me of John 4:34. Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me." As I began to roll this thought over in my mind, another thought occurred to me...according this passage, "Obedience feeds me." Most of us accept the fact that to grow spiritually we must spend time in God's Word. We may even embrace the idea that, in the same way we need food for our physical bodies, we need time in the Word so as not to become spiritually emaciated.

But what if time in the Word is not enough? (Yes, I affirm that time and even memorization of God's Word is indispensable to our growth as believers.) Consider this. Is it possible to spend time in the Word and still be starving to death? Jesus said, His food is to do God's will. That would mean that for Jesus not do God's will would be equal to starving. And if that's true for Jesus, how much more would this be true for us? What if time in the Word must be combined with doing the Word in order for real growth and nourishment to occur?

Though hearing and reading the Word is vital, in order to grow, it must be accompanied by doing the Word. And conversely, to hear or read the word and "not do it" will ultimately lead us to blindness and deception. Picture the individual who has read and heard God's word for years, but rarely applied it. Think how very blind they would become...and never know it. Chances are we know people like that. Chances are we may be people like that.

God knows me and my deceitful heart very well. I can pat myself on the back with the best of them and tell myself that I'm doing a pretty good job. I can convince myself that I apply the Word to a greater degree than other believers. For that reason, as I was writing this He prompted me to take a closer look at the context of Jesus' comments in John 4:34 about doing God's will.

Taking this passage in it’s context we see that John chapter 4 is a classic passage on personal evangelism. It turns out that Jesus spoke these words just after He had witnessed to the woman at the well. The Holy Spirit was reminding me that witnessing to this woman who had five husbands, was like food to Jesus. I don't know how often you share the Gospel with others, or how many others you may have led to Christ. I just know that this was a course correction for me. Witnessing to others about Jesus Christ is just one way that doing God's will can become food for us, but its a great place to start.

Prayers That Avail Much

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Sometimes I wonder if we don't make an unnecessary mystery out of prayer. John offers a fairly simple principle for answered prayer. Pray according to God's will. This is where the mystery comes in. So often we act as if we're not sure of what God's will is...as if its some big secret. Yet if we stop and think about it we'll realize that God's Word is full of examples of prayers that we know that we know are God's will. Then follows the far bigger question...why aren't we praying these kinds of prayers?

Some years back I did a personal Bible study and came up with the following list. These are 14 prayers that I could pray regularly with certainty that they were according to God's will. Enjoy these Prayers That Avail Much. And pray!

1. That we would be a people “after God’s own heart.” That our hearts would be touched by the things that touch the heart of God.
2. That God would place an increasingly deep burden for souls on our hearts and the hearts of the people of our church. That sharing Christ would be an increasingly common and natural occurrence.
3. That God would place a greater burden for the need of intercession and prevailing prayer on our hearts and the hearts of the members of our church.
4. That God would destroy any and all strongholds, spiritual blindness, complacency, and apathy in our hearts as well as among the people of our church, including any hindrance that would keep the unsaved from coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
5. That God would grant a spirit of cleansing, confession, and repentance in our hearts and the hearts of the people of our church of any and all sins, known and unknown.
6. That a spirit of love and unity with no division would prevail and increase among the ministries and the people of our church.
7. That God would send laborers into the ministries of our church in the form of members and volunteers new and old, for the laborers are few and the fields are white unto harvest.
8. That God would grant among our membership “a mind to work” and that everyone would feel that our task in building God’s Kingdom is a joy and not a burden. That a positive, sacrificial attitude of servanthood would prevail.
9. That God would grant us a spirit of personal revival, renewal, and vibrancy in our Christian walk including a deep and abiding hunger for God’s Word and daily time in His presence.
10. That we as individuals and as a ministry would hunger to spend increasing time as passionate worshipers. That we would learn the language of praise; praising God as David did, for who He is and for all that He has done.
11. That God’s character, deeds, name and glory will be increasingly magnified and exalted in our lives and among the people of our church.
12. That God would continue to bless and guide the spiritual leadership of our church. That they would increasingly hear His voice and obey Him with passion.
13. That a spirit of genuine excitement, enthusiasm, and passion for ministry and building God’s Kingdom would be generated and spread throughout the Body at our church.
14. That God would place a hedge of protection around us and keep us and those we love. That He might deliver us from evil as we endeavor to obey and serve Him.

The Danger of Safety

“…Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Mt. 16:25)

Among the many activities I enjoyed in my childhood (among them cub scouts, swimming lessons, children's concerts and vacation Bible school) there was one activity I endured with fear and trembling: Little League. Despite my awkward left-handedness and a lack of athletic talent or motivation, my parents felt it necessary to enroll me for three failed seasons; one year in pee wee and two in "the majors." From my perspective, Little League’s one saving grace was that at each game, for the bargain price of a nickel, I could purchase a pack of 5 Batman bubblegum cards from the candy lady.

I call these seasons failed because my tenure in right field consisted of one primary motivation; not to get hit by the ball. I remember vividly my brother, who was two years my senior, getting hit in the face by a baseball, at which point his entire nose disappeared for two solid weeks. I had no intention of becoming a similar facial casualty.

A moment ago I noted, a lack of athletic ability. The fact is, not to get hit by a ball which is coming straight for you, while simultaneously appearing to care about fielding the ball, actually did require a fair amount of athletic finesse. The key was waiting until the ball was just about on me, then leaping out of the way at the very last moment, reaching toward the ball with my glove hand, while at the same time protecting my face with the other.

Having inevitably missed the ball (and with the ball missing me), I would quickly turn around and chase it to the back fence. Then I’d throw it as far as I could in some direction. Typically this was straight up, with the ball ultimately landing about 10 feet in front of me.

All in all, my strategy of safety, combined with all the yelling from my team and the crowd (and the coaches), made for a rather stressful, albeit impressive maneuver. Though my coaches were less than impressed, my face remained safely in tact. I comforted myself with the fact that, though my baseball career was wanting, I did excel in team candy sales and was the proud owner of a complete set of Batman cards.

As with most life lessons, this one is simple enough for a child to understand, (though often difficult to recognize in ourselves, and even more difficult to apply). The fact is, my fear of getting hit by the ball, and my subsequent efforts to avoid this at all costs, meant I wouldn't really learn what it meant to play the game. Not surprisingly, the effort I expended in my strategy could just as easily been channeled to overcome my challenges.

The same is true in life. So often in our desire to avoid being hurt, we develop a sophisticated series of responses designed to ensure our safety. The goal is to minimize and even eliminate any and all risk to our heart. Sadly, while successfully protecting us, the cumulative effect of these reflexes may also ensure that we never truly learn to live. All the while we are expending tremendous energy. Energy that could better be applied to courageous action.

In his book Turn My Mourning Into Dancing, author Herni Nouwen writes, “The great paradox is that it is in letting go, we receive. We find safety in unexpected places of risk. And those who try to avoid all risk, those who would try to guarantee that their hearts will not be broken, end up in a self-created hell.”

In The Four Loves C. S. Lewis observes:

“To love is to be vulnerable…If you want to make sure of keeping your heart in tact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. It will not be broken-it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable…The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the danger of love is Hell.”

Jesus put it this way, “…whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Mt. 16:25)

Confessions of a Worship Leader (feautred article on www.ministryLIVE.org)

You must worship no other gods, but only the Lord, for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you. Exodus 34:14 (NLV)

As I have sought to walk in obedience to God's call on my life, I am often reminded that the role of a worship pastor is "to pastor a congregation in the area of worship." God's will extends beyond growing a worship ministry. He desires a worship pastor to build a ministry of worshipers.

A few years ago it occurred to me how easy it is to lose sight of all we are called to be and to do as worshipers of Christ and as worship leaders. I realized that it might be helpful to create a creed of sorts; a confession for worship leaders; something that would help us not to lose sight of who we are in Christ and what God has called us to.

The following is an attempt to remind us all (myself included) of God's will for worshipers and worship leaders. Following the reading are discussion questions for small groups.


I am a Worshiper

...I deeply desire to grow and mature as a passionate worshiper and as a worship leader. I know that, like all of God’s children, I was created to worship and to adore the living God.

My daily worship of God is a time of precious communion; priceless moments of adoration of my Lord Jesus Christ. As I pour out my heart before Him, like David, I long to speak the intimate language of worship and praise. In these moments I rehearse God’s goodness and His matchless character; I thank Him for His mighty deeds and His loving-kindnesses toward me.

This is the foundation not only of my day, but also of my role as a worship leader. I know that the task of leading God’s people in worship a high and holy calling. Worshiping God in the secret place builds within my own heart authenticity and consistency; which in turn adds vitality and integrity to my efforts to lead God's people publicly. I look forward each week to doing my part to usher God's people before His Throne. It is an honor and a joy for me to be able to serve God in this way.

I am jealous that God receives, as far as it depends on me, all the praise and glory that He deserves. I realize that, in the heart of a worshiper, there is no room for ego or personal jealousy. I have learned that only in humility and servanthood can the calling of a worship leader truly be fulfilled. Even so, I must confess that at times I struggle. For in my weakness, I too can desire glory. Still, I know that God will not share His glory with another... and any talents I may have are only gifts borrowed from God.

I am also careful to walk in love toward my brothers and sisters in the Lord, for this too impacts my ability to worship. I admit that this is a challenge at times. But I have learned that bitterness and unforgiveness are the mortal enemies of true worship. Therefore I must avail myself to the cleansing blood of Christ. For as I daily confess my sins, His righteousness covers me. Only in this way may I truly walk as a vessel, purified and useful to my Master.

I hunger that other believers in Christ might fully realize that they, too, are called to be passionate worshipers. In light of all that God has done for us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, how can we be passive? We must respond with abandon to the goodness and love which God has for us. I know that the Father deeply desires (and Satan fears) that believers would learn to fully walk in their calling as worshipers.

This is my calling. This is my passion. I am a worshiper . . .
and I am a worship leader.


I Am a Worshiper - Discussion Questions

Discuss the following questions:

• In your opinion, in what ways does this reading challenge the experience of the average Christian?

• What ideas or thoughts in these paragraphs are new or uncommon to many believers?

• What barriers do you think stand between most Christians and a deeper worship life?

• What do you see as two or three primary life motivations of this worship leader?

• How does a passion for worship impact this person’s character? Their relationships? Their world view?

• What role does humility/servanthood play in the life of a worshiper? Why is this true?

• In what practical ways do you see a worshiping lifestyle drawing someone toward greater maturity in Christ?

• How does a heart for worship contrast with the role of “self” typically plays in our lives?

• How is Satan impacted by our worship of God? Why might it matter to him whether we live a lifestyle of worship or not?

• Is living a lifestyle of passionate worship really an option for New Testament believers? Why or why not?

Abundant Jesus

What is the abundant life?

As a young believer I was taught to define “abundant life” as abundance of material possessions. I have to admit that it was comforting to be told that God wanted me to bless me and prosper me. In contrast, much of what I had heard preached from mainline pulpits in this regard didn’t sound like good news to me. So when I heard some Bible teachers talk of a God who wanted to bless and prosper me, supply all my needs and add abundance to my life, it was a welcome message.

Unfortunately in today’s world it is common practice to handle truth, especially in the area of religious faith, as if we were going through a buffet line. I’ll decide what I like, what I hope is true, or what I can wrap my brain around. Then I’ll proceed happily on my way believing that what I hope is true, is true for me.

If we handled physical truth in this way the folly would be obvious. The one who jumped off a cliff for example would not be borne aloft simply because he didn’t believe in gravity. But when dealing with truth that is unseen it's easy to deceive ourselves.

So often when we read the Bible we are unaware of our personal frame of reference. My reading of John 10:10 focused on the word "abundant" but Jesus as it turns out focused on the word "life."

I enjoy the fact that Jesus is always careful to define, and at times redefine the words He uses. As I was meditating on John 10:10 the other day the Spirit began to walk me through some other “life” verses.

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." John 6:63

“When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Col. 3:4

“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6

As we consider the question of defining abundant life we must remember that the one who spoke of abundant life Himself had nowhere to lay his head. He’d left His throne in glory and then called us to come and follow Him.

It also stands to reason that if anyone lived the abundant life, it was the apostle Paul. Yet he was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned and left for dead. Yet Paul laid claim to a vital kingdom building principle: learning contentment whether experiencing material abundance or material lack.

Jesus himself challenged the idea that abundant life was synonymous with material wealth. “Then he (Jesus) said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” Luke 12:15

So what is the abundant life? You’ve probably figured it out by now. Let’s look at an equation of two profound spiritual truths.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

When you add "I come that they might have abundant life" + "Jesus said He is the life" you discover that Abundant Life = Abundant Jesus.

In my personal experience I’ve found that abundant life is abundant Jesus. Abundant Life is a person, not a material lifestyle. When I apply this truth to my material possessions I find that…

God will bless me with…
…the things that will enable my growth and maturity in Christ (both good and bad).
…the things that will help advance His larger Kingdom agenda.