Preparing For Worship November 22nd, 2009

I'm looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving Sunday together with all of you this week!

I'm in the middle of a very busy Friday, so I'll make this quick:

We're starting with two tunes: "God of Wonders" into the new song we learned last week: "The Father's Love"

I really love contrasting the idea of God as almighty, sovereign, Creator God; and loving, compassionate, Father God. I think these two songs will help us to appreciate the idea that "every good and perfect gift comes from the Father," when we understand that he is the master over everything, but he still looks with care and concern at our needs, and is so faithful to provide.

Then we'll sing "Good to Me" and then remember that even though God is good in so many ways to each of us, he was good to all of us in the most powerful way possible: by sending Jesus to die our death on the cross by singing "Once Again."

Pastor Todd will come and preach after that, and he's taking a break from Ephesians and giving a special Thanksgiving message. Next week he'll start a short series that will take us through Christmas called "Looking for Something More?"

We'll respond in song with "Forever" which reminds us that in all things, though everything else may pass away, God's love endures forever. Then we'll close with "We Will Remember" and commit to trusting in God's past faithfulness as a guarantee that he will continue to be faithful in all of our lives; that we might always have reason to be thankful.

Really Cool Devotional Guide

Check out this link to a digital version of "Breathe," a cool devotional tool from Mosaic church.

Time For Honesty! :)

I came across this interesting article entitled "Top 10 Pet Peeves About Worship Leaders." It's one of those articles that is helpful for a couple of reasons:

1) It helps me to remember that there are little things that I do that may be counterproductive to leading worship, and it helps when these things are pointed out as not-helpful.

2) It helps me to remember that you definitely can't please everyone

So, which of these do I do? Which of them really annoy you? Which of them are actually helpful to you? Any others you'd care to add to the list?? Click on the "comments" link at the bottom of the post to leave your thoughts.

Top 10 Pet Peeves About Worship Leaders (with examples)

1. Asking the Congregation to do Something (21 responses)
   >> Makes us shake hands with the people around us.
   >> When a worship leader tells you to lift up your hands, it takes a meaningful personal action and turns it into a obligatory command.
   >> Talks like they’re at a high school pep rally, “Let me hear ya!”
   >> Asks how everyone is doing. We’re not at a concert, so we’re not going to scream.
   >> Tells you what to do and how to worship… to the point where it makes you feel guilty if you don’t conform yourself to her/his understanding of what worship is.
   >> I hate it when worship leaders script the worship too much by telling people what to do. I’ve had worship leaders completely distract me from God when they start telling me what to do.
2. Mini-Sermons & Talking (20 responses)
   >> Talks between every song.
   >> I am distracted when worship leaders start talking about anything that is not directions on what we are about to do.
   >> When they repeat the same catch-phrases every week.
   >> Breathy speaking between songs.
   >> Sermonettes are annoying if too long or common
   >> You can tell a mile away when a worship leader is “sharing” because he feels obligated to. It’s always a cheesy or over emotional blurb. When God’s really laid something on a worship leader’s heart, it’s cool. But even then, say it in less than 45 seconds! Don’t meander on for 3 minutes.
3. Not Focusing on God (17 responses)
   >> Forget that the audience of worship is God and start making it a performance for those sitting in front of them.
   >> When they perform rather than worship themselves.
   >> Showing zero emotion, standing still, focusing too much on perfection.
   >> Worship leaders who seem really wrapped up in being “cool.”
   >> Sometimes you can tell they’re being fake and/or showy.
   >> I hate it when the music guy/gal asks the crowd to praise God but soaks it up like they are Bono and the crowd is really praising them.
   >> I hate it when worship leaders don’t lead people.
4. Unprofessional (14 responses)
   >> Starts service late.
   >> Typos on the screen.
   >> Talks to the praise band while leading worship instead of using hand signals to tell them what to do.
   >> When the leader changes the key of the song and does not tell the rest of the team.
   >> Goes out of order or adds another song in the middle of the set
   >> When the leader and/or band member turns away from the people to mess with their gear.
   >> When the production team on stage are laughing, joking, and gesturing behind the worship leader to the soundboard guys in the transition between worship and the message.
5. Singing (11 responses)
   >> Can’t sing very well.
   >> Doesn’t know the lyrics.
   >> When worship leaders run words together.
   >> When they put their own little spin on simple, common words.
   >> Repeating the same line in a song 3.6 million times. There’s the Spirit’s leading and then there’s just plain losing people.
   >> Our old church’s leader would sing so high that no one could sing along. She provided no harmony for us to pick up. It was to showcase her own voice.
6. Appearance (9 responses)
   >> Sing with their eyes closed.
   >> When singers act like they are really bored up there.
   >> Wears crotch hugging jeans.
   >> Looks or sounds seductive.
   >> One of our young worship leaders had a really big hicky on his neck a couple of weeks ago.
7. Prayer (8 responses)
   >> Inauthentic prayer – too scripted or so random that it doesn’t make sense, or rushed/dragged out to make the prayer fit the interlude.
   >> Prays the words of the songs.
   >> When they can’t talk or pray appropriately between songs.
8. Bad Transitions (5 responses)
   >> Transitions between songs take long time.
   >> Allows uncomfortable dead time between songs.
   >> When they pray essentially the same prayer at a transition moment.
   >> Using the song name as an introduction/transition - “You know I was thinking about how much God has done for me…it really is ‘Amazing Grace’ isn’t it?”
9. Lifestyle (4 responses)
   >> When he’s obviously ungodly during practice and throughout life, but turns into a saint on Sunday morning.
   >> I hate to see a person who is suppose to be leading worship acting like a jerk before service and then getting up on stage acting like nothing ever happened.
   >> As a Pastor, I hate it when the music guy/gal is lazy apart from their 30 minute set on Sundays.
10. Catering to the Congregation (4 responses)
    >> When they hold back because they are obviously conscious of what the congregation and/or pastor will think.
    >> I hate it when worship leaders/pastors play to people who think the worship somehow revolves around what they like and what makes them feel good when it has absolutely nothing to do with our preferences or likes.
    >> Has to risk being a cheerleader because the people that claim to love God exhibit no sense of joy when singing about Him.

For the full article, CLICK HERE.

Preparing For Worship November 15th, 2009

Happy 2nd Friday everyone! If you didn't have Wednesday off for Veterans' Day, then I suppose this is just your 1st Friday of the week; poor you!

I hope you are all looking forward to coming together to worship our great God this Sunday. I hope that it is a culmination of the relationship and communion that you've shared with God this entire week. That's certainly the goal...

But how much of our life is spent aiming for the goal...and consistently falling short? Do you ever come to the end of a week and look back and wonder where it all went? You ask yourself how there is so much you weren't able to get done, and why you spent so little time with the Lord. I have been there many times, disappointed that the only time I could really get away to be with the Lord was when I was stuck in traffic on a long drive, remembering how my mornings got swept up in chores and errands, and my evenings went who-knows-where.

These types of weeks are a part of life, and we won't always be able to spend lots of time in God's Word, and in really focused prayer. The good news is that we can still worship, and bring glory to God's name by living our lives in the power of His Spirit. The fact that God-very-God resides no longer in a tabernacle, nor does He sit around in the worship center at Crossroads. The Spirit of the all-powerful, living God dwells in the new temple...each of us! This should drastically affect the way we live. However, too often we dismiss it, and forget about it! I am in the midst of rethinking the presence of the Spirit in my life, and how I can better acknowledge Him and live by His strength. To help me, I've just started Francis Chan's new book "Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit." (Click the title to check out the book on Amazon.com). Check it out, I think this is a tragic reality in the church (the church as a whole, not just Crossroads), and we need to do something about it!

Anyway, I suppose I'll end my sermon there, and let Todd do the real preaching on Sunday. He'll be preaching from Ephesians 2:17-22 and finish up chapter two. Be sure you've read the passage, and are ready to study it together with us!

As always, we'll sing together and express our responses to God through lyrics and music. We'll start by acknowledging our dependence on the Spirit to be among us, and to direct us and empower our worship: "Come Thou Fount." Then we turn to the Psalms where David declares the beauty and perfection of being in the courts of the Lord, and proclaims that "Better Is One Day" in his courts than thousands at any other great place.

We have a short video to encourage us to be a part of Crossroads' ministry to the Union Rescue Mission this Christmas. Let's worship God by responding with love to the needs of those at the URM, and being involved in whatever ways we can. Tim Campbell will fill us in on the opportunities. Mark off the days on your calendar: Friday and Saturday, December 18th and 19th.

We'll continue singing as we learn the new song I posted earlier this week: "The Father's Love." Dwelling on how God brought us back to a right relationship with him, and has made us part of his household, will point our brains in the right direction to fully soak up the truth of the sermon text! We'll sing "Draw Me Close" right before Pastor Todd comes up, but hopefully we will sing it a little differently, understanding that we don't have to continually ask God to "draw us close" because HE ALREADY HAS! I think the Spirit will remind us of this truth very powerfully.

Then Todd will come and preach God's Word to us. I want to remind us all to not just be consumers, but to interact with the preaching. Prepare your heart and mind (remember, you have the same Spirit of God as Pastor Todd does in you to teach you and help you understand His Word)! Then as Todd preaches, seek the Spirit's conviction and encouragement in your life. If you disagree with something Todd says, tell him! We as leadership would love to talk about anything you hear (whether in a sermon, song, video, etc.) that raises a red flag in your mind or seems to be different than what God's Word says! So CLICK HERE to read Ephesians 2:17-22.

We'll respond to the message with "Marvelous Light" that focuses on the new life we have, having formerly been strangers with no hope!

That's what's going on this Sunday; see you then!

New Song: The Father's Love

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...

-Ephesians 2:17-19

CLICK HERE to listen to this new song we'll sing together this weekend.

How has the sinner been forgiven
How has the rebel been made clean
Or blinded eyes been made to see
How have the orphans been adopted
Who hated Your love and ran from grace
Despised and rejected all Your ways

How wonderful the Father’s love
The Father’s love for us
That He would send His only Son
To come and rescue us
He has saved us, called us blameless
Guides us now and will sustain us
Oh how wonderful the Father’s love

Your mercy floods our lives with kindness
Your grace has colored all we see
And You have promised not to leave
You freely give Your Spirit to us
So we can be sure we’re sons of God
And rest in the hope of what’s to come

Though sufferings may fill our lives
We’re confident we’re heirs with Christ
And so we cry, “Abba, Father”

By Joel Sczebel. As recorded on Sons & Daughters. © 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved.

Preparing For Worship: November 8th, 2009

I have had one person mention my lack of blogging to me over the past two weeks; and he doesn't even go to our church! If you normally read Friday's "Preparing For Worship" posts, then I'm sorry I've left you hanging the past two weeks! The month of October was jam packed with great ministry opportunities, and blogging always got pushed right off the list!

Over the last month or so, I was privileged to be able to lead worship over at Grace Brethren School in Simi Valley (where our youth director Stephen Barshaw teaches); and also over at Santa Clarita Christian School for their respective "Spiritual Emphasis Weeks." I also was honored to return to The Master's College chapel to lead worship there on the day that Pastor Todd spoke. Yes, it's true: Pastor Todd spoke at The Master's College! What's the world coming to?? :)

So things are returning to normal speed this month (the "lull" before the holidays), and I'm glad to finally be back at the blog again, helping my family at Crossroads to prepare for worship each week!

This week we'll be starting the service with two songs "How Great Thou Art" and "Blessed Be Your Name." These two songs really help illustrate the proper worship experience:

Step 1) We understand who God is, as revealed in his Word and through his Spirit alive in us (How Great THOU Art)

Step 2) We respond with worship (awe, surrender, thanksgiving, joy, conviction and repentance, etc.) ("my heart will choose to say: 'Lord, blessed be Your name!'")

The idea of this worship experience doesn't only take place in church on a Sunday morning, and as we grow older, and are exposed to the wide breadth of the character of God, we can, in effect, respond to that every minute of every day. As the apostle Paul said: whether you eat or drink, do it unto the glory of God! As we eat, and remember that God is our provider and sustainer, we eat with thankfulness and trust, and as a result, we worship with every bite (so to speak).

We have a few special things to communicate this week, which we'll take time to do after the first two tunes.

1) Pastor Todd will give us an update of what's going on in our Children's Ministry

-let's continue the idea of responding to God's character here: as Pastor Todd tells us what is happening in our Children's Ministry, we have the chance to thank God for providing faithful teachers for our various classes. We can be thankful that each week, committed volunteers are showing the love of Jesus to every child that's there, and teaching them about God. We respond with gratefulness to God for these people, and rejoice that God has a plan for each of our precious children to bring glory to his name!

2) We'll see another short video about "Operation Christmas Child"

-as we are made aware of the need these kids have all over the world, we have the opportunity to be moved by compassion to take action and participate in obedience to "care for the widows and the orphans" (basically, those who are in need). Obedience is a proper response of worship to God.

We'll take a few moments to say good morning to each other, and welcome visitors, showing the love of Christ to others through a warm smile and a friendly handshake. Ask how someone's week was, and be prepared to honestly say how yours was too! If it turns in to a longer conversation than the greeting time, remember to follow up after service, or walk out into the lobby area! I won't be offended, and neither will God! The body is supposed to encourage and edify each other, and if you have the opportunity to have a real conversation with somebody, don't cut it short for time's sake!

We'll sing two more songs before the sermon: "Before The Throne of God Above" and "Surrender," which again outlines our experience of Proclamation and Response. We remind ourselves of our great High Priest (Christ) who pleads our case before the Father, crediting his perfect righteousness to our accounts. Then we respond by "laying down our rights" and "giving up our pride" and surrendering all to God's sovereign will to be used by him.

Pastor Todd will then come teach us from Ephesians 2:11-16 (CLICK HERE TO READ IT). This passage is all about what Christ accomplished in our salvation: breaking down the wall between the Jew and the Gentile, and between man and God. He's appropriately titled his sermon "Tear Down This Wall." The sermon time is a time rich with opportunity to respond to God. We may think that since we sit and listen for 40 minutes, we don't have any opportunities to worship, but as we listen actively, process, and think through ideas, and then respond by changing our lives appropriately, we honor God. Pastor Todd is just as much a worship leader as I am.

Corporately, we'll respond together to the message by singing two final songs: "Completely Done" and "I Have a Hope" which both celebrate the reality of our salvation: done and secure. We don't have to fear being separated from God any longer, and this should evoke in us joy, hope, thanksgiving, and awe for God's great love and mercy shown to us through Christ.

So that's what's going on this Sunday; hope this helps!

PS. You can get a free download of "Completely Done" from Sovereign Grace by clicking HERE.