a word on worship

As a worship leader I am faced many times with the problem of “Contemporary -vs- Traditional” battle. Many churches have adopted either or and some have utilized a blended atmosphere. I prefer leading a blended setting for a few reasons. First, I enjoy all types of worship music because I know that God enjoys us worshipping him whether to drums and guitars, or pipe organs. using a blended worship order allows me to tweak the styles according to a congregation. My church in the past has been strictly traditional hymns and a few praise chorus (from the 80′s) Over the past few years, I have slowly transitioned the worship to a more modern style. I was able to accomplish this by singing hymns in a contemporary setting using worship tracks and guitars. Once the congregation got used to hearing drums and guitars, I introduced newer worship songs that are heard on the radio today. With the exception of a few, they have been well received. If I new I was going to lead worship for a primarily older audience, I can add a few more hymns in the mix with a worship song or two. If the audience is younger I could use mostly worship songs with a hymn thrown in somewhere. Blended worship works for the behalf of the Worship Leader in a church that is needing to reach all age groups. Everyone enjoys singing with everyone even though the styles might not be their preference all the time. It’s all about glorifying Christ in our hearts, not the music we sing.

Worship at Bayshore Baptist Church

Worship at Bayshore Baptist is led with me as leader, a worship choir, piano, keyboards, organ, and guitar. I have been recently using Lifeway Worship Tracks to help out with the lacking musicians (drums, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, strings, horns, etc.). Our worship, as mentioned above, is blended with an emphasis on contemporary music as our community around us is younger now. Our praise choir sings special music numbers as well as cantatas and production throughout the year. Bayshore Baptist Church offers an evening service as well that is blended with an emphasis on traditional hymns due to the age demographic that attends. Bayshore Baptist Church uses the help of modern worship technology to assist in a vibrant atmosphere. Words to the music are displayed on a screen and videos are also played throughout the service. Below is an example of a worship service at Bayshore Baptist Church.

Below is a typical evening service with hymns, yet modernizing them a bit with a guitar.

 

 

 

 

getting involved in the community

I attended a Pastor’s Luncheon today to learn about different areas of ministry in Manatee County, Fl. I’ve talked with Dan over at Jesus and Java about how churches should be focused more on the community around them than the inreaching that always occurs within the body of believers. To make a long story short…I signed up to pray the invocation for our City Council Meeting in March! What a great opportunity to really get involved and make a name for the church in the governing body of this town! Churches should be involved in what their government is doing. I preached a sermon once that raised the question that if our church had to close it doors…would the community around it mourn the loss of the church as being a vital part of their city? county? state?

The Power of Prayer

The topic of prayer has been bouncing around the office with my pastor and secretary. We all feel that we need to commit to praying together as a staff for the church needs at least once a week. An issue I have with most church’s prayer ministry is that it is inward. What I mean by this is that the focus on a church’s prayer should not necessarily be only on the health needs of the members and families of them. There is a place for that though and I’m not bashing this important aspect.

Who\What\How should a church body be praying for? It pained me to look at the “Prayer List” in the Sanctuary Lobby and see not one mention of praying for the lost in the community, the youth, children, the pastor, the overall vision of ministry to be executed in the community, etc. These issues should be the first priority in a church’s prayer ministry. We have gotten so wrapped up on letting others know about our own physical needs that we neglect the spiritual needs of others. Our church has an “Intercessory Prayer Room” and it has sat vacant for several years from what I gather. Does your church have a specific location that members, staff, deacons, or even someone off the streets can go and spend time in uninterrupted prayer? For the first time in a while, my wife and I kneeled together and prayed for more than 5 minutes Wednesday night after some trying moments in church. We are committing to pray together in the prayer room every Wednesday after church.

The greatest movements are all started in prayer. God shows you His perfect will, vision, and direction when you fellowship with him in prayer.

I’m Up Before the Firing Squad Today!

Tomorrow Evening at 6:00 p.m. I will be taking the next step in my ministry and becoming ordained. Many have chosen to be ordained before entering college and their first “jobs” at a church but I chose to wait. I had never been approached with being ordained by any of the churches I had been a part of and I feel it is the duty of the church to recognize, nominate and ordain someone. I’ve always felt that if I was the one to bring it up or ask to be ordained it would be selfish.
Today is my ordination counsel here at church. I’ll be sharing with other pastors, deacons of the church, and others about my testimony, call to ministry, education goals, theological beliefs (which is the part I’m worried about answering…I know what I believe, but some of my views aren’t the traditional Southern Baptist’s), and whatever else they decide to hurl my way.
When someone gets ordained there is a orientation of praise, recognition of achievement, etc. and I don’t want that. Yes I will have the “REV.” before my name from now on, but it’s a prefix I don’t want to flaunt around like some in the media light do. Anyways…I hope I come out alive!

I Just Didn’t Feel It

Yesterday (Sunday) was very odd for me in church. I just didn’t feel anything! As a worship leader I should be the first person to be in the spirit of worship but I just wasn’t. Why? I have no idea and believe me, the possible reasons kept running through my mind all through the singing, prayers, and sermon. I addressed this with Jessica on the way home from church and she thought the service was great! Was the problem with me? Was the problem with the congregation? I decided to post this personal problem because others I know have done this before. Who cares if I felt something! Worship isn’t about what I feel (at least true worship) Any comments?