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 Joyful Voice of Martyrs #2 – Stephen

Stoning of Stephen

When I think of martyrdom, the first person I think of is Stephen. Stephen, like  many early followers of Christ was being put on trial for preaching Jesus and mocking the religious establishment of the Pharisees. In Acts 7:1-50 Stephen gives an account throughout history of the scriptures concerning the ignorance of the Israelites and the religious leaders. He was even bold enough to blame them for being a crucial part of the crucifixion of Jesus. Read what Acts 7:51-53

51 “You stiff-necked ^(A) people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! ^(B) You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your forefathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? ^(C) They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers ^(D) you have now become. 53 You received the law under the direction of angels ^(E) and yet have not kept it.”

Cross references:

1. Acts 7:51 : Ex 32:9; Dt 10:16; Heb 3:13;
2. Acts 7:51 : Lv 26:41; Jr 4:4; 6:10; 9:26;
3. Acts 7:52 : 2Ch 36:16; Mt 5:12; 21:35; 23:31;, 37; 1Th 2:15;
4. Acts 7:52 : Ac 3:14; 5:28;
5. Acts 7:53 : Ac 7:38; Gl 3:19; Heb 2:2;

One thing I admire about Stephen is that he probably knew he was facing death by saying what he said but he said it anyways. How many times are we afraid to say what needs to be said? In the ministry I have been faced with a few times in which I either said what needed to be said no matter what the outcome and I stayed quiet. I have become more bold recently, but if you are going to be a leader, you must be bold in your beliefs. Stephen was bold, Stephen was murdered for it as we read on the chapter…

54 When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts ^[a] and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with ^[b] Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ^(A) and he said, 56 “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ^(B) 57 Then they screamed at the top of their voices, stopped their ears, and rushed together against him. 58 They threw him out of the city and began to stone ^(C) him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ^(D) 59 They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ^(E) 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ^(F) “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And saying this, he fell asleep. ^[c]

hmmm….some good thoughts from the first Christian Martyr

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.

Reverend Willy

It’s official…I’m now the Reverend William G. Blackrick! O.k. now that the excitement is over, you can just call me Bill.