GracePurePraise

Week 9 Day 5: Keep Fruitful

If today's reading doesn't inspire you to take what you know and invest in others...I don't know what will!  The thought of life being but a vapor is pretty convicting when you think about the time we waste on things of unimportance.

As the book closes out...and the study comes to a close...it doesn't end here...it really is just the beginning.  Let's take what we've learned as worshipers of God, as worship team leaders and members...and let's let it flow from our lives into the lives of others.

Awesome 9 weeks....looking forward to what comes next in our work together.

Week 9 Day 4: Keep Fresh

Three keys that are a HUGELY important ingredient within our worship ministry were expressed in today's reading:

1. Stay planted in God's Word.  We HAVE to be in God's Word.  While it's great to be hearing from other teachers, pastors and church leaders....we MUST experience our own relationship with God.
2. Stay prayerful in God's presence.  Praying without ceasing = living a life completely in the true presence of God.  Not just Sunday mornings an hour before we hit the switch.
3. Stay pure in God's holiness.  If we allow sin to creep into our lives, we lose the joy...which in turn influences worship personally and when we lead.

These are essential elements to living the Christian life....and as worship leaders, these practices must become a part of our daily lives.  Is it easy...nope!  But our roles are so important we must make these things a priority.

Awesome reminder.

Week 9 Day 3: Keep Faithful

Today I'm pondering the reading thinking about my faithfulness.  Am I willing to truly surrender all for my faith?  Praying today that the Lord may unearth things in my heart and life that I've not surrendered.

How about you?

Week 9 Day 2: Keep Focused

"Anyone has the capability to do something extraordinary at least once in a while.  But real winners are those who remain attentive to their game and disciplined in their thoughts and actions.  The path to victory demands their total concentration and devotion.  They remain determined not to disqualify themselves through careless mistakes and poor judgment.  In the long run, staying focused and staying consistent is the greater challenge."

Distractions will take our attention off our goals.

Dicsipline is required to keep us focused.

Direction of our focus is imperative.

Praying for a renewed vision, fresh passion and authentic worship in each of you today.

Week 9 Day 1: Keep Fighting

Wow!  We're on the final stretch folks! This has been such an incredible study...but I'll save that for a later post this week.  Today we're taught to keep fighting.

A great reminder for us all to keep our spiritual guard up.  I believe as people who lead others in worship before God, the enemy takes special note of us and can hurl some unbelievable weapons our way.  It's so important that we remember personally and individually that we must envision the spiritual battle and not lose sight of what we are fighting for...the souls of men and women.

Great read!

Week 8 Day 5: Illuminate Them

"Worship leaders are not in the show business; we are in the glow business. And people need to see us shining for God." Pg 141

Today I was reminded of the desire and goal that God wants from our worship ministry at Grace.  While I appreciate when people tell me how wonderful the band is...or how good the singers sounded...it's not the desired outcome.  What I long for at Grace Church and within our team is to hear people say "today, during worship, I met God."  Those comments are the ones that give the sense of "mission accomplished".

I was also reminded of the importance of our worship team onstage projecting true joy and worship while playing and singing.  This is something I think we need to stretch ourselves in as a team.  For instrumentalists to get comfortable enough with their playing to be able to look up from the music, look up from their instruments and lead others visually to God's throne.

I highlighted this section in my book because often times I get the sense that we might feel defeated if we don't see people worshipping as we would prefer:

No leader will ever have a 100 percent following.  That is precisely why influence can't be our primary goal as lead worshippers.  There are at least two reasons for this.  First, we are setting ourselves up for failure.  We will never lead everyone in the room to praise.  The lost can't worship God, and some Christians simply won't!  Second, when we make influencing people our tip priority we give ourselves too much credit.  When we believe it's our fault if they don't worship, we're really saying that we cause and control their praise.  But the fact is, we're just not that good! Pg. 140

Our ultimate responsibility and goal is simply to declare God's praises to those around us...inviting them to join us.  I'm praying for each of you and for our church to truly see us illumnated...that our church will be in such awe of God's glory and greatness that they man not even remember we were in the service.

Week 8 Day 4: Influence Them

I'm really digging these goals being laid out this week.  Often when I've led worship I've taken the approach of "getting out of the way".  That is letting the song do most of the speaking vs me getting in the way.  However, I like to mix it up and lately I've been searching for ways within the services to engage people to worship uniquely. Example would be when I had everyone in the church read scripture out loud together a few weeks ago.  I think that went over pretty well.

I loved the example of the church visitor. That's exactly how we approach our services...thinking of the person visiting for the first time.  Good stuff!

Week 8 Day 3: Instruct Them

"Not only do we need to teach through our praise, we must also intentionally and continuously teach Christians about worship and praise."

Within our church there are many different faces out there when we lead worship.  I see people participating with arms raised and voices lifted high.  I also see people who are "non participants" in the worship.  And rather than judging...I LOVE how this chapter encourages us to consider the fact that many people just haven't been taught about worship and praise.

This was a great chapter challenging us to not strive to "stir people up"...but to consider "Instruction over Inspiration".  What we do is so much more than putting on a "rock show".  If being a rock star and getting emotions stirred is simply the goal....then we fail as worship leaders.  We succeed as musicians...but really...that's not the outcome we should desire.

What do you think?

Week 8 Day 2: Inspire Them

Today's reading was AWESOME!!!  Such a great perspective on music's power, it's role in worship and how it can be used to encourage the body of Christ while praising God.

So many people have expressed so much appreciation for the time of worship at Grace.  It truly is a powerful tool that can encourage people.

Loved the Daily Praise and the Daily Surrender!

Week 8 Day 1: Impress Them

Things that were impressive about the children of Judah's characteristics in 2Chronicles 20:18-22

1. Their humility and sincerity.
2. Their passion and enthusiasm.
3. Their confidence.
4. Their excellence and preperation.
5. Their authority.

Great stuff today!  The importance of actually "impressing others" is a value we hold on the Grace worship ministry.  Not for self gratification or self glory...but to win the respect and provide a place for people to experience the glory of Christ.