Reform worship.

Why Advent? 2

2011-12-19T22:54:00.001-06:00

In my last post we took a brief look at Mark D. Roberts' e-book Discovering Advent, in which he suggests that Advent helps us grow in faith and align with Christ. In this post we're going to take a look at an excellent article by Debra Dean Murphy entitled "The Advent We Hope For: A Modest Proposal." I recommend reading the article for yourself, but I will offer a few of my own reflections here.

First, I feel I should confess that I myself have failed to properly observe this Advent season. I am almost already sick of Christmas, having prematurely immersed myself in Christmas festivity. I'm sure it has something to do with all the Christmas music I've been singing and listening to these past couple weeks, along with all the Christmas movies we've been watching and introducing to our kids. And it doesn't help that just about all of our gift-exchanging that has already taken place, having given in to the pull to make sure everyone gets their Christmas cards and gifts before Christmas Day. We've already held our worship ministry party, participated in three carol sings, and "done Christmas" with my side of the family.

Why is it so hard for most...to really embrace this season fully? We give it a wink and a nod, observing a kind of pseudo-Advent even as our Christmas celebrations—ecclesial, civic, and familial—are in full-swing.

Like Debra Dean Murphy, though, I refuse to beat myself up over this. In fact, failure might just be what I need to enter more fully into what the season calls for. She goes on to suggest that despite our giving in to the pressure the culture puts on us to half-heartedly enter into Advent, many Protestants actually desire to be led more fully into all that the season calls for.

Most people in the pews are up for the challenge—the mystery, the drama, the strange satisfactions—of Advent. ...In my experience, lay people are interested in church history and liturgical practice. ...They sense the poverty of worship when so much of it mimics the banal culture around them. They long for beauty. They’re game for change. ...Our jumping the gun on Christmas...is regrettable not so much because it violates a hard and fast rule regarding liturgical propriety but because it robs us of the gift of inhabiting fully a season of deep and necessary paradox—a lack in the life of faith that many church-goers feel keenly.

After talking a bit about the necessary and often overlooked Advent themes of judgment and hope, Debra makes three suggestions for helping us recover (or discover) this season in all its fullness. I was particularly convicted by her third suggestion, which has since helped me to loosen up and take more of a lighthearted approach to leading our church in Advent worship.

1. We can’t talk about Advent only in Advent. Habituating worshipers to the rhythms of the church calendar requires a year-long (years-long) attentiveness, regular reminders that we occupy time differently, ongoing catechesis about the patterns and practices that shape Christian identity. This truth can be taught in a variety of ways (studies, sermons, and all the rest), even as worshipers embody its reality Sunday after Sunday. But it’s not absorbed by osmosis; intentionality is key.

2. Make changes slowly but resolutely. Decide long before Advent (and invite congregational reflection on) what the shape of the season will be. Maybe you’ll resolve to learn the Advent hymns you never sing; maybe you’ll organize a December study that goes deep into the Advent lections. Hopefully blowout Christmas celebrations will be saved for the twelve-day-long Christmas season.

3. Maintain a sense of humor. There really is nothing quite so obnoxious as a know-it-all who insists on liturgical correctness at the expense of harmony and goodwill. The journey out of our cultural accommodations in Christian worship is an arduous trek that takes time (see suggestion number two); not being so hard on ourselves can lighten the load and bring others along.

Why Advent? 1

2011-12-08T09:35:00.005-06:00

I've been thinking a lot about why I am so drawn to the season of Advent. Is it because it's so fresh to me, having not observed it for the first twenty-five years of my life? Is it because it's the trendy "Ancient-Future" thing to do? Is it because I'm super mellow, which fits nicely with the mood of the season? Is it even necessary at all?

Instead of taking the time to write a dissertation of my own defending Advent, I'd like to share a couple resources I have recently come across that have helped me identify and articulate why this season is so important to me. I'll do this in two separate blogposts.

The first is a short, very accessible e-book written by Mark D. Roberts, entitled Discovering Advent. In the book he talks about how he wasn't always a lover of Advent, but grew to love it. Just before spending the last half of the book laying our some practical guidelines for observing Advent, he hits on one of the most common responses he (and I) get when we talk about our intentional practice of Advent: "But Is Advent Biblical?"

He begins the chapter by saying,

In fact, you can't turn to a place in the Bible and find specific teaching on Advent or a command to set aside the days prior to Christmas as a season of waiting, hoping, and yearning. Of course, you can't find in Scripture any instruction on celebrating Christmas or Easter either. ...Some Christians believe we should only use in our worship and devotion that which is specifically commanded in Scripture. This eliminates not just Advent, but the other popular Christian holidays as well.

He goes on to say,

I believe that we are free in Christ to do many things that are not specifically taught or modeled in Scripture. ...Yet, I do want to live my life in a way that is consistent with biblical teaching. Is Advent biblical in this broader sense? Could the observance of Advent help you and me grow in faith in a way that aligns with biblical revelation? (my emphases)

This last question, to which I answer with a resounding YES, is why we are leading our church into an intentional observance of Advent, both in our corporate worship and in our homes. Growth in faith and alignment with Christ aren't things that naturally happen in our lives without order and effort. We observe Advent (and the rest of the Christian Year) because it aligns us with the story of Jesus. It provides a framework for us to draw near to God, where we can be transformed. Otherwise, who are we drawing near to? What are we orienting our lives around this season? We can't not be giving ourselves over to something. We are always spending our time and directing our desires toward something or someone.

Mark Roberts then walks us through several passages of Scripture that call us into practices and postures associated with the great themes of Advent: waiting and preparing for the coming of the Messiah. We do the things we do during Advent, focus on the things we do, because the Scriptures lead us in this way, and because it makes sense to us (and to the early believers who began our Advent practices) to do so during this time of year.

So, though it's correct to say that Advent itself is not taught in Scripture, and therefore Christians are free to observe it or not, it is equally correct to say that the emphases of Advent are thoroughly biblical. If the traditions of Advent help us focus more on the Lord, get in touch with our need for him, replenish our hope, and celebrate Christmas with greater meaning and depth, then I'm all [for] it.

How does intentionally observing Advent help you, your family, your church grow in faith and align with Christ during this time of year? What kind of resistance to Advent do you experience in your own heart or in your conversations with other Christians?

Merry Christmas. Good Night.

2011-12-05T09:46:00.010-06:00

Advent Shalom! Some good friends of ours just compiled an EP of new Christmas songs, including fresh recordings of "Glory in the Heights" by Yours truly and "Repeat the Wondrous Story" by Sean Carter. It's FREE through Noisetrade if you invite five friends. You probably know how it works. Thanks and enjoy!

Here is the link to the EP on Noisetrade in case you can't see the widget above.

The D's of Ancient Future Worship

2011-11-12T22:21:00.005-06:00

I just returned home from a wonderful time at the Wild Pear gathering of artists in Franklin, TN. While there I had the privilege of sharing a few of my reflections--a Wild Pear Bite--on "Why Ancient Future Worship Is Necessary." Of course I felt as though I was merely a vessel through which Bob Webber himself spoke to the group of thirty-five or so passionate artists and worship thinkers. I can only hope I did him justice. If I sounded like a heretic, then I succeeded.

Briefly, Ancient Future Worship (AFW) is proclaiming, enacting, and singing God's story. We find ourselves in God's cosmic narrative--creation, incarnation, re-creation. AFW centers us in the truth of Gods Story, a Person who descends to us, not an idea to which we ascend. AFW centers us in the present time, calling us into a participation NOW in the past death and resurrection of Christ, and calling us into a participation NOW in the future restoration of all things in Christ. AFW trains us in real life rhythms, spiritually transforming us right where we are, and ushering us into an everyday lifestyle of God-worship.

I could write a book fleshing out the above paragraph (or you can read anything Bob Webber wrote throughout his career, especially his five-book Ancient Future series), but instead I'd like to share something that the Holy Spirit orchestrated quite beautifully during the weeks leading up to Wild Pear and during the minutes leading up to my talk. Here are the D's of Ancient Future Worship--a list of words that describe some of my own struggles in leading this kind of worship. Ancient Future Worship is:

disciple-oriented, not seeker-oriented
dynamic, not static
directed, not produced or programmed
different (radically), not like this world
demanding, not supplying
dialogical, not a one-sided conversation
dirty, not pristine
declarative, not explicative
daily, not once-a-week
denial of self, not self-help
deep, not superficial
dinner-centered, not sermon or song
doxological, not self-serving
devoted (single-heartedly), not double-minded
disciplined, not effortless
determined, not lazy or passive
disruptive, not flawless
discerning, not flaky
difficult, not cozy and comfortable
down-to-earth, not abstract
discussion, not study
deliberate, not trendy
desired, not obligated
dangerous, not "safe for the whole family"

Worship is a messy thing. Anytime people work together, which is the definition of worship (leitourgia), we can expect imperfection, conflict, and messiness. If none of this is present in our worship, we're probably doing something wrong. If we're trying super hard to avoid this in our worship, we might want to rethink what worship is for. We design our worship for disciples, which means we must design it for broken people who are serious about offering themselves to God. I believe Ancient Future Worship is necessary to lead us in this path of faithful worship.

Bringing the Lord's Prayer Down to Earth

2011-09-07T10:21:00.006-05:00

Over the past couple of months I have been teaching my kids the Lord's Prayer. It's amazing how fast they pick these kinds of things up. They've already got "The Doxology" down, as well as the first verse to "Be Thou My Vision" (the most requested bedtime song these days) and "Bless Us, O Lord" (the mealtime prayer). And even though they have no idea what some of the words mean, I do believe their hearts are being shaped by the practice. I know mine certainly is.

I have to admit that up to this point praying the Lord's Prayer has not been a regular practice in my life. I have given mental assent to it, studied its contents, and recited it in corporate worship on occasion, but it has never blossomed in my heart like it has recently, especially this past week.

I would venture to say that the Lord's Prayer for most of us is an abstract, in-the-clouds sort of prayer. Many of the words that make up the prayer--like heaven, kingdom, sin, and forgive--have been so churchified that they've lost any and all sensibleness and relatedness to our everyday lives. This cannot be what Jesus had in mind when teaching his disciples how to pray. To those first followers of Jesus this prayer was as down-to-earth as was his physical presence; these words were as basic as the language of two and four-year-olds.

This is what the Lord has taught me in teaching his prayer to my children.

Ow Foddo en evan, ho-yee is yo name

Our Daddy is with us. We are his little ones. He loves to gently scratch our back, kiss our face, and sing us a bedtime song. He holds the world in his hand, but all the power in the universe would be worth nothing to him if he didn't have an intimate relationship with us. We who have been touched by our Daddy cannot help but love him with every fiber of our being. We cling to him and depend on him and look up to him in every way. He is the most important person in the world to us.

Hear, O children, Daddy is your one and only love. Nothing and no one compares. Love him with your entire life--in your gut, in your thoughts, in your feelings, in whatever your body is doing--and love each other in this way, too.

Yo gingdom gum, oh wiyo be dumb en oaf as im evan

Our Daddy is actively involved in the lives of his children and in all creation. If our life is all about loving our Daddy, we watch him as he works and listen to him when he speaks. We follow his instructions and join him in his building project--the world's largest restoration project. It's nowhere near complete, but we've never seen something so beautiful. More and more people are helping, too. In every vocation and every place on earth, we are working with our Daddy to make all things new.

The most beautiful part of this project is the growing bond of love between Daddy and his children and the growing network of love between us kids. The more days we spend resting and working with Daddy and listening to his voice, the more we love him; and the more time his children spend alongside each other, the more we grow in our love for one another.

G'busta bay ow dayee bed

Daddy feeds us. As children, we don't think about where our food comes from, we simply trust our Daddy that it will be there. We take it for granted, and that's okay, because he's the one who freely grants it. We smell the bread even before we see it. We take it with our hands and eat it. The crunch enters our ears as the bread works its way into our blood.

The multiple-times-daily act of eating is one of the most physical and mundane things we do as humans. We don't have to look outside of our normal life rhythms to find Daddy. When we eat we are giving thanks to him for his provision and nearness to us. It is always a communion. We are never alone.

Fogib ow sins us we fogib ow dead-os

There are times when we do not care to join in our Daddy's building project. We refuse to see what he's working on or hear his plan for the day. We see taller buildings going up and better food being served, so we go taste and see. This takes us out of loving relationship with our Daddy and one another. It turns all our affections in on ourselves. Our actions may not be heinous and overt, but especially our small actions and negligences, our "harmless" words and imaginations, keep us from Daddy's love.

When we lose sight of Daddy's restoration project, we are looking out only for ourselves, and suddenly everyone is against us. We become victims of everyone else's offenses. In this lonely, selfish posture, we are unable to receive and give love. Instead of loving our brothers and sisters, we hold grudges against them. This is what we need to be relieved of. Our Daddy relieves us of this miserable way of life, and realigns us with the first three parts of his prayer, where we thrive in loving, resting/working/eating relationship with himself and with one another.

If anything, sin is what takes us out of our natural, down-to-earth element. Sin is living in the clouds of fantasy. The forgiveness of sins is not about praying a prayer so that one day we can escape from our evil, fleshy bodies. The forgiveness of sins is about perfecting our humanity, restoring the Daddy-child relationship and our relationships with one another. It's about resting in Daddy's love, joining in his work to restore the world, and enjoying communion with him and all his children.

An leab a snot indo demdation, budelibo us fum evo

If we are truly living out the prayer up to this point, we're REALLY going to need this last part. Living in loving, resting/working/eating relationship with Daddy and one another means we will be spending most of our time physically present among messy people in messy places. One of the most prevalent places in this world where Daddy's children are lured to participate in evil activity is the church. Here we find some of the most judgmental, self-righteous people on earth. It is easy to get sucked up into this miserable way of life. That's why he teaches us to pray this prayer.

As Daddy's children we are led into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and markets, where all kinds of self-seeking activity is going on. If we are going to overcome evil, we must be attentive to what our Daddy is saying and doing, we must join him in his building project, and we must do it together.

Overcoming evil at times will involve fleeing from it, but real deliverance is about making evil things good things. We may be tempted to rid the world of evil people, but Daddy is interested in taking the evil out of the people, not taking the people out of the evil. If we do not have a vision for restoration, and instead think the goal is to be delivered from our evil bodies and this evil world, the Lord's Prayer doesn't make sense.

I do not care to comment on the rest of the prayer (the part Jesus didn't teach us to pray :). I do hope you see how everything in this prayer is down-to-earth and is meant to help us sensibly relate to our Daddy, to see what he is up to in our everyday lives, and to respond accordingly.

Order of Worship

2011-09-01T14:16:00.008-05:00

Check out this post from the Internet Monk, The Order of Christian Worship. In it Chaplain Mike recounts his own experience of the two (and a half) predominant Christian worship structures:

Speaking broadly, the traditional liturgical pattern is designed for worship, the revivalist pattern for bringing people to a place of decision.
In the churches that have more of a teaching style, the revivalist/teaching pattern functions primarily to instruct and equip Christians through Biblical knowledge. The decisional aspect is not as immediate. Life change is encouraged through applying the Word.

Here are some more excerpts. Would love to know what you think.

I became convinced long ago…
That Christian worship follows a certain order.
That this order has been proven sound and salutary through the church’s history.
That the main parts of this order involve Christians meeting around (1) the Word, and (2) the Table (and Baptism on occasions when it is practiced).
That the purpose of these two main parts is to lead us to Christ through the retelling of the Gospel.
That the subsidiary parts lead to and from the main parts: (1) Gathering, and (2) Sending.
That whatever elements are practiced in worship should serve the liturgy (music, prayers, testimonies, readings, drama, etc.) by enabling the congregation to prepare for or respond to the revelation of Christ in Word and Table.

I became more and more dissatisfied with the revivalist/teaching pattern of church service primarily because I found it did not assist me in truly worshiping God. It did not lead me into Gospel realities week after week. It focused too much on specific instruction or areas of decision that did not always include the entire congregation. It did not enable me to feel that I was part of the communion of saints gathered around the throne. There may have been a “praise” portion of the service, but as a whole it did not seem to me that the service was centered on Christ and what he has done for us, but rather it was mainly about learning or making decisions about what I should be doing for Christ.

But some of you are probably saying, why do we have to talk about an “order” for worship at all? Aren’t we just called to come to church and worship God? Can’t we just gather and worship from our hearts?

No.

Every meeting has an order. No congregation that I know of is truly and absolutely spontaneous when they meet together. Everyone has a “liturgy,” a pattern of what we do when we gather. (Surprisingly, you might discover that the “non-liturgical” churches are stricter in their patterns and less “free” in their worship than many “liturgical” congregations!) This order is simple and centered on the Gospel. It provides the basic form in which we can freely worship God through our Lord Jesus Christ in the fullness of the Spirit.

Worship Trains

2011-08-09T17:00:00.002-05:00

My son loves choo-choo trains. We live a block away from some busy freight tracks. It's a "no horn" town, but occasionally a train blows it. And when it does, no matter how faint the sound, my son's magic ears pick it up, thanks to the tubes. He jolts to attention with a gasp, locates the eyes of either mommy or daddy, and squeaks, "CHOO-choo!" Then, temporarily abandoning his Thomas wooden starter kit or his Thomas DVD he runs to the bay window in his Thomas PJs. Sometimes I think he has magic eyes, too, x-raying our neighborhood, dense with old maples and even older homes, to see the trains go by. You can't see the trains from our house. Only he can. Choo-choo trains have ka-chugged deep into my son's heart and imagination.

How did my son come to love trains so much? Well, if there's one thing he spends more of his time doing than anything else it's playing, watching, imagining, no doubt dreaming, and even creating trains (any two objects adjacent to one another form a choo-choo). Train activity has trained him to love trains. Choo-choos are a huge part of his life, at least at this junction. :)

What's in your heart? What makes up your daily activity, and why? I recently listened to this talk, "Developing a Philosophy of Worship," given by David Fitch to a group of missional church planters. The whole thing is great, but one thing in particular really stood out to me. Fitch says (from my notes),

The Sunday worship gathering shall be part of life rhythm. Liturgy is rhythm. What you do together is what you do in the rest of your life. Everybody has a liturgy, a rhythm to what they do on Sunday morning. It should be no different than what Christians do in their everyday lives.

He then breaks down what a typical Sunday worship gathering looks like at Life on the Vine, the church he co-pastors, and goes on to talk about how "every element trains you to do everyday activity in your life."

Gathering trains us to be physically present in the lives of each other.
The Practice of the Peace trains us to share the peace of Christ with everyone in our life.
Silence trains us to make space to hear from God in our life.
The Sending of Children trains us to send out our kids with a blessing.
Readings train us to submit to Scripture every day -- to listen, submit, and see our world through Scripture.
Art trains us to find the beauty of the Lord in all of creation.
Confession trains us to confess our sins one to another everyday.
Creeds train us to pledge our allegiance to Jesus Christ and to no other worldly person or power.
The Lord's Prayer trains us to pray like Jesus taught us to pray.
The Proclamation of the Word trains us to submit to the declared reality of Jesus as Lord of our life.
Prayers train us to intercede and to uphold one another in prayer throughout our days.
Eucharist trains us to give thanks and fellowship with one another at every meal and other mundane activities.
Songs of thanksgiving and praise train us to constantly give thanks and praise to God throughout our days.
Benediction trains us to receive the blessing of Christ and to bless others in our life.

Why is it so profound to me? Why did I care to bullet point every single one of these worship elements? Maybe it's because I'm struck by how every single one of them touches a part of my everyday life, at least the worthwhile things I spend my time doing. These elements of gathered worship really aren't all that different from normal, everyday life activities, are they?

Worship is a formative encounter, or worship that shapes a people into life with God and mission. Worship is spiritual formation. We are coming together to encounter his presence, to be shaped into his life, to submit to this, and to be sent out...Worship teaches us how to respond to what God is saying/doing in our life.

What do you think? Does worship train? If we approached worship in this way, what might we change about our worship gatherings and the kinds of activities we lead our people in?

Noelle Joy

2011-05-01T15:22:00.010-05:00

Noelle Joy Flanigan

Born April 30, 2011 at 6:25pm

Weighing 7lb 5oz

Welcome to our world, Noelle. You embody the Joy we have in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. The God of the universe became a little baby, just like you. He is not far away, he is near, closer even than the skin on your little bones. He loves you so much that he gave up his precious life for you. And he rose again and lives so that you can live with him forever. This is the story of Easter, the season of your birth. Without Noel there is no Easter.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

In case you know the Flanigans and the names of our kids, Lily and Liam, we couldn't really think of another L name we liked, so we chose "No-L" :)

Actually, Liam is William, so the only pattern we're breaking is the pattern of May birthdays. Oh-L :)

Moving from Theatrical to Liturgical: Step 1

2011-04-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

In a previous post I suggested that the opposite of liturgical is not free church or non-structured, but theatrical. Any kind of church can be liturgical, in that liturgy literally means "the work or service of the people." But most of the contemporary church has slid into theatre mode, with the paid pastors doing the "work," while the audience watches.

In this post [and one or two that follow] I'd like to put some flesh on what it might look like for a contemporary church to move from theatrical to liturgical. [I originally planned to include several practical ideas in this post, but the first one turned out quite long, so I'm breaking it up.]

Centralize Christ

First of all, foundational to this call is putting Jesus Christ back in the center of worship. He is the ultimate Liturgist, without whom we cannot worship God. It is HIS liturgical action that leads us into our Spiritual worship. But in the contemporary church that has accommodated consumers, the centerpiece of our worship has become a teacher/pastor along with a rock band or other elevated showpiece. The person and work of Christ has been moved to the periphery.

Now, if you ask most contemporary church leaders what is the center of their worship, of course they will say Jesus. But the problem is our words and space are communicating otherwise. We must do more than merely acknowledge behind the scenes the person and work of Christ. Christ must be the verbal and visual focal point of our worship. "I preach Christ and him crucified." Well, do we, or have we substituted Christ with an inferior message? "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church." Do our places of worship reflect this eternal truth, or have we replaced "the image of the invisible God" with inferior images?

I'm not an expert on preaching, so I'll leave the recovery of unabashed Christ proclamation to more qualified bloggers (read this, for example). I do have a couple ideas concerning re-centralizing Christ in our worship spaces, though. One thing we could do (something that Robert Webber advocated and others seem to point to, like Soren Kierkegaard and this guy), would involve abandoning the front-to-back orientation in favor of a round orientation with a prominent symbol of the person and work of Christ in the center around which everyone gathers. What this allows for, in addition to Christ physically being in the center, is people looking at each other as they worship, thus encouraging us towards communal participation and away from individualism. We are forced, in a sense, by our space to consider one another, maybe even to prefer one another over ourselves, seeing each others physical expressions of praise or grief. We might even be moved by the sight of our our sisters and brothers in worship to bear their burden with them in that moment or be encouraged to rejoice with them. Worship in the round puts flesh on the presence of Christ among us and can remove from us the temptation to worship God in abstract, detached ways.

I understand that most contemporary church buildings were built to accommodate the stage-play, front-to-back orientation, so you might be thinking, "Yeah, great idea, but impossible. What are we supposed to do with our permanent stage, our rectangular room, our pews?" If going round is out of the question, there are other ways you can centralize Christ. I might suggest de-centralizing the band, maybe even bringing the band down to the same level as the rest of the people. If Christ, then, replaces our former place of prominence, this move would silently speak volumes and subconsciously form people into participants. It would also open up a whole lot of room on the platform for art and symbol, giving more people opportunity to bring their gifts and contribute towards becoming a fully-functioning body. This gives room for Christ truly be the head of the church, leading us in worship. We, the elevated centerpieces, must dethrone ourselves so that Christ can be exalted and freely work in the hearts of all people.

Are we willing to do this? How might this look in your context?

Other steps we can take moving from theatrical to liturgical (which I plan to write about later) include 2) changing our language from theatrical to liturgical (e.g., is it a "stage" or a "platform," is it an "auditorium" or a "sanctuary"?) and 3) bringing the liturgy into our homes and daily lives (the work of the people never ends).

Biblical Way of the Cross: Closing Prayer

2011-04-24T17:00:00.001-05:00

The Resurrection

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

Take 1 or 2 minutes of silence.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” (John 20:19-21 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, with joy we view your victorious wounds, help us to meditate on them and to see in them the sign of victory. May they give us courage to go forth with your blessing.

O Jesus, bless us with your outstretched hands. Give us your peace, give us your love. We love you, Jesus; be with us as we go out to do the will of God in our lives.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 14

2011-04-23T05:00:00.006-05:00

The Fourteenth Station

Jesus Is Buried

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. (Luke 23:53-56 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, now the time of surrender, of being at rest, begins. It is the seventh day when God rested from the work of creation. And you, the Son of God, rest and await the dawn of the eighth day when all will be made new—and we wait with you.

O Jesus, teach us to rest. Deliver us from thinking that everything depends upon our actions. Help us to be patient in trusting that God will bring about the completion of his creation through you. We love you, Jesus; fill us with your peace.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 13

2011-04-22T05:00:00.004-05:00

The Thirteenth Station

Jesus Dies

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” (Luke 23:44-47 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, the Word spoken by the Father, you now return to him, having accomplished the purpose for which you were sent. Your trust in the Father remains, even amid the dark clouds of death.

O Jesus, may we too accomplish the purpose for which we were created. Help us to commit ourselves into the Father's hands, to trust in him, and believe in his love for us, a love that your death reveals to us. May your dying never be in vain. We love you, Jesus; help us to die to ourselves and live for you.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 12

2011-04-21T05:00:00.004-05:00

The Twelfth Station

Jesus Cares for His Mother

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, you give your mother to the disciple you love. Even as you face death, you entrust those whom you love most into each other's care. Your dying is marked by giving, and by concern for the ones who remain. You do not leave us as orphans, you have promised your Spirit to your church, and at the cross the church is born.

O Jesus, help us see that we are the disciples you love, and you have given us each other. We pray that we might allow the Spirit to give us life as sisters and brothers joined in mutual care. We love you, Jesus; bind us as one.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 11

2011-04-20T05:00:00.003-05:00

The Eleventh Station

Jesus Promises Paradise to the Crucified Thief

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, two others are nailed on either side of you. One challenges you to release him now; the other asks to be freed with you in your kingdom. One sees only weakness; the other sees power and is able to trust in a promise of everlasting life with you as his time in this world comes to an end.

O Jesus, look upon us now. See us in our need and hear us as we cry out to you. Help us to trust you in difficult circumstances. Give us eyes to see your power in helpless times, to see your kingdom in all we encounter. We love you, Jesus; remember us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 10

2011-04-19T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Tenth Station

Jesus Is Crucified

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” A sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:33-38 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, your suffering continues as nails are driven into your hands and feet and taunting jeers are hurled at your body imprisoned on the cross. Yet to those who mock and challenge you, you offer no reproach, only forgiveness and compassion for them in their ignorance.

O Jesus, how often we have acted as if the way of the cross were unnecessary and too difficult. We believe we know a better way, a way worn down by the crowd. We find that path goes nowhere. Forgive us; we do not know what we are doing. We love you, Jesus; by your wounds heal us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 9

2011-04-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

The Ninth Station

Jesus Meets the Weeping Women

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:27-31 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, after being silent, you speak. You turn the eyes of the women away from your suffering and toward the destructive powers of sin. You warn them not to shed their tears for you but rather for themselves and their children. If you, the innocent one, can suffer so, what will be the fate of the guilty?

O Jesus, the wood is now very dry! Set fire to the world so that it might burn with your love. Destroy all hatred, fill us with joy again. Teach us to mourn the way things are; show us the way they could be. We love you, Jesus; weep for us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 8

2011-04-17T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Eighth Station

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, the torture you experienced at the hands of the soldiers left you weak. When you prayed in the garden that the will of the Father be done, and angel was sent to strengthen you. Now as you seek to fulfill the Father's will, he sends Simon to help you.

O Jesus, strengthen us on our journey. Open our hearts to the help you offer through the kindness of others. Open our eyes to the needs of those who walk beside us. We love you, Jesus; lighten our burdens.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 7

2011-04-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

The Seventh Station

Jesus Takes up His Cross

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). (John 19:16b-17 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, like Isaac carrying the wood to the mountain, you set out with the wood of the cross. But unlike him you will not ask your Father where the lamb is, because you know you are the lamb of the sacrifice. You now begin your journey with the cross.

O Jesus, you carry a cross, which is given unjustly. You willingly bear the burden of our sinfulness and accept the cross of our guilt. There is no greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. We love you, Jesus; help us to show this love in our lives.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 6

2011-04-15T05:00:00.003-05:00

The Sixth Station

Jesus Is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. (Mark 15:16-19 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, soldiers of an earthly realm mock your kingship. You are so powerless in their eyes, so weak, the ruler of a kingdom that cannot be seen, and, therefore, must not exist. They treat you as a foolish impostor, caught in a lie.

O Jesus, how often do we look for the kingdom with the eyes of the world rather than with the eyes of faith. We forget your promise that your kingdom is among us. Help us to see your strength in our weakness, your reign in our powerlessness. We love you, Jesus; establish your rule over us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 5

2011-04-14T05:00:00.003-05:00

The Fifth Station

Jesus Is Condemned by Pilate

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. ...But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. (Luke 23:13-15, 23-24 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, Pilate perceives your innocence, but the crowd insists on guilt. Hearing their persistent shouts, Pilate sets aside the judgment of his conscience, and the decision is made. He hands you over to be crucified.

O Jesus, how often do we let the threatening voice of the crowd overwhelm the voice of conscience? Fill us with compassion for the outcast and commitment to the truth. We love you, Jesus; lead us beyond the crowd.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 4

2011-04-13T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Fourth Station

Peter Denies Knowing Jesus

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, you told Peter that he would deny you three times before the rooster would crow. He did not believe you. He swore that he would never deny you, and that in fact he was willing to die for you. Peter felt that he knew himself better than you knew him. But now as dawn approaches and the rooster crows, he sees the truth.

O Jesus, we set out to follow you but then quickly turn, going our own way. We are afraid to acknowledge you in front of others, but you speak to us in the midst of our denial. We love you, Jesus; keep us faithful to you.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 3

2011-04-12T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Third Station

Jesus Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!” (Matthew 26:62-66 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, your words are blasphemy to the ears of the high priest. He tears his garments, unable to see the presence of God in the one who stands before him arrested and accused. He cannot believe in a God who, because of such great love, would willingly become so powerless.

O Jesus, we can be so limited in our vision. We find it difficult to look beyond our narrow expectations and see you as you are. Give us the grace to hear your words clearly and to follow you in truth. We love you, Jesus; reveal to us what God is like.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 2

2011-04-11T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Second Station

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss. Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. (Mark 14:43-46 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, as you wake your disciples, one who has not slept arrives with an angry crowd. Judas reveals your identity to them with a kiss. His act of affection is a signal to point you out as the one who loves but is rejected by his own.

O Jesus, we are quick to greet you with affection in our prayer and worship. But how often do our external words and actions conceal hearts that are easily turned from you? We love you, Jesus, help us to love you with all of our hearts.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Station 1

2011-04-10T05:00:00.015-05:00

The First Station

Jesus Prays in the Garden

Take 1 or 2 minutes to silently reflect upon the image above.

Slowly read aloud this passage of Scripture:

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” (Luke 22:41-46 NLT)

Kneel or simply open your hands and pray:

Jesus, we see you in the garden, praying in the darkness of night. Your anguished prayer is one of deep struggle with the Father's will. While you agonize over the Father's will and are strengthened to fulfill his plan, your disciples, overcome with sadness, can do nothing but give themselves over to sleep. As we begin this journey with you, Jesus, help us to see that for you it was a journey of love. May we learn from this walk how to follow you more closely and accept the love that you have for us.

O Jesus, wake us from our sleep. Help us to face life's difficulties honestly, knowing that we can trust in God. Strengthen us in the time of our trials. May our prayer always be an expression of all that we are, and all that we do. We love you, Jesus; teach us how to pray.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Biblical Way of the Cross: Introduction

2011-04-08T05:00:00.006-05:00

Beginning Sunday, April 10 we will be posting daily devotions to lead us prayerfully on the Biblical Way of the Cross. We are invited to spend five minutes a day for 14 days (15 including Easter Sunday) as individuals, families, or groups to seriously reflect upon and enter into the death of Jesus, coming to grips with the reality of our sin and Christ's dealing with it--the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us.

If you have never taken the time to seek the Lord in this way, we encourage you to just do it. Give yourself to this ancient practice. Each devotion is very short and includes a piece of art depicting the station, a Scripture reading, and soul-searching prayers. The devotions are taken (and slightly adapted) from a wonderful little pamphlet, Biblical Way of the Cross. Amy Welborn and Michael Dubruiel wrote the prayers, and the artwork is by Michael D. O'Brien. Hear their heart from the Introduction:

Praying [the] Biblical Way of the Cross can lead to an experience of the deep love of God revealed through the suffering and death of the Lord. It can also provide an opportunity for reflection on how God's love is revealed through our experiences of loss, betrayal, and death. Praying these stations, whether in private or as a public prayer, should help a person draw closer to Jesus Christ. It is our hope that as you follow this Way of the Cross you will experience the same certitude of faith in the love that God has for you as Jesus did when he accepted his cross, and that you will be rewarded with a share in his resurrection.

We cannot rise with Christ unless we first die with him. So, join us!

What Is the Opposite of Liturgical?

2011-03-21T09:52:00.006-05:00

I guess the first question should be, "Who is afraid of the word 'liturgical?'" Who bristles at the sound of it?

It may be that you hear the word "liturgy" and think of "those Catholics" who don't really love Jesus, but who just go through the motions or the works that the pope dictates or dead tradition tells them to do.

Seriously, if this is what liturgy is, who wants to have any part in it? But this is not what it means. Liturgy literally means "the work or service of the people." It comes from the Greek word leitourgia, which can be found in such places as Romans 12:1, where Paul begs us to present ourselves to God, to sacrifice our bodies, calling it our reasonable or spiritual service or worship (leitourgia).

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Certainly this type of liturgy is not confined to the church building or Sunday worship, but what about these gatherings? What of our solemn assemblies? Should leitourgia, this call from God, bear on our formal worship gatherings, what it looks like and what we do when we gather?

So, I have been posing this question to friends and fellow worshipers: What is the opposite of liturgical? Having similar predispositions to the above mentioned—that liturgy refers to dead, high church structure—some of their responses have been "charismatic," "free church," "non-structured," even "chaotic." I can understand these answers, having a similar view of liturgy in the past myself.

But I submit that the opposite of liturgical is not free church or chaotic; the opposite of liturgical is theatrical. If worship is not the work of the people, then it is the work of someone else, or the non-work of the people, right? I also submit that most Christians today approach worship in a theatrical way. The "work" is reserved for the paid pastors, or the clergy, the actors on the stage. Even the work of the kingdom outside of our formal gatherings is to be done by the church leaders. Most Christians assume the passive role of spectators, or cheerleaders, or, dare I say, financial supporters of the work that is to be done by someone other than themselves. This is not leitourgia.

I'm also afraid that I, a paid church leader along with most contemporary church leaders, am actually contributing to the problem. The system, the program, the machine, does not allow for the people to rise up in their gifts and callings to do the work God has for them. Even if there is room, we pastors are too busy maintaining the machine to truly love and pastor and disciple the people into the work they are called to. We are too big to focus on the liturgical lives of the people. We are forced to spend all our time making sure they keep coming to support our beautiful machine, our wonderful programs.

We must pay attention to how our people are being formed. We are being formed; there's no question about that. The question is, "How are we being formed?"

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Theatrical worship forms us according to the already prominent consumer systems of this world, built upon the media, entertainment, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. It invites people to enjoy the production (or hate it) and to take a dose of feel-good, audio medicine. Granted, good theatre, like good fiction, can lead us into a deeper understanding of reality. But that doesn't necessarily ensure we will do anything about it.

Liturgy, on the other hand, is transformational in that it counter-forms us to look different than what the world tries to make us look like. Liturgy ("the work of the people") conforms us into the image of Christ, the ultimate Liturgist. He already accomplished the ultimate "work," enabling us to do the "work" God is calling us to do. Jesus' act of worship—his sacrifice, his work, his liturgy—makes it possible for us to present ourselves holy and pleasing to God!

If this is true, then it's not liturgical worship that we need to be afraid of, but theatrical worship. Theatrical worship holds us back from doing the work of the kingdom; it keeps us from being Christ-like, it keeps us from being the church.

Theatrical = passive spectatorship.

Liturgical = active participation.

The contemporary church's reaction to liturgical worship has led us down a very dangerous path toward worldly conformation. Perhaps a holy confirmation is in order.

Strong Words to Pastors, Worship Leaders, and Music Directors from Internet Monk

2011-03-08T05:00:00.003-06:00

I usually get bored and stop reading long blogposts, but I couldn't stop reading this one: A Rant from a Loser in the Worship Wars. Thought I would share it with you. A few excerpts:

I would argue that we ought to find ways that people of all ages could be included and represented in a variety of ways in our worship services. When people come to worship they ought to see the whole family of God in action. They should not see a group of people that fills a market niche. That includes children, teens, college age young people, singles and family members of all ages, and adults from every available generation. We ought to learn to appreciate music that reflects what has been spiritually meaningful to people down through the years, as well as learning new songs of praise. Our church leaders should be courageous to challenge their congregations to obey the Scriptures and “accept one another” in these matters. We ought to see people from all generations “up front” and involved in the public ministry of the church.

The bottom line for me involves what it means to be the church, what it means to be a pastor, and what it means for God’s people to gather for worship. ...Many evangelicals have forgotten what it means to be a church for everybody. Many of their pastors have perverted their callings into something other than pastoral ministry. And many have no clue at all regarding worship, who and what it’s for.

Lacking a rich Biblical, historical, and theological imagination, we have surrendered unwittingly to our culture and followed its lead in all three areas. I may be on the losing side of the worship wars, but it is the church that is truly losing, as well as a world that needs more than another place to entertain them and keep them busy.

Seating Arrangements in Worship

2011-03-07T11:30:00.009-06:00

Rita Ferrone over at Pray Tell Blog posed the question to several teachers of liturgy:

Teaching liturgy today is both a wonderful opportunity and a challenge. There are so many possibilities! Where does one begin?

Here was one response that caught my attention. Richard Giles, a teacher in the U.K., says:

I always begin with how the assembly is seated. This wasn’t always so, as parishes usually have an idea for a new piece of liturgical furniture – often a new altar- and at first I was happy to go along with that (I love doodling new designs!).

Gradually however I came to realise that unless we can help a congregation to become a liturgical assembly – i.e. to gather in a configuration which gets them out of audience mode and into full and active participation — all the new furniture in the world won’t do much good.

A congregation seated in straight rows looking ahead to a liturgical ’stage’ up front is a group of people waiting to be informed or entertained, not an active community of faith about to do together the work of the people of God. Let’s get them looking as though they mean business, and the rest will follow.

What do you think about the significance of seating arrangements in worship?

Why Lent?

2011-03-04T11:21:00.005-06:00

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 9, when we are marked with ashes and hear the words “from dust you came and to dust you will return,” we begin a 40-day journey toward Easter. Before we can experience the joy of resurrection, we must experience the despair of death. In Lent, we remember that we are mortal humans, that we are destined to, one day, die – and that we are sinful. As we remember these two grim facts, we look forward to our hope in Jesus who defeated death and forgave us all our sins through his cross and resurrection.

In Lent, we have a time of self-examination, listening, preparation and repentance. It is important that we have 40 days to give to this vital work. We give little space in our world to this kind of attention, particularly to thinking about the gravity of our sin. This is why Lent involves choosing some discipline – an ordered way to obey the Spirit’s voice in our life and to identify with Jesus’ 40 days fasting in the wilderness, where Jesus wrestled with temptation and heard from the Father. We too must wrestle with temptation. We too are desperate to hear from the Father.

However, the focus of Lent is not on us or our sin. The focus is on Jesus. The focus is on mercy and renewal. Repentance leads us to the joy found in forgiveness. As Bobby Gross said, “In the solitary sojourn, we turn away from our sins and temptations and toward God and his great mercy.” This is why the 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays. There are 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Each Sunday we break our fast. Each Sunday is a mini-Easter.

We will encourage a Lenten rhythm of two practices for our church this year: A Lenten discipline, and daily Lenten prayer. The point of a discipline is not to prove you can do something hard or to show God how serious a Christian you are. Rather, the point of a discipline is to allow a way to practice what God is calling you into – or what God is calling you out of. A discipline is a response to the work of God’s Spirit in your heart. Click here to download a pdf including some examples of disciplines and some help determining what kind of discipline God may be calling you to this season.

We will be giving a "Lenten Journey" folder to every family or individual in our church with the above linked explanation packet, along with a card for our daily prayer. Click here to download a pdf of the prayer card. We are inviting everyone in our church to find 10 minutes in the morning, a couple minutes in the middle of our day, and 10 minutes in the evening to talk with God. Nothing too overwhelming here. The idea is for us simply and prayerfully to submit to God and one another, perhaps more intentionally than we might otherwise. The 10-minute “In the Morning” devotion includes a song, two short scripture readings, and a prayer. At some point in the middle of the day (or at a few times), just for a minute or two, we stop, silence ourselves, and re-focus on Jesus. The 10-minute “In the Evening” guide helps us attend to the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives. We encourage families, small groups, and peers to do this together as often as possible. We are all on this journey with Jesus together!

I would love to hear how other churches are planning to intentionally participate in the death of Christ this Lenten season. Feel free to adapt the above resources and use them in your own church, just as I stole them from Winn Collier and All Souls Church, Charlottesville, VA.

N.T. Wright on Mission through the Sacraments and the Arts

2011-01-28T13:51:00.007-06:00

A great big hat tip to Dan Wilt for posting these videos. A few excerpts follow each video. Enjoy and Implement!

The speech-act, or the acted speech, of the Sacraments actually prepares for the tasks of the church in the world. ...The Eucharist energizes the church for mission.

The powers that rule the world are still powerful and need to be reminded of their defeat by Christ on the cross. And it is only as we are energized as baptized people and equipped as eucharistic people that we are able then to go calmly and confidently into the arena of the struggle, whatever it may be, to campaign for justice in the world.

The Sacraments not only do not displace the Word, but the higher a sacramental theology you have the more you have caused/need a high theology of the Word to balance it, to flesh it out. Because the precise point of the Sacraments is that these are the moments when the story comes to life.

With Jesus as King, the justice and peace, which the empires of this world parody, will finally attain reality. Our task in the present is to implement the achievement of Jesus and thereby anticipate that final coming together. How are we going to do that? We're going to have to do it through politics, but we've also got to do it through the world of the arts. ...We have lived for too long with the arts as the pretty bit around the edge, with the reality as the non-artistic thing in the middle. But the world is charged with the grandeur of God! Why should we not celebrate and rejoice in that?

Genuine art takes seriously the fact that the world is full of the glory of God, and that it will be full "as the waters cover the sea," and at present (Rom. 8) it is groaning in travail. ...Genuine art responds to that triple awareness...and holds them together as the Psalms do, and asks why and what and where are we. You can do that in music and you can do that in painting, and our generation needs us to do that not simply to decorate the gospel but to announce the gospel.

Happy Sixth Day of Christmas!

2010-12-30T09:16:00.001-06:00

Video link

O, Holy Night (The Non Department Store Version)

2010-12-18T21:35:00.003-06:00

With Christmas being the favorite holiday of most, and especially those who sell product, great attention is put into setting the Christmas "vibe" including the holiday music. It frustrates me sometimes that the songs that were once sacred carols about the coming of Christ are now played overhead by today's pop stars. It seems at times we have reduced them down to background music to our shopping frenzy.

A few years ago I channeled this frustration and in a personal attempt to begin to reclaim the carols. I began to search the history so that i would know more than "just knowing" the songs. I also found many alternate translations and musical versions of the standards.

Possibly my favorite find was this alternate version of O Holy Night.

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining-
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining-
Till He appeared, gift of infinite worth!
Behold the Babe in yonder manger lowly-
'Tis God's own Son come down in human form:
Fall on your knees before the Lord most holy!
Chorus:
O night divine-O night when Christ was born!
O night divine-O night, O night divine!
With humble hearts we bow in adoration
Before this Child, gift of God's matchless love,
Sent from on high to purchase our salvation-
That we might dwell with Him ever above.
What grace untold-to leave the bliss of glory
And die for sinners guilty and forlorn:
Fall on your knees! repeat the wondrous story!

O day of joy, when in eternal splendor
He shall return in His glory to reign,
When ev'ry tongue due praise to Him shall render,
His pow'r and might to all nations proclaim!
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For soon shall dawn that glad eternal morn:
Fall on your knees! with joy lift up your voices!

I love the way these lyrics tell the story of Jesus so well, that he was born lowly in a manger, left his place in heaven, would purchase our salvation on the cross, and he will return to rule and reign. I also, love the variation of the last lines in the verses "before the Lord most holy" "Repeat the wondrous story" and "with joy lift up your voices". I loved "repeat the wondrous story" that i wrote a song using that line as the chorus.

Each time I've led this song i have people who respond positively to these alternate lyrics, but, I've also found it a good idea to warn the congregation, "this is a familiar carol, but follow along with us, as some of the words may be different than the ones you know."

If any of you readers know who to attribute these lyrics to, please let me know, as i cannot find that information anywhere, I'm not even sure where in the google world or stack of hymns i found them. And, if you use these lyrics please comment below and let us know how it went!

Songs and Wisdom from Sufjan

2010-12-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

Sufjan Stevens is one of the most prolific artists on the scene (or under it) these days. I can't get enough of his art, which makes it a good thing that he is frequently giving me more and more of it. I am currently revisiting his Songs for Christmas, using several of his renditions of carols in our corporate worship, banjo and all.

Here is a must-read article/interview with Sufjan Stevens. The interviewer from The Quietus asks Sufjan some pretty tough questions about his Christian faith. Sufjan's responses reveal his deep contentment in the faith. He is not threatened, but rather welcomes the questions with apparent joy and optimism about the world and the church. People who have been burned by the church and want to have nothing to do with the church would do well to listen to Sufjan's wisdom and love for all people and the church, despite how messed up it is. Here's and excerpt:

Quietus: Being an artist of some repute do you find the calling to spread the Good News sits awkwardly with your profile? Is it difficult?

Sufjan: Not necessarily, you know, I think the Good News is about grace and hope and love and a relinquishing of self to God. And I think the Good News of salvation is kind of relevant to everyone and everything.

Quietus: I find as I get older due to a sequence of events spirituality becomes more intriguing, though having been indoctrinated with the hard line dogma that I’d go to hell if I didn’t follow certain practices and believe very specific things, I was quite angry about Christianity for a while.

Sufjan: Oh dear.

Quietus: I suppose you could call it Protestant guilt.

Sufjan: The church is an institution and it’s incredibly corrupt obviously, but that’s because it’s full of dysfunctional people and people who are hurt and battered and abused. It’s very normal in any institution to have that kind of level of dysfunction. That’s unfortunate. I find it very difficult, I find church culture very difficult you know; I think a lot of churches now are just fundamentally flawed. But that’s true for any institution you know, that’s true for education, universities and it’s definitely true for corporations because of greed, and I think part of faith is having to be reconciled with a flawed community. But the principles, I don’t think the principles have changed. They can get skewed and they can get abused and dogma can reign supreme, but I think the fundamentals, it’s really just about love. Loving God and loving your neighbour and giving up everything for God. The principles of that, the basis of that is very pure and life changing.

Quietus: Church originally was a body of people and it had nothing to do with a building.

Sufjan: I mean it’s weird. What’s the basis of Christianity? It’s really a meal, it’s communion right? It’s the Eucharist. That’s it, it’s the sharing a meal with your neighbours and what is that meal? It’s the body and blood of Christ. Basically God offering himself up to you as nutrition. Haha, that’s pretty weird. It’s pretty weird if you think about that, that’s the basis of your faith. You know, God is supplying a kind of refreshment and food for a meal. Everything else is just accessories and it’s vital of course, baptism and marriage, and there’s always the sacraments and praying and the Holy Spirit and all this stuff but really fundamentally it’s just about a meal.

HT: Matt Tebbe

iBand: Appropriate for Worship or Not?

2010-12-11T06:00:00.005-06:00

I'm sure many of you have seen what the folks at North Pointe have been up to this season (which they mistake for the Christmas season). I wonder what you think about it. Is this type of creative element appropriate for Sunday worship, or better suited for a non-Eucharistic setting (assuming that North Pointe considers their Sunday worship Eucharistic)?

(Video link)

I remember waking up Sunday morning thinking, I sure hope this works...

We just want people to laugh a little bit and just enjoy the season. Hopefully they'll connect with what we do, but if not, that's okay.

So what do you think? Contemporary Church pragmatism? Cultural accommodation? It's certainly "new, improved, and continuously improving," Andy Stanley style. (My thoughts on this ministry philosophy here.)

Don't get me entirely wrong, I do think what they're doing is pretty danged awesome. Just wondering if this is the best way to lead people in the active participation of proclaiming and enacting God's story together, particularly in the context of Eucharistic worship.

Here's the full video of their seven minute worship element:

(Video link)

HT: Michelle Bythrow

You Can Begin Singing Christmas Carols This Sunday

2010-12-10T07:45:00.010-06:00

According to Dennis Bratcher at The Voice we can begin singing Christmas carols on the Third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy.

It is important, in terms of the purpose of Christian Holy Days as teaching tools of the Faith, that Advent and Christmas be different, with different emphases, especially on the first two Sundays of Advent. These need to emphasize expectation and longing, a preparation for celebration much as Lent is a preparation for Easter. Without that, the season becomes one long celebration without any context for that celebration and with little contact with the reality of life that gave birth to the season in the first place.

Of course there is a progression to the services of Advent. By the third Sunday, which is usually the Sunday of Proclamation with the Magi or the Shepherds, or the Sunday of Joy, we can begin celebrating, not because it is all finished but because the promise is moving to reality, because we have heard from God and have the promise in concrete terms. It is in that movement from distant longing and crying out on the first Sunday, to hope and immediate expectation on the Second, to Joy and proclamation on the Third Sunday, that prepares us for praise and celebration on the Fourth Sunday as the year moves into the Christmas Season. If done well, that liturgical movement takes people along in the journey of their lives, as they enact their own experiences in worship. It gives people a structure in which to take the vagueness of their own distant longings as they identify with Israel’s longings, and brings them to an expressed hope and faith that God is, indeed, "with us." It is this journey that gives people a context for celebration.

We will be singing "Joy to the World" this Sunday, which was not originally intended as a Christmas carol, but rather a song about the return of Christ, based on Psalm 98, although it definitely works as a Christmas song (we'll be slapping some sleigh bells on it). It actually works better as an Advent song, if you think about it, with its great theme of the Second Coming of Christ.

Unfortunately, like many Christmas carols, we have sentimentalized this tremendously rich song, which is packed with deep kingdom and eschatological proclamations. Have you ever gone beyond the sentimentality of "Joy to the World" to reflect upon its theology? If you have, one of the first things you noticed is the (seeming) grammatical bourde in the first line: "the Lord is come." Many change the word "is" to "has," so that it makes more sense as a Christmas song. Wikipedia notes:

In the first line of the first verse, we might expect to hear "The Lord has come", but "The Lord is come" is correct. In old English, verbs of movement such as "to go" and "to come" were used with the auxiliary verb "to be" and not the present day auxiliary verb "to have".

Personally, I like to sing "is come," thinking of it in "Already/Not Yet" terms, sort of like the combining of two phrases: "the Lord has come" and "the Lord is coming." Who knows, maybe Isaac Watts had the same thing in mind when he wrote it, i.e., intending for "Joy to the World" to be an Advent song, combining "has come" and "is coming" into one phrase, "is come." Probably not, but I wouldn't put it past him; he was one of the greatest hymn writers in the church's history.

We'll also be holding a good old fashioned hymn-sing Sunday night, with lots of Christmas carols and children singing and a jolly time of relieving the Advent tension pressure valve for a night.

One more thing about Christmas carols during Advent: I heard yesterday that the University of Notre Dame has banned a certain Protestant student group from holding their meetings in the basilica because they were singing Christmas carols during Advent.

Awesome.

O Come, O Come (to the mall) Emmanuel

2010-12-09T08:50:00.004-06:00

(facebook video link)

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind
Bid thou our sad divisions cease
and be thyself our King of peace

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel

Advent Resources

2010-12-02T12:02:00.019-06:00

Just wanted to mention a few ideas for observing Advent as individuals, families, and churches. Take the time to intentionally wait this season. Go against the way the culture wants you to celebrate Christmas. We were teaching our daughter what hope is and that our greatest hope is for the King to come. She said, "King Triton!?" We were convicted that, to a degree, Disney has been her defining narrative. What's yours?

Jesse Tree: Let God's story from Creation to the coming of Christ be the narrative that defines you this season. You'll read short passages of the story every day to be reminded of the story you are a part of. Then you'll add one ornament that represents that particular part of the story to your tree every day. Here are instructions to one way of doing this: https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1628
Advent Wreath: 1st Week Hope, 2nd Week Peace, 3rd Week Joy, 4th Week Love. Light a candle and talk as a family (perhaps around the dinner table) about the hopes you have the first week, where in your life you’re experiencing (or not) peace the second week, and so on.
Decorate in phases instead of all at once: outside lights one day, inside decorations one week, Christmas tree with lights the next week, add ornaments the next week, etc. This builds anticipation and is a good practice of patience and waiting.
Homemade Gifts: This takes time, but the anticipation of giving a homemade gift is a millions times greater than a bought gift, especially because most people told you what to buy them in the first place.
Ten Minute Advent Retreats: A great way to intentionally devote to the Lord as individuals or families. We did this as a small group this morning. Subscribe to it here: http://www.tenminuteadventretreats.com/
Church Year Website of Resources: Here is a wonderful website to peruse if you are interested in understanding more about Advent and the Church Year: http://crivoice.org/chyear_resources.html

Here are a couple previous posts with more ideas:

Lastly, we're going through Luke's narrative account of the coming of Christ this Advent. We are showing clips from The Nativity Story to coincide with each Sunday's text. We thought it was fitting for a few prominent symbols of our Advent worship to be a nativity, wreaths, trees, lights, and of course an Advent wreath. We had a great team of artists who put this all together, conscious of the colors of the season (royal purples and blues). We actually just painted the back wall a light gray color. It was burgundy. We also de-centered the band in favor of making room for seasonal symbols. Yea! No longer am I front and center, nor is a huge spaceship drum rig the main focal point of our space. The band will remain off to the side indefinitely. I'd eventually like to lower the band from their elevated position, too. I'd also like to remove the giant screen that screams "WATCH!" from its place of primacy in our space, and maybe replace it with stained glass. Really excited about the modifications to our space, and hope it aesthetically leads our church into greater worship participation. I have posted some photos of our worship space below.

Hope.

Lily's Doxology

2010-11-05T09:07:00.003-05:00

Suffering and Hope in Worship

2010-10-27T11:37:00.001-05:00

This past August, our youth pastor and an adult leader took five high school boys on a mission’s trip to the Upper Peninsula. After a few days of hard work, they were excited to have a day off to enjoy the beach at Lake Superior. While they were swimming and fighting the waves, a couple of the boys were carried down and under by a very strong undertow, and one of them drowned. The death of Eli, who was only 15, is a terrible tragedy and the heaviness of this loss is still impacting our small church body every week.

When we receive news like this, it shakes us. The death of loved ones brings mourning. The sense of loss pervades everything else and for a while we can’t continue as if everything is “normal.” This was the case for our community. The loss of Eli brought all of us sadness. We mourn with his family and those boys who were on the trip with him.

For weeks our worship gatherings carried this tension of suffering and mourning alongside the hope and joy we find in our Lord Jesus Christ. God has been present in our sufferings, graciously instructing us and pouring out his grace. For our body this loss has been an opportunity to know Jesus more intimately and to see more clearly where our hope is placed. I can say without doubt that the Lord is gracious, compassionate and good.

Looking back now, a few months after Eli’s death, I think I’m ready to try to articulate the things God has been teaching us through this experience and how they impact the way we think and plan our worship gatherings. I’ll share them briefly here and then can unpack them more in future posts.

The first is that suffering is promised for those who would follow Jesus. Until the rule and reign of God is fully established in all creation, we should expect it and rejoice in it, even more so for us who are called to shepherd the church. How can we lead the people of God through it, unless they can see the Lord bring us through it? Our response and actions teach the church how to view and respond to suffering and what it means to hope in the gospel.

Secondly, we must abstain from happy-clappy superficial levity in our worship gatherings, and learn how to create room for the real pains of life. Our culture elevates the value of happiness, or the absence of pain and suffering, but it does the church no good to provide places of escapism from the realities of our day-to-day living. It is in the tension of the now and not yet that Christ, who was no stranger to suffering, meets us and mediates for us. The tension of joy and suffering needs to be present in our worship gatherings as we set our hope in the gospel and its fruition in the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Lastly, every person goes through the process of mourning differently, and this is ok, a healthy thing. It is not a sin to laugh as we mourn, and it is definitely all right to experience the weight of sadness and the heaviness of loss. Even now, many weeks after Eli’s death, my heart still grieves, especially for his family and for my friends who were with him on that trip, but the thought of his death is not with me all the time like it was when I first received that tragic news. For others, it may seem as if there is not a moment of the day that goes by that the death of Eli is not present in their hearts and minds, and they may bear the heaviness of such grief for quite a while.

My friends, we have people in our churches every week dealing with such sorrow. We cannot forget them once we ourselves are not also bearing the fullness of such pain. We must have an awareness of the pains of our people that we might suffer alongside them exercising faith. Our hope is secure in Jesus, and truthfully, our sufferings are but light and momentary, compared to eternity with him, where God himself will wipe away the tears from the face of each person, and death will be no more. Come, Lord, come.

From Anesthetics to Aesthetics

2010-10-25T22:25:00.004-05:00

Dan Wilt quote from WorshipTraining.com:

We're no longer the No Pain, No Gain generation. We are the postmoderns, the No Pain, No Pain generation. We're the tylenol generation. We want to anesthetize our pain. We want to be numb, because life is difficult. But the opposite of the word anesthesia--which numbs--is aesthesia (we call it aesthetics)--the focus and learning about beauty. Beauty sensitizes us, it awakens us, not only to great joy, but also to tremendous pain. That's why art, creativity, music, and expressions of worship open us up and enliven us, sensitize us, to world's and other worlds' realities moving all about us and in us.

Passive vs. Participative

2010-10-13T08:56:00.014-05:00

On Monday I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Constance Cherry, Associate Professor of Worship at Indiana Wesleyan University and Professor of Worship at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. I first read something of hers a couple months ago in Worship Leader Magazine's July/August issue. Dr. Cherry penned the cover article, "Shifting from Professional Programs to Participatory Worship," in this wonderfully constructed "Folk" issue of WL Mag.

So when Dr. Warren Anderson, friend, IWS grad, and Dean of Chapel at Judson University, invited me to this Inaugural Worship Arts Lecture featuring Dr. Constance Cherry, I was all over it. I quickly contacted our network of local area worship leaders here in South Bend to see who wanted to come with. We were also looking for our next book to read and discuss together this fall, and Dr. Cherry's new book, The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services, attracted us. Five of us hopped into my minivan and headed to Elgin, IL for some sweet fellowship and teaching and to purchase Dr. Cherry's book.

The title of her lecture was, "Moving Congregations from Passivity to Participation in Worship." Here are some of my notes and thoughts, and then I'd love for a discussion to get going.

Defining Terms

To be passive means "to be acted upon," and to participate means "to act upon" or "to partner with." Are our congregations being acted upon, or are they doing the acting, partnering with one another? Soren Kierkegaard presented the Stage Play Model vs. the Preferred Worship Model. In a stage play the performers of the work are the actors on stage, the prompters direct the work behind the scenes, and the audience passively sits in the seats to watch the work. This is what much of church worship looks like today. Kierkegaard suggests that church worship should look like this: the audience is God, the prompters are the leaders and pastors on stage, and the performers of the work are the people in the congregation.

Worship Is Work

But this is a call to a complete paradigm shift. Virtually nobody who enters a church for worship these days expects to work, let alone sweat, get their hair messed up, and leave with wrinkled clothes and scuffed shoes. Instead we come to watch, to be entertained by good music and feel good messages. Church leaders have perpetuated the problem by catering to the comfort desires of the people by offering them coffee, cushioned seats, and creative spectacle. This is not the picture of worship presented to us in Scripture. Worship in the Bible is active and participative. "Participation is the expectation of the gospel," says Dr. Cherry.

The word for worship most often used in the New Testament is proskuneo, which means "to prostrate oneself." Could you imagine an entire congregation lying prostrate in the presence of the Lord? Talk about vulnerability! When the kings came from the East to see the newborn King they prostrated themselves before him. Think about that for a minute--rulers laying down their power, authority, control, their own kingdoms in an act of complete surrender...to an infant who was God with us.

In Romans 12:1-2 we find another important Greek word for worship, leitourgia, which means "service" or "work." Offering our bodies in view of God's mercy as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God is our spiritual worship (leitourgia). "Liturgy is the work of worship performed by the people for the benefit of God and others." But again, who in their right mind nowadays would expect to work when they come to church (besides the staff), and not only that but enjoy the work they are doing? We are accustomed (shaped by the culture) to expect pretty much the opposite in worship--we come to get blessed, not to be a blessing.

Six Principles for Moving Toward Participation (with my extended thoughts)

Recognize that this generation desires participation. Plan worship that engages all five senses and physical movement. Even though it's pulling teeth to get people to participate at times, deep down they really want to. It's like Paul who just can't get himself to do the things he wants to do. Remember, the leaders on stage are really prompters who help the whole body participate. What we'll find is that if we are leading well and the people begin engaging actively in worship, not only will they greatly enjoy the work of worship, but they will begin prompting others around them.
Recognize that participation involves partnering with others. Plan worship that connects people together. Congregating in one place and singing in unity are pretty much the only things we do that connect us together. What other kinds of prompting can we do intentionally, perhaps symbolically, to connect people together? Join hands in prayer, partake of the elements of Communion together, all kneel. Sometimes very simple actions can be very effective.
Recognize that people will naturally tend to be passive. Unfortunately, that's the reality, but don't be afraid to address it; don't let passivity rule your worship. Participation triumphs over passivity.
Recognize that congregations have been oriented toward audience mentality. It is what it is, but what are we doing to deal with this problem. Much of what we do as leaders actually contributes to the congregation-audience problem. Confess this and begin transforming your culture one participatory invitation at a time.
Worship is work. How much of what the leaders do could be done by others? Are we as leaders okay with settling for less than the best production? Leaders are robbing the congregation of their work by doing all the performing. We must get it out of our minds that the best way is always the right way. Sometimes the third or fourth best way is the right way, God's way. But a congregation-audience mentality demands only the best product, or I'm leaving. Leaders must prompt the people to do the work and train them to actually enjoy the effort and sweat that will happen.
Encountering God in worship results in powerful responses. Much more powerful than any feeling that an audience can have watching a good performance. Perhaps our people have been conditioned to think that they are encountering God in worship when in fact they are not. Passivity does not lead to an encounter with God, participation does, work does. This could be the reason why so many of our people come to church out of obligation and find no real joy in it. This could be why leaders get so frustrated and discouraged by the lack of response from their people both in church and in all of life. But perhaps the leaders are responsible for their own frustrations by the way they are leading, always trying to perform to the pleasure of their people.

Disney Worship

2010-10-12T20:27:00.006-05:00

I wasn't sure what to think when I found out today about an upcoming worship conference to be held at Walt Disney World in 2011. It's called the Experience Conference, and it looks like it's going to be the biggest worship conference the world has ever seen, featuring over 60 celebrity worship leaders and speakers, a jam packed itinerary complete with a "Night of Joy" that could feature your worship band if you audition and win!

Does this clash of cultures--God's Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom--seem strange to anyone else? We talk often on this blog about the detrimental effects of cultural accommodation in Contemporary Church worship. Does a worship event held at Disney World speak to the syncretism of Contemporary Worship and American culture? Or should we find it encouraging to see a worship conference taking place in the epicenter of the American dream? And more generally, what are the benefits of attending big, expensive, worship conferences such as these?

Being Present 2

2010-10-07T12:14:00.004-05:00

I am an anxious person. My inward anxieties manifest themselves outwardly in all kinds of ways: I bounce my knees when I sit, shake my foot when I lay, bite my fingernails, avoid eye contact, to name a few. Rarely am I ever at peace with the moment. I'm always thinking ahead, thinking of what I will be doing next, what I could be doing if I weren't here, if I weren't so bored. I am finding that I am not a very content person. Things could always be better.

But what is happening to me through these anxieties, which literally make up most of my day, is that I am missing out on what God is wanting to do in me at any given moment, no matter how mundane. Let's face, most of life is mundane. If we embraced only the exciting moments, we would be bored ninety-nine percent of the time. But we might be surprised how exciting, how joyful and fulfilling, our lives can be at all times when we acknowledge God's presence with us (and, lo, I am with you always) and in turn make ourselves fully present to him.

I am currently in the process of training myself to take those physical manifestations of anxiety as signals to stop and refocus on what God is doing in the present moment. Because inevitably whenever I am bouncing my knee or biting my nails or doing mundane things half-heartedly I am trying to escape from my present situation to some fantasy world where life is so much more exciting.

And there is a big difference between fantasizing and dreaming. Dreams are rooted in reality. God dreams and wants us to dream. But dreams are not devoid of our present realities like fantasies are. Dreams are incarnational, down-to-earth, directly linked to what is really going on in our lives and what will truly become of us. This to say, dreaming is good. If we are dreaming the way God dreams, our dreams will actually help us in our quest to be present, to embrace every moment of our lives, because we know that every moment is a stepping stone on the path toward the fulfillment of our dreams. So we must learn the difference between fantasizing and dreaming. Anxiety leads to fantasy. Dreams come from the peace of being fully present in God's omnipresence.

Well, I didn't expect to go there, but it is what it is. Next post I will talk about being fully present in corporate worship.

Being Present 1

2010-09-29T13:59:00.005-05:00

Last week I had the joy of spending a few days retreating with a bunch of worship leaders in the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside of Asheville, NC. This was the fourth National Vineyard Worship Leaders Retreat that I attended; 2007 and 2008 in Estes Park, CO and 2009 and 2010 at the new East retreat in North Carolina (because the West retreat was getting too big). I have thoroughly enjoyed each retreat, especially spending the next few days processing what God did in me. He always does something different and unexpected.

During the week of solitude I had before the retreat and during the retreat itself, God began searching me and bringing to the surface some deep rooted anxieties that have been choking the life out of me for many years. Being anxious, I am finding, is the opposite of being present, and more specifically, being at peace with what is presently happening in my life at any given moment. It's not easy for me to accept and respond to what God is doing in me (I've become quite comfortable with my anxieties), but something is making it nearly impossible for me to ignore.

It appears I've been sowing seeds of anxiety into my daughter, seeds which are now beginning to sprout. She is three and a half years old, and she has a very hard time falling asleep at night, not because she's afraid of the dark, but because she can't stop thinking about what we're going to do tomorrow. Oftentimes, when we tend to her an hour after putting her to bed, she asks questions such as, "What are we gonna do when we wake up?" "Can we watch Mulan tomorrow?" "When you get home from work can we play a game?" She has even recently begun biting her finger nails. I am noticing how she misses out on the enjoyment of certain things because she is already thinking ahead about enjoying the next thing she is going to do. Then, when she's doing nothing she feels like she has to be doing something, so she bites her fingernails (or picks her toenails) as she daydreams about doing something fun. And when it comes time to rest or sleep, she can't. I'm afraid my daughter is not experiencing the kind of joy and peace God wants for her, and I am responsible. Don't get me wrong, she is nowhere near as consumed with anxiety as I am; she is a pure bundle of joy. But there's definitely some bud-nipping that needs to be done in her...and some forest leveling in me.

I'll write more about this and how it pertains to worship in my next post.

The Weekly Altar Call

2010-08-26T09:33:00.009-05:00

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine spoke to me about her father, a Baptist pastor, who visited our church. He thought the service was great except that we did not give an “altar call.” His words to his daughter went something like this: “They didn’t give people a chance to make a ‘decision.’” At the time, the counsel I gave my friend was that our objective in Sunday worship is not to “make converts” as much as it is to "make disciples." I used some other words, but it wasn’t really until the last few days that I began realizing something profound.

We do give an altar call every week. It’s called Communion. The “altar” is the cross of Jesus Christ, upon which his body was broken and his blood was shed for us. The “call” is to come to the cross, to lay our lives down at his feet in wholehearted surrender. The Lord's Table is where we immediately respond to God’s call. It’s the place where Jesus himself leads us to respond. God is calling his disciples to the ultimate altar of worship, where his grace conforms us to his image.

Of course, this weekly altar call is reserved for baptized believers who would approach the table in a worthy manner, namely, with an understanding of how great a sacrifice Jesus has made for them and with every intention to commit their lives entirely to him. So, what about the unconverted and uncommitted? Aren't these the very people altar calls were created for? Well, it depends on what your objective is in Sunday corporate worship.

We live in a culture of immediacy. But the reality is, life happens slowly. Before a baby is born, it gestates in the womb of its mother for nine months. In a similar way, relationships develop slowly. We want conversion (new birth) to take place in a split moment of decision. But let's be real, relationships don't happen over night, and neither do major life decisions. Perhaps we should rethink conversion as more of a slow process than something that's supposed to happen in an instant. And perhaps the bulk of the gestational development of a seeker should happen outside of the Sunday worship context (although attending Sunday worship, hearing the preached Word and looking in upon the worship of God's people, certainly is formative, as well).

Once their mentors and others in the body determine they truly are turning and trusting in Christ (the "decision" is communal), they are deemed converted and the preparation for Baptism begins (or Communion in the case of already baptized children). Then the converted seeker answers their first altar call. The call began months earlier as a Holy Spirit whisper. The altar is the water of Baptism. What joy and release! What freedom and forgiveness--dying and rising with Christ! And then comes the continual rite of Communion, the weekly altar call to the converted, baptized, disciples of Jesus. But this whole "conversion experience" is a slow process, and we don't like that.

Many Baptists and other modern Protestant groups have a different objective in Sunday worship. The preached Word is assumed sufficient for the continued discipleship of believers. Communion is set aside for occasional use and the liturgical void is filled with “repeat-after-me prayers” for the unconverted and uncommitted. Response is the decision of the individual (my decision), and then a life of faith should follow. But what usually ends up happening is my decision makes me think that’s all there is to it. I made a decision, so I’m good with God.

A life of discipleship does not naturally follow, initially because of my self-centered response, but also in large because of the lack of disciple-making on the part of church leaders. Making converts has replaced making disciples. That is why “number of decisions” has taken such a primary role in measuring success as a church. Yes, it should be a huge focus of ours to be leading people to the Lord, but that means truly leading people to the Lord, not to self-discovery and a false sense of security. Truly leading people to the Lord is not an instantaneous, one-time thing, but a gradual, daily thing. I am convinced that the Lord’s Supper is one of the most important places we can lead our people to “receive” the Lord.

And if you think about it, “decision” is certainly involved in coming to the table. First, we decide how (not if, but how) we’re going to respond. It’s either yes or no. Then everyone present has the immediate opportunity to act upon their decision. There are only two things that should ever prohibit a person from receiving the Lord's Supper: unbelief or unworthiness. It saddens me when I hear of people who say no because they don't want it to become a "ritual" or because it's too "Catholic." Let's face it, it is a ritual, and it's the greatest of all the rituals in our lives. It's greater than my weekly ritual of coming to the altar of my TV to watch my favorite TV show. It's greater than my twice daily ritual of coming to the altar of my bathroom mirror to brush my teeth. It's one of the only actually holy rituals, instituted by Jesus himself, in which we have the wonderful opportunity to take part. And to refuse the bread and the cup for fear that we're becoming too Catholic, as if we're on strike or protesting something evil? Come on!

We should be racing to the Table in droves every chance we get, longing to receive God's grace, surrendering our bodies and all five senses to him, and recommitting our lives to him in an act of wholehearted devotion. Now that's the kind of altar call I can get excited about. And how much greater the outcome of the majority of a congregation coming to the altar than just a few people who raised their hands with their heads bowed and their eyes closed! But again, what's your objective in Sunday worship?

Is there ever a time for a traditional, Billy Graham-type altar call? I think so, but our greater concern than number of converts must be the kind of disciples we are making and how our worship is making them.

Worship Space Communicates Worship Values

2010-07-13T15:02:00.005-05:00

A believing family just moved to your town. They are praying and looking for the church the Lord is calling them to become a part of. Upon entering your worship space for the first time, even before the service begins, they can already see what your church values in worship. What do they see?

In our worship space, the first thing they notice is that there are no windows and it is quite dark. The walls, for the most part, are bare, and the air is cold. They also see an elevated stage, spanning the whole width of the auditorium and filled with musical instruments.

Then they notice that the removable seats are set up in a semicircle with a tall chair and table on a smaller stage that jets out from the main platform toward the center of the room. Surely, this is where the sermon will be delivered.

As they look around after seating themselves, they feel the ambience of candlelight, and notice the tables surrounding the jet stage. On the skinny, black tables rest gold colored trays containing the communion elements: tiny, individual cups of juice and broken pieces of matza.

It's also hard to miss the banners around the perimeter of the room explicitly indicating four of our main worship values: Communion, Offering, Prayer, and Song. Under each of the headers are Scripture passages supporting that act of worship. And beneath the text is an image of hands portraying the action. (Click here to see the banners.)

The family does not see a baptismal font, any additional art besides the banners, zero ornate architecture, and they may or may not see the small, dark cross in the shadows of stage left. Overall, they see a simple, contemporary space, suitable for most kinds of entertainment or social gathering.

To be clear, I am not entirely satisfied with what our worship space communicates to worshipers. We have no desire to entertain, and yet our space screams, "Watch!" We desire to expand our worship expression beyond music, and yet our space exalts music far above all the other arts. We believe in the preeminence of the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, and yet a permanent baptistry would limit the versatile functionality of our stage.

If I were new, there would be enough value-revealing symbol and aesthetic to keep me from immediately walking out, but some of the most important values which should be visible (without words) are simply not. Which begs the question: Do we truly value what we say we value?

On a positive note, I do love our worship space. It has great potential. It's current condition does not impede the worship of God in any way. If anything, our worship environment invites many who would otherwise feel intimidated by "churchy" objects, pews, hymnals, or whatever. It's culturally inviting. However, it is important always to check our motives for doing things the way we do. Are we faithfully and responsibly creating our worship space, or are we sacrificing biblical priorities for the sake of appealing to people? We are, after all, presenting a radically different story in our worship than any story our popular culture is telling. Certainly the telling and enacting of God's story requires other-worldly object lessons.

We are in the process of putting together a worship space team, consisting of several artists (myself, an interior decorator, a school art teacher, a photographer, and hopefully some others), who will study the theology and history of sacred space and begin to employ our findings into our worship space. Not only will we seek to create permanent fixtures that will lead others into more effectively proclaiming, singing, and enacting the story of God, but we will use the Christian Year as a template for seasonal symbols and colors. We also have a desire to develop the skill of all of the artists in our church, praying for the Spirit to inspire their imagination, and encouraging them to create, create, create!

What worship values does your worship space communicate?

Worship by Sight

2010-06-23T15:34:00.006-05:00

I sat down the other day with Jess Strantz, one of our worship leader/songwriters, to cast vision for next month's P.S. (prayer and song) night. The original idea for the evening was to lead our people in prayer through songs written by our own church. We'd call it P.S. Indigenous, telling the stories behind our songs, how the Spirit inspired the songs through what God has been doing here, and encouraging others to write songs of their own.

Well, as we were talking, acknowledging the sad truth that we haven't really taken the time to intentionally pour into other songwriters here, and desiring not for the evening to be dominated by the songs of Jess and Ryan, we had the idea to include not only musical composition but all kinds of art. When we started down that road, however, we felt like even greater failures.

We have stunted, stifled, shunned (choose your present perfect participle) visual artists from freely expressing their creativity in worship. And it's not that we have spitefully disregarded them, we just don't know how to let them lead us. They do not currently have a place in our practice of worship to display their work. We're uncomfortable with, or afraid of, or simply untaught in the visual arts for worship.

The reality is, given the creative variety of God's people, we should have the ability be led in worship through the visual arts just as readily as we are through the audible arts. Think about it: What is happening in musical worship? The church hears the music that the artists are putting on display, and we participate actively by contributing to the sound with our own voices or participate passively by simply hearing and reflecting upon the art. Either way, the art on display is leading us into corporate and personal worship to the Lord. That is, of course, assuming our hearts are in the right place, namely, in Christ.

What's the difference, then, whether it is a musical composition on display or a work of visual art? Both should be received and participated in the same way. The only differences are 1) music uses primarily the sense of hearing while visual art uses the sense of sight, and 2) music is more conducive to active participation (hearing/singing) while the other is more contemplative (seeing/thinking). Again, both can and should be regularly leading us in worship response to God.

So, for example, in theory a "worship leader" could replace one of their five songs with a piece of visual art to be displayed for five minutes while the church, instead of singing, looks upon the work and responds in contemplative worship. At this point, though, we're on our way toward reinventing the wheel of the historic liturgy, which intends to lead worshipers in full sensory reception and response to the work of Christ: sound (readings/songs/chant/homily), sight (paintings/sculptures/ornate architecture/vestments), smell (incense/candles/old wood), taste (bread/wine), touch (water/oil/passing of peace/old wood/candles/missal).

But that's not where we're at. The contemporary church is in a place where the singing of praise and worship choruses led by acoustic guitar-bearing men and women is the preferred, almost exclusive form of worship. It is what it is. But it needs to change. And here's why: In our preference of the virtual exclusivity of musical worship, visual artists have suffered, as has the whole of God's people in the contemporary church.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Cor. 12:14-26)

It's about PEOPLE and the glory of God. That's why we are so convicted about this. There are people, probably many people, in our churches that have been gifted by God to create visual art in worship to Him. And their work is not meant only to be a personal or private expression of worship from them to God, but to lead others in worship; for them to bring their God-chosen gift, their contribution, into the church, so that the body can function properly, all for the glory of God.

Eucharist: Christ IN You

2010-06-13T12:08:00.011-05:00

In worship yesterday this simple phrase from Colossians 1:27, "Christ in you, the hope of glory," took on a much deeper meaning to me. We chose to sing Tim Hughes' "Everything" during Communion. Typically for Communion we choose a song that explicitly mentions the sacrifice of Christ at the cross for the forgiveness of sins, so I was a little uncomfortable with our selection of "Everything," which is not a song about the cross, but about incarnation. How would the people respond? How could the Lord work in hearts through bread and cup without us mentioning the cross? After all, Paul says "for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Cor. 11:26, my emphasis).

The servers came up, and holding the trays they spoke into the eyes of the people, at times stooping to a knee to serve a child. We reached the climax of the song: "Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me, the hope of glory; be my everything." And then it hit me just how perfect a Communion song this really is. With every crunch of matza, every sip of the cup, we were consuming Christ into our bodies. "Christ IN me, the hope of glory." It doesn't get more incarnational than that. Jesus is near to us, and nowhere nearer than at the Table of the Lord, where we take him in and he fills our own bodies. Says Raniero Cantalamessa in his wonderful book The Eucharist: Our Sanctification:

"Take and eat..."; "He who eats my flesh will have eternal life." God's universal and, we might say, external presence, has now become personal and interior to us, and not just in an intentional and spiritual way (as happens in seeing, in listening, in contemplation and in faith) but in a real way, totally adapted to our human condition. The Eucharist is the last step in the long path of God's "condescension": creation, revelation, incarnation, Eucharist...The Eucharist is related to the Easter mystery but it is equally related to the incarnation. It is the memorial of a happening -- passion and resurrection -- but it is also the presence of a person: the incarnate Word. In the passage from the first to the sixth chapter of his Gospel, St. John highlights this affinity: the Word became flesh (incarnation) and the flesh became "true bread" (Eucharist). The eternal life that was made manifest to us in the incarnation (cf. 1 John 1:2), is now given to us to eat, it has become the "bread of eternal life." The Eucharist draws its infinite divine power from the fact that it puts us into contact with the flesh of the God-Man. (pp. 78-79)

Why has so much of the Protestant Church set aside the Eucharist as an occasional practice? Because it denies the "presence of a person" in the Eucharist; it has made the Table a mere "memorial of a happening" observed through the partaking of empty symbols. There is no real nutrition in the cracker and juice, no real infilling of Christ, just a little, heady reminder of a long-past event. We have given in to a new gnosticism, removing the incarnational presence of Christ from our worship. This was not the intention of the Reformers. Yes, sola scriptura meant the recovery of Scripture alone as the means of special revelation leading to a personal faith in Jesus Christ, but it also maintained the special presence of the Word, Jesus Christ himself, in the elements of Eucharist. That is why Luther kept the Eucharist central, and why Calvin mourned the Genevan decision to infrequent the Table. "Christ in me" is not an exclusively spiritual, or intellectually revelatory, thing, as we have made it to be. It is a fleshy, down-to-earth thing. Look at the context of Paul's "Christ in you" statement to the church at Colosse.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Col. 1:24-29)

From where did Paul draw this energy that Christ was powerfully working within him? Was it through intellectual revelation that he ascended to only through contemplation and hearing? No, it was through physically participating in the sufferings of Christ. And we'd be foolish to think that those sufferings did not include regular participation in Eucharist worship. Indeed without the energy of Christ powerfully working within Paul through the Eucharist he would have had no ministry at all to the Gentiles. Without the sustaining power of Christ administered through Eucharist no one can possibly mature in Christ.

For how does a child mature? She eats, her body is nourished, and she grows. One might think that spiritual maturity comes in a different way, a higher way. Not wholly. For although the child's father reads to and teaches the mind of his daughter, he does not speak life and health into her flesh and bones. He provides food for her to eat, and he takes great delight in giving her the physical nourishment she needs. The child naturally receives her father's provision. She comes to the table at the sound of the dinner bell. The good father also disciplines his daughter by disallowing her to touch things that he knows will harm her, all the while permitting her to taste certain afflictions for the sake of experiential maturity. It's only later in life when the rebellious teenager refuses her father's provision, choosing starvation or malnutrition over the good food provided her. But she'll come home again to taste and see that her father has been good to her all along; that his provision is better and necessary.

N.T. Wright on "Reclaiming Worship"

2010-05-22T09:44:00.005-05:00

Our friends over at Inside Worship posted a wonderful short interview with N.T. Wright on "Reclaiming Worship," conducted by Dan Wilt from WorshipTraining.com. In the interview Wright offers some of his thoughts on the biblical picture of worship (Rev. 4-5), worship and creation (Gen. 1-2), how history should impact our worship today, and a couple concerns he has with our contemporary expressions of worship.

I was particularly challenged by his tradition's high practice of Scripture reading in daily and weekly worship, versus our "almost cavalier" treatment of Scripture in worship.

When you read Scripture during an act of worship this is not simply to give people information that they might have forgotten about... It's actually that you're telling the story of the mighty acts of God, and that reading Scripture is itself an act of worship--it is praising God because God is the God who is the God of that story. And to be able to lay that out--step by step, day by day, week by week--is hugely important.

I also enjoyed his encouragement for the use of corporate prayers in worship.

I have been amused sometimes to see that even within in the freest of free church traditions sometimes people come upon these great old prayers...and they say, "My goodness, that absolutely says what in my very best moments I really want to say, and it says it so beautifully that the very act of saying it is an act of praise and celebration." And then they think, "My goodness, it's a set prayer, ought I to be doing that?" And the answer is, "Well, yes. If the Holy Spirit helped that person pray like that, why shouldn't you come in on his coattails." Do we have to be such rampant, Western individualists that we can't bear the humility of learning from somebody else?

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend taking 20 minutes to LISTEN TO THIS INTERVIEW!

Contemporvant Worship

2010-05-07T15:26:00.004-05:00

Watch this video that makes a mockery of contemporary-relevant worship. It comes from North Point Community Church, a Contemporary Church mecca. The sad thing is, although North Point is hyperbolically addressing the over-relevant, over-informal, self-centered, psycho-therapeutic style in Contemporary Church worship, the video pretty accurately portrays the neutered structure of contemporary worship. Both are serious problems. Thanks, Brian, for sending me the video.

"Sunday's Coming"

Don't Miss Ascension Day

2010-05-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

This year Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 13th. It is the day, forty days after Resurrection Sunday, in which we celebrate Jesus Christ ascending into heaven and sitting at the right hand of the Father, where he rules and reigns as King of heaven and earth.

A couple years ago we happened to be on a staff retreat on Ascension Day. Knowing that this great day was coming, I had a desire to lead our staff in its observance. So I put together a short liturgy with the help of the Book of Common Prayer.

This liturgy is perfect for any small group setting, whether it be your church staff, home group, worship team, whoever. We will be worshiping through the liturgy as a worship team before we begin our regular Thursday band rehearsal on May 13th. It takes about fifteen minutes to go through it and includes prayers, Scripture readings, and songs.

I hope you find this resource helpful. Whether you use it or not, please find a way to celebrate Ascension Day. It would be a pity to skip over this great day without even knowing it. What an opportunity, too, to lead our people into a deeper practice and greater understanding of Christian Year worship!

Note: Feel free to replace the songs with others that better suit your community. Just try to keep the themes consistent with the story that the liturgy is telling. For example, you could replace “Christ Is Exalted” with “Stand in Awe” and “We Fall Down” with “Oh Praise Him.”

PDF: Ascension Day: A Short Liturgy for You

An Apology to Lead Pastors

2010-04-29T09:58:00.006-05:00

Where do I start? Well, I should probably clarify from the beginning that my last post, "A Challenge to Lead Pastors," was not directed toward my own lead pastor. We have a wonderful friendship and a work relationship of freedom, teamwork, and trust. I am extremely blessed to be working under such a humble, spiritually attuned man who is also not afraid to say the last ten percent in love. Hence the reproving that led to this apology.

What I wrote was immature, judgmental, and arrogant. My thoughts were under-developed and should never have been published in the tone they were. I woke up one morning last week thinking about the lead pastor/worship pastor relationship. I opened my computer just to jot down a couple thoughts to remind myself to think, study, and pray about the subject. Instead, what ensued was a quick, flesh-originated, brain spew session, after which I hit "Publish." The only thing that made me publish my thoughts immediately was a desire to stir up controversy. What you probably thought, though, was, "What an ignorant punk. Why should I listen to a single thing he says?"

So, lead pastors and everyone, please accept my apology. I did not mean to generalize, challenge anyone's authority, or lump all worship pastors together to an exalted place of prophetic insight and power. If I may, I would like to offer a different kind of apology for what I meant to say. Perhaps lead pastors, worship pastors, and all church leaders will more readily receive a challenge that comes out of brokenness and concern for the church.

The challenge is simple: Take a giant step back from your church, from the way you do worship, and begin thinking objectively and deeply about your church's structure of worship. What has shaped your worship? What elements are important to you in worship, and why? Why do you do things in the order you do? Do you stick with doing things because they work? What does it mean for something to be "working"? Are you afraid that people will leave if you change anything? Have you considered the historical structure of worship?

The reason why I ask these questions is because I question the reasons why we do the things we do in our worship. Are we doing things simply because that's the way they've always been done (traditionalism)? Are we doing things only because they work and throwing things out that don't seem to be working (pragmatism)? Do we choose the things we do based on the what our people want (accommodation)?

The questions could go on, and hopefully you'll take the time to really consider your worship structure. To help you, especially worship leaders and lead pastors, I challenge you to read Christ-Centered Worship together. Bryan Chapell's goal is for church leaders to allow the gospel to shape our practice of worship. If you openly receive what Chapell has to offer, you will more than likely find that the contemporary church structure of worship (songs - announcements - sermon) is not the biblical and historic pattern. Rather, contemporary church worship has been shaped by our individualistic culture, creating church consumers rather than true worshipers of God. Chapell is not saying that the alternative is the traditional, liturgical model of worship, but simply that we must have "gospel priorities" in our worship structuring.

I can guarantee you that if we approach this openly, laying our pride and pragmatism aside, we will be relieved at the simplicity of gospel-shaped worship, we will begin seeing a greater work of the Spirit in our communities, and God will draw closer to us in worship than ever before.

A Challenge to Lead Pastors

2010-04-20T13:04:00.008-05:00

[Update: Make sure you read "An Apology to Lead Pastors" immediately after reading this post.]

1. Break out of the mold. Most evangelical churches are stuck in the Contemporary Church worship mold, which is for the most part culture-formed, individualistic, disconnected from history, spiritually ineffective, and overall, I cringe to say, unbiblical. Your worship pastor prophetically sees this. They want to steer the worship ship in a different direction toward a gospel-formed, communal, historically connected, Spiritually affective, BIBLICAL church. And the number one person who holds them back is YOU, not the congregants, not the old timers.

2. Empower your worship pastor. Acknowledge first that they are called and gifted by God to do what you cannot do. If it is true that God calls and gifts each member of the body to a specific role and function, trust that your worship pastor is hearing from God the direction to take your church in worship. Trust them. Yes, reins are necessary, but that's how the body should work anyway. We should all be recognizing each others calling, submitting to one another, and moving forward as a united team. If all you want out of you worship pastor is awesome music, change their title to "Rock Star" and assume for yourself a greater level of study and responsibility in the worship life of your church.

3. Listen to your worship pastor. You don't read the same books they do. You are focusing on other things (sermon prep, polity, etc.). Let them lead worship, not just songs. Trust me, you don't see all that they see when it comes to worship. Let them enlighten you. Let them out of the cage. If they have been hearing from God, they will lead your local church into a greater expression of worship. There is a Spirit-led movement among worship pastors today, especially the younger generation. They are just not interested in anything showy, produced, contrived, manipulative, or programmed. They long to find their place in God's story. They long for true communion with one another. They long for a deeper connection with history. They long to bring the mercy of God outside the walls of the church. And most of all they long for the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape all that is done in worship.

I strongly encourage you lead pastors, "production" pastors, and others to humble yourself before God and your worship pastor with an open mind and willing heart. Read a book together. I recommend Christ-Centered Worship by Brian Chapell and Ancient-Future Worship by Robert Webber. Wrestle through some things together. That would mean the world to them and work wonders in the worship life of your church.

Worship Study and Worship Symbols

2010-03-23T12:07:00.008-05:00

This year our Worship Music Ministry is slowly going through Robert Webber's Together We Worship: Recovering God's Story. This short book is meant to be studied everyday over the course of thirty days, one 2-3 page session per day. The book is actually part of Webber's 30 Days of Worship Discovery, which includes a DVD and other resources. We have customized it to our ministry's needs, reading and discussing one session of the book every two weeks. There are a couple questions at the end of each session, and so I start an email every other Monday, to which we "Reply All" with our answers. The purpose of this study is for all thirty of us to expand our understanding of worship, getting to the roots of what we do in worship. I highly recommend leading your team members in this very accessible curriculum as an introduction to the deeper things of worship.

(I believe you'll have to purchase the entire 30 Days curriculum in order to get the Together We Worship book. I don't think you can purchase it separately. Maybe if you beg the publisher. Of course, if you get the DVD you'll see my lovely face and all of my classmates who studied together under Bob. Plus, you'll see snippets of Bob sporting a mighty fine mullet. Click here to watch the DVD Intro video. Can you find me?)

Our team has already gone through the first four sessions of Together We Worship, and it has been awesome! We have learned that worship is primarily about re-presenting God's accomplishments (Day 1), the importance of a Trinitarian understanding of worship (Day 2), the story of the Father expressed in the language of mystery in our worship (Day 3), the story of the Son expressed in the language of story in our worship (Day 4). And yesterday we began our discussion about the story of the Holy Spirit expressed in the language of symbol in our worship (Day 5). Before reading it I would have had to rack my brain for any symbols we use in worship besides the bread and cup of communion. After reading this session I am awestruck by the regular symbols I have been overlooking, such as the assembly of believers symbolizing the welcoming nature of God, the ministry of believers symbolizing God's presence and power in our preaching and serving, and the Bible as a symbol to be festooned and read with enthusiasm.

This really gets me thinking about our need to view these things as Holy Spirit symbols that communicate God's life-giving work. The last paragraph (p. 31) really got me thinking about how often we talk about the move of the Spirit in our church, and yet without these symbols we really have no tangible means of identifying with certainty His activity.

The challenge for us is to recover how the Holy Spirit communicates God's life-giving work through signs and symbols. So, someone may ask, "Did you experience the worship of the Holy Spirit in such and such a church?" "Oh, yes! The welcome they gave me, the sense of servanthood there, the reverence with which they treated the Bible, and the way they celebrated the bread and wine. Yes, I was moved by the Holy Spirit, filled with the grace of the Spirit and was led by the Spirit into a deeper relationship with the triune God!"

The truth is we can't just rely on our feelings or emotional experiences to be indicators of the Spirit's move. I am so grateful that our church is already committed to the four symbols Bob mentions here. Now I want to be more intentional about identifying them, and other symbols, for what they are: avenues through which the Holy Spirit fills us with grace and leads us into a deeper relationship with the triune God.

Regrets and Reshapes

2010-03-15T16:38:00.012-05:00

The further removed I get from my seminary days, the more I realize how much I missed while I was there. For example, I would have taken full advantage of a fellowship opportunity Bob Webber offered every week. We'd all walk to Starbucks after class, he'd buy us drinks, and we'd casually discuss life, theology, culture, anything and everything. I could kick myself for only attending one or two of these.

But perhaps the biggest mistake I made was skipping out on student chapel. In my three years of school I attended only a handful of these. I am now realizing how foolish I was. Chapel was an opportunity for me to apply through worship all of the knowledge I had been accumulating in my studies. And regular worship within the gathered community of students would have made my heart fertile for receiving more of the truth. Indeed, it would have shaped my understanding. I was too busy complaining about the fact that the school didn't offer any classes on the subject of worship, which kind of is a shame (I had to take my worship courses with Bob at a different school), but my frustration kept me from worshiping. My current lament was brought on by something I just read from Bob's pen in Ancient-Future Worship on page 40.

In a world where worship follows the culture and becomes like another TV program - presenting, entertaining, satisfying to religious consumerism - it is no wonder that even a pastor trained in seminary knows little to nothing about the meaning of worship.

Bob continues,

The problem goes even deeper, however. It goes to the heart of the Good News. Worship - daily, weekly, yearly - is rooted in the gospel. And when worship fails to proclaim, sing, and enact at the Table the Good News that God not only saves sinners but also narrates the whole world, it is not only worship that becomes corrupted by the culture, it is also the gospel. Not only has worship lost its way, but the fullness of the gospel, the story which worship does, has been lost.

Let's allow the gospel to shape our worship, and let's allow our worship to shape our understanding.

Originals: Love Has Won (An Easter Song)

2010-03-09T08:28:00.007-06:00

Love Has Won
Sean Carter & Ryan Flanigan

Download: mp3 / chords

Lyrics
Where, O grave, is your vict'ry?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Christ is risen in glory
Christ is living in me

Love, love has won
Christ has overcome
my heart and I can't fight it
I can't hide it

Where, O sin, is your power?
Where, O law, is your curse?
Christ completely devours
Christ fulfills ev'ry word

Love, love has won
Christ has overcome
my heart and I can't fight it
I can't hide it
Love, love has done
something deep inside
my heart and I can't fight it
I can't hide it

Nothing can ravage my soul
when I give up control
Love never fails
Nothing too high or too low
nothing else in this world
Love never fails

Song Story
I began writing this song several months ago. This rarely ever happens anymore, but I found a few hours to sit down and play my guitar. In the midst of worshiping God, this melody came out of my heart. No words came with it, though, not even a lyrical concept. So I recorded the melody in "la da das" and sent it to Sean to see if any words came to his mind. He immediately heard 1 Cor. 15:55, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" He also heard a victorious song of Christ's love that comes down from above us, defeating hell and the grave. I agreed and began working out the words.

One day, while I was raking leaves in the backyard, the idea came into my mind to make this a song about deep, personal resurrection, about the inner struggle between flesh and spirit. But as children of God, who have been purchased by Him, even though we constantly put up a fight, love wins. Christ has completely devoured sin and death within each of His own, not only in the external cosmos. Think about it, the extent to which Christ's love reaches throughout the whole universe, love travels that same infinite distance into each of our hearts, defeating sin and death in us once and for all. Not only is Christ's resurrection a cosmic event, it is a deeply personal one. Let's remember that this Easter season.

Fasting

2010-03-02T14:17:00.006-06:00

Fasting is a practice I've always had a difficult time wrapping my heart around. Passages such as Isaiah 58 and Matthew 6 to this day leave me feeling a bit too overwhelmed to take it on. Perhaps it's because every time I've ever tried to fast I've gone into it thinking that my great act of sacrifice would get me in good with God, or that I was proving something to him by my discipline. Let me encourage you, fourteen days into this Lenten Season (twelve if you don't count Sundays), to think differently about fasting.

We all know that we're supposed to give something up during Lent, but what and why? Well, the "what" that we should give up is something pleasurable to us, something good that God has blessed us with and intends for us to otherwise enjoy. For example, I greatly enjoy watching God-given creativity put to film. During Lent, however, I have decided to watch less TV than I otherwise would. Others give up dessert foods, or coffee, or red meat. But there's a difference between pure pleasure and sinful pleasure. Don't give something up for Lent that you should not be participating in or consuming in the first place. For example, someone I know said they're going to give up getting drunk. That doesn't count.

Now, the "why" is harder for us to identify. We already know that our reason for giving something up has nothing to do with proving something to God or to others. The reason we do it is to by grace increase our desire for God, to know Him and to better seek Him. We fast to re-focus our delight in the Creator, because we so often lose sight of Him, getting side-tracked by the things of this world, even His blessings. We find ourselves desiring so many other things and spending all of our time indulging in those things. When we fast rightly our priorities are realigned.

Our pastor put it this way: When the desire for that certain pleasure arises (that extra hour of TV or that Chai Latte), let that be a trigger for you to ask God to help you desire Him more than that thing. Maybe even spend some time in the Word and prayer instead of partaking in that other delight. So, when you're craving that thing you gave up, pray this prayer:

Lord, help me to want You more than I want
anyone or anything else in this world.
Lord, help me to love You more than I love
anyone or anything else in this world.
Lord, help me to trust You more than I trust
anyone or anything else in this world.
Lord, help me to serve You more than I serve
anyone or anything else in this world.

Lent Lament

2010-02-25T11:45:00.003-06:00

Lament is an important expression of prayer that every Christian should practice. There's a reason why lament occurs all throughout the Bible (Job, the children of Israel, David, the Prophets, Jesus Himself, and the New Testament Church). But the idea of lament goes against certain cultural demands in our day, like never showing signs of weakness and the pursuit of happiness. Most people, including Christians who don't understand the gift God has given us in the practice of lament, try to escape their pain and suffering by running away from it or drowning it with all kinds of sin.

My challenge to myself and followers of Jesus everywhere is to embrace the practice of lament, especially during this season of Lent. Pray through the Psalms of lament individually or with other believers. Lament to God on paper, which is always a liberating experience. Songwriters, for heaven's sake, write a song of lament instead of the same old cliches. Be true to your personality as a musician. Chances are you are meloncholy, and it's more natural for you to lament than do anything else. "Woe is me..."

Don't follow the backwards world that calls evil good and good evil. Lament is good. God laments. Just be sure that you are lamenting primarily to God and not to other people. It is sinful to bring your complaints to other people before you bring them to God, because in doing so you are putting your trust in men, let alone probably annoying the people you constantly complain to.

Above all, remember that lament ALWAYS leads to praise. Our God desires joy for His children, even in the midst of pain. In fact, the sooner you lament to Him your complaints, injustices, anxieties, etc., the sooner He will fill you with His joy and peace. I promise.

'Tis the Season to Confess

2010-02-25T11:00:00.003-06:00

As most of you know, Lent began last week. This year we offered three services on Ash Wednesday: 7:00am, Noon, and 6:00pm. We led our people through a modified Ash Wednesday Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 264), adding a few songs and decentralizing the imposition of ashes. After the thirty-five minute service we offered ashes to anyone who desired to receive them and welcomed everyone to journey on the Way of the Cross. For me, the most powerful moment was during the Litany of Penitence when Andrew, our college pastor, led us in the following series of confessions:

We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the
pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation
of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those
more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and
our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to
commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.

Every Wednesday during Lent, at 7:00am, Noon, and 6:00pm, we are holding Lenten Prayer Services. The idea is to re-focus our hearts on the purposes of the season: repentance and preparation for the highest point in the life of the church - the death and resurrection of Jesus. What we did yesterday during each of these times was go through a Psalm of lament. At 7:00, we prayed through Psalm 3, pausing after every two verses, reflecting, and praying whatever the Lord put on our hearts. We did the same thing at Noon, only we prayed through Psalm 4. And at 6:00pm the group prayed through Psalm 5.

The Noon prayer gathering was particularly powerful for me, as about twelve of us prayed through Psalm 4. There was a moment when we paused after verse 4, "Search your hearts and be silent," that we spent a minute in silence, asking God to search our hearts. He began exposing individual sins, and after the minute several people, one by one, began confessing their sins of laziness, fear, desire for other things before God, and many others. I reminded the group that God tells us to confess our sins to one another, and that if we do confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and to purify us from all unrighteousness. This was an incredibly freeing moment for me and I do believe for many others.

'Tis the season to openly confess your sins.

Worship Banners

2010-02-09T13:02:00.016-06:00

I hope you all have been having a splendabulous Epiphany Season. We have been working hard for the last month on the banners you see above. We will be incorporating them into our Sunday worship beginning this Sunday. They will be strategically hung on the perimeter walls of our worship space as stations for our people to visit during our time of worship response after the Word and during Communion. Eucharist literally means "thanksgiving," and so each of these banners represents an opportunity for us to actively give thanks to God for who He is and what He has done. We're not introducing anything new with the launching of these worship stations, we're just giving our people visible and textual (Scriptural) representations of what they already do. Hopefully, God's Word and the enhanced look of our worship space will encourage even greater participation by our people.

Notice that the hands images on three of the banners come up from the bottom of the banner, representing the acts of worship we offer to God: Offering, Prayer, and Song. The Sacrament of Communion is a different activity, representing the greatest of actions, namely the act of God giving Himself to us as a Sacrifice for our sins. The hands on the Communion banner come down from above, because Communion represents God's gift to us. That just tickles me.

Under each of the Offering banners will be offering boxes for people to give during the time of response. (We already have "Worship in Giving" banners there, but we're replacing them with the new ones.) Under each of the Prayer banners will be prayer ministers who can pray with anyone during that time. Under each of the Communion banners will be communion tables with the elements for people to take. In addition to those tables we will have tables around the jet stage (we seat in the half-round with the preacher in the center of the people), and servers will hold the trays with juice cups and crackers, looking into the eyes of each worshiper who comes forward, speaking, "The body and blood of Christ, broken and shed for you." The Song banners will hang on each side of the stage and at two rear perimeter spots. Anyone who comes in will know immediately what we do in this room when we gather for worship.

If any of you would like the PDF files for the banners, I'd be happy to give them to you. Ours will be two feet by five feet.

The Jesus Prayer

2010-01-12T11:49:00.008-06:00

I have mentioned in a previous post that "I am extremely grateful for the freedom I have to be creative and incorporate ancient worship practices in our church, but I am equally grateful for the reins of a healthy team." Well, a couple nights ago, during our P.S. Epiphany gathering, I took a few moments to lead our church in the Jesus Prayer. I got the idea from Bob Webber in his book Ancient-Future Time. My intention was to give struggling worshipers a simple way to connect more deeply with God in prayer, something they could bring with them everywhere they go in their everyday lives. So, after a few songs, prayers, and Scripture readings, I read the excerpt from Bob's book, explaining the origin of the Jesus Prayer (Luke 18:13) and the significance of short form prayer, which, according to Webber, the Church Fathers advocated as the form of prayer to establish union with God (p. 90). I quoted the list of rules for beginners to the Jesus Prayer (p. 91), and assured everyone that this isn't a New Age exercise. Then we prayed it through about ten times, slowly and quietly:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.
Etc.

I have been here at River Valley Church for two years and a few months now. It would be an understatement to say that I have stretched our church family in our worship practices. So I wasn't surprised to receive the kind of feedback I did yesterday and today. I heard from one excited person that the prayer lesson was exactly what they needed to jump-start their waning spiritual life. Another person said they had an epiphanic experience in the moment of praying the prayer together. I myself have been lulled to sleep by the prayer the past two nights, awaking with Jesus on my lips. And then there were those who were perhaps a bit too stretched to participate in the prayer without reluctance. I am thankful for their honest feedback, and in retrospect I could have taken a smaller step in introducing this type of spiritual exercise, especially to a group so diverse in age and denominational background. My hope is that they will not throw out the baby with the bathwater, and instead embrace, or at least appreciate, biblical and spiritually edifying, ancient traditions of Christian worship and spirituality, such as the Jesus Prayer.

We need not dwell upon misuses of the Jesus Prayer, except to realize that all exaggerations are harmful and that we should at all times use self-restraint. "Practice of the Jesus Prayer is the traditional fulfillment of the injunction of the Apostle Paul to 'pray always:' it has nothing to do with the mysticism which is the heritage of pagan ancestry."

I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about the Jesus Prayer to read this beautiful article, from which the above excerpt comes, by Princess Ileana of Romania. She was an Eastern Orthodox Christian with a deep, deep spirituality and love for Jesus. As an Eastern Mystic, there are a few things she says that push the limits of my comfort, but then she might be discomforted by the Western Rationalism she would find in this blog. Both of us love Jesus, though, and the Jesus Prayer.

Originals: Christ as a Light

2010-01-11T14:32:00.006-06:00

Part of the "Morning Prayer" in the Celtic Daily Prayer book includes St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer. After praying it every morning for several months it became a song in my heart. Soon after I completed my new song, I looked at the credits in the back of the book and realized that the words of the prayer are actually from a song John Michael Talbot made of St. Patrick's prayer. So this is my musical adaptation of John Michael Talbot's lyrical adaptation of St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer. A fitting song for Epiphany and every day. (If you were at P.S. Epiphany, this recording is without the chord I completely botched last night.)

Download: mp3

A Worship Lesson from John the Baptist

2010-01-08T11:24:00.008-06:00

A couple days ago I had the privilege of gathering with my worship team to celebrate Epiphany. Thursday nights are normally rehearsal nights for us, but the first Thursday of each month we forgo rehearsal and the whole team gathers together for fellowship and worship through Scripture reading, prayer, communion, and sometimes song. Since, then, we don’t have a rehearsal that week, we plan something acoustic and small for the following Sunday that wouldn’t require practice.

We’ve been doing this for only three months now, and already I’m seeing it impact our team powerfully. The simple heart of these meetings is to chase after God with all we’ve got. Our hope is for us as worship leaders to participate deeply in the same kind of worship we desire for everyone else in our weekly worship gatherings. As a worship pastor, these Thursday nights at the beginning of each month have energized and excited my heart greatly. I see God shaping and transforming us with the Gospel, cultivating a desire for Christ and an expectancy of communing with Him when we gather together. I’m learning that our team can’t live without this.

Our focus a couple nights ago was the story of Jesus' baptism in John 1. As we immersed ourselves in this story, something came to life in me. It may only be a few verses long, but John the Baptist's experience here paints a perfect picture of what our corporate worship gatherings should look like: the revealing, receiving, responding to, and retelling of the Gospel. In verse 33 we learn of John having been told, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” When John sees the Spirit fall and remain on Jesus, he immediately receives Him as God’s Son, humbles himself, and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Revealing
Jesus is revealed to John as the Son of God and Savior of the world. The Spirit revealed this to him, and continues to reveal Jesus to us today. Christ is seen and the Gospel is proclaimed through everything in our worship gatherings - our songs, Scripture readings, teachings, prayers, fellowship and communion. In our worship planning we do everything we can to ensure that the content of our prayers, songs and art paint deep and meaningful pictures of God’s salvation in Christ.

Receiving
When Christ is revealed, John receives Him as God’s Son with childlike faith. He does not question the revelation given him, but fully embraces it with all he is. I am praying for this kind of faith. As the Gospel is declared to us in our worship gatherings, may we receive it not just with cognitive assent, but also with faith that moves us to be and act accordingly.

Responding
This revelation humbles John. Who is he to even untie Jesus' sandal straps, let alone baptize him? But with most likely a mixture of reverent fear and humble joy, John baptizes the Savior of the world. When the Spirit helps us see God rightly, our depravity is exposed and the only right response is humble thanksgiving for the great work of salvation accomplished for us by the Father's sending of His one and only Son.

Retelling
John wells up with this revelation of Christ as God’s Son, unable to contain himself. He bursts out, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The Gospel demands our response, a life declaring the glory and salvation of our God in Jesus Christ our Lord. But this proclamatory response doesn’t end with the worship service. Like John we have seen and now testify that Jesus is the Son of God. We are sent out from the worship gathering to retell the Gospel story that has been revealed to us and embody it before a world in need of God’s rescue.

May God continue manifesting Himself to us and shaping our worship with His amazing Gospel story.

A Liturgy for Epiphany

2010-01-04T04:00:00.001-06:00

This Sunday, January 10th, we will be kicking off the Epiphany Season at our church. The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ is actually on Wednesday the 6th, but no one would come to a mid-week service if we had one, so we're doing it on the First Sunday after the Epiphany for our monthly P.S. (Prayer and Song). If you're unfamiliar with Epiphany worship, maybe the liturgy I put together for P.S. will be helpful. I always make good use of the Worship Sourcebook when crafting services such as these.

Call to Worship

LEADER: Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice

ALL: May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.

LEADER: May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.

ALL: May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

Adoration

SONG: “Center of It All” by Tim Hughes

SONG: “Cannons” by Phil Wickham

Confession

ALL: O God, our guide,
who once used a star to lead people to Christ,
we confess our poor sense of direction.
We let ourselves become confused,
easily distracted, and lose our way.
We fail to follow the signs you provide.
Forgive our waywardness, O God.
Lead us to the Christ so that we may
follow his way to you. Amen.

LEADER: You may be seated.

Assurance

LEADER: [Setup “Christ as a Light” - St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer]

SONG: “Christ as a Light” music by Ryan Flanigan

Word

LEADER: [Epiphany Explanation - 2 Tim. 1:9-10]

The Manifestation of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World
The Magi from the East
The Baptism of Our Lord
The Life and Ministry of Christ

READER: Please stand for a reading from Isaiah 60. [Read Is. 60:1-6, 9]

SONG: “Light of the World Arise” by Sean Carter & Ryan Flanigan

SONG: “Be Thou My Vision” the old Celtic hymn

Thanksgiving

SONG: “Living for Your Glory” by Tim Hughes

LEADER: Please be seated. [“Jesus Prayer” Explanation – Read pp. 90-91 in Ancient Future Time.]

ALL: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner. [repeat endlessly]

SONG: “Stronger” by Ben Fielding & Reuben Morgan

Sending

READER: A reading from Ephesians 3. [Read Eph. 3:1-12]

SONG: “Holy Church Arise” by Ryan Flanigan

SONG: “No Greater Love” by Matt Maher

LEADER: The light of God’s purposes has shone upon us.
Carry that light into another week.

ALL: The star of God’s promises that led us to worship
now leads us to serve in God’s world.

LEADER: When we have met God in the light,
we cannot dwell comfortably in the shadows.

ALL: We cannot enjoy our abundance and wealth
without thanksgiving and generous sharing.

LEADER: The glory of God shines on you today.
Others will see your radiance and rejoice with you.

ALL: We seek God’s peace that we may share it,
God’s wisdom that we may live by it,
in Christ’s name. Amen.

Welcome Josh Weaver to Reform worship.

2010-01-01T04:00:00.005-06:00

RYAN: Tell us a little about yourself, your family and home.

JOSH: I grew up in the city of Chicago and currently live in a south suburb working for the Apple store part-time, mostly doing training. Since May I’ve also been the part-time worship arts pastor at Pathway Community Church in Elmhurst. I’ve been married for five years; no kids yet. My wife, Rachel, the love of my life, is a gifted worship leader and singer herself. She helps me in my ministry and works part-time in Elmhurst. I am also a singer/songwriter and have recorded and produced two albums independently.

RYAN: Describe your journey to becoming a worship leader.

JOSH: Last year, while praying about the Lord's purposes for my life, God brought to mind a moment from my middle school years. Many of us have had moments like these where we first encounter the living God in corporate worship and are literally overwhelmed by His holiness and love. Moving past words and music, into direct contact with the Triune God who is completely other has the potential to change everything. As a junior higher, I hardly had words to describe my worship experience or even fully comprehend what was happening, but I remember thinking that if words and music could help people connect with the living God in such a real way, then I wanted to be a part of that for the rest of my life. The Spirit has been consistently wooing me towards worship ministry and has given me opportunities to serve Christ’s bride through music and art ever since.

RYAN: What led you back to a local church position?

JOSH: At the start of 2007, I left my full-time worship pastor position at a large church in the south suburbs of Chicago, burned out, discouraged and wrestling deeply with worship theology and what true art was. I thought for sure that I was either going to earn my living by being a singer/songwriter vocationally or by working somewhere that allowed me to pursue that goal. I had tried worship ministry and it didn’t work out, so now I was going to live out my “true dream” to share my art with the world. I recorded and produced two albums during this time and had several conversations with record labels and producers that I thought might lead somewhere.
I also started getting requests to lead worship for local events, ministries, and churches on a per-hire basis. This gave me some income, since I didn’t have a job, and also allowed me to continue leading worship even while my heart was still wrestling deeply with what it means to lead others in true worship.
Pretty soon, I was leading worship at different events, camps and conferences full-time. Doing spot dates like this and being distanced from church administration and politics gave my heart time to heal and gave God space to convict me of some of the wrong thinking I had about ministry and what it meant to “arrive” as a worship leader/artist. At the same time, I felt the tension of being disconnected from a local worshiping community because we were somewhere different almost every weekend.
As time progressed, I was getting “bigger” and “better” opportunities to lead worship at larger events that paid more money, but God was changing the desires of my heart. I found it continually harder to practice the things I was learning about worship with people I knew only for a weekend. I longed for a community of believers with whom I could work out what God was teaching me and grow with.
My wife and I began to pray that God would place us back in local church ministry. I immediately thought that my experience and credentials would land me in a large church, with a great salary and a lot of resources, but God kept placing the passage from James on my heart that says, "the brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position". God was gently showing me my pride and wrong feelings of entitlement. Slowly my thinking changed, and I desired rather to be entrusted with God's will, no matter what it was. The Lord was preparing me for His best.
This led me to an unexpected conversation with Kirt Wiggins, the lead pastor of a four-year-old church plant in Elmhurst, IL, about a part-time worship pastor position. I remember leaving that conversation overjoyed at the possibility of what being the church and embodying the gospel could look like. My heart was literally dancing over the reality that God could provide a place for me to partake in His Kingdom where I could authentically minister and participate as the Lord was leading me. I was hired on as the part-time worship arts pastor in May of 2009. It’s a perfect fit for me and my wife, and we couldn’t be more grateful and thankful that the Lord has put us there.

RYAN: Tell us about your church.

JOSH: Pathway Community Church is an interdenominational church that was planted four years ago in Elmhurst, a middle class western suburb of Chicago. We are a non-traditional church that meets in an old restored movie theater downtown. This means we setup and tear down in the theater every Sunday, which is difficult, but provides more service opportunities for our people to participate in. We have office space located close to the theater but no large meeting space of our own, meaning we are limited to meeting together in homes and the “public square” during the week. This has been a gift to us, helping us value relationships and attempting to live out what it truly means to be the Church, versus just showing up for programs.
Our worship gathering is casual. People are free to come as they are. Our music style is contemporary, while incorporating many hymns. We include in our services corporate prayers, scripture readings, contemplative space, and communing together. Most of the time we do the majority of our singing at the end, in response to God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper. We’re experimenting and learning how to use art forms other than music to present the gospel. We have a community of musicians, artists and worship leaders that share life and pray together regularly. We’re becoming a people in pursuit of communion with the Triune God, learning together what it means to receive and respond to the gospel.

RYAN: What do you hope to bring to Reform worship.?

JOSH: I am so excited to be a part of Reform worship. My heart resonates deeply with the conversation taking place here, and I want to help take what’s shared and make it more accessible to worship leaders everywhere. Hopefully, I can contribute to making our site a little more aesthetically pleasing and spread the word that there is a resource for worship leaders to grow in their theological depth and historical understanding of what worship is and does, whether they are just starting to lead worship or have been for years.
As a part-time worship pastor, I know what it’s like to have limited time and finances. Reform worship. has an opportunity to be a valuable resource for worship leaders. As we continue to share our songs (even with mp3s and charts), art, and the other elements we’ve used to help our local churches reveal, receive and respond to the Gospel, I believe that we’ll see more people joining the conversation, sharing stories of how these things are being worked out and wrestled through. Hopefully, the result will be a deeper understanding of the gospel in our post-modern culture, a richer communion with our Triune God, and a more purified Church living in the rhythm of death and resurrection, awaiting the return of her Bridegroom.

A New Look for Reform worship.

2009-12-29T20:20:00.011-06:00

We've been working hard on a new look for Reform worship. and are excited to finally share it with you. Over the next 24 hours we'll be remodeling the site. If perchance you visit during this time, we appreciate your grace as we fine tune everything. Feel free to let us know what you think!

Originals: Glory in the Heights

2009-12-25T20:00:00.007-06:00

I just couldn't wait to share this with you all, and there really isn't a better time than now to share it. A few weeks ago, in the midst of the Advent tension of waiting, I couldn't contain myself anymore. A Christmas song burst out of me! "O, glory in the Heights, for Christ is born!" Well, today is the day we get to fully celebrate His birth. The angels rejoice in songs of praise. But not only is the celebration happening in the heavens, peace has come to every man on earth, and so the church bells ring. Yet it doesn't end there. The Incarnation of Christ demands a response from everyone. Every man, without exception, says "yes" or "no" to Jesus. What will be your response? Will you come to Bethlehem and see the newborn King? If so, what will be your offering? My encouragement to you on this most wonderful of days is to give everything to Jesus. Everything.

I hope you are as blessed hearing this song as we were blessed singing it last night. Here is our Christmas gift to you: "Glory in the Heights."

Download: mp3 / chords

The young ladies you hear singing, Charlotte and Cidney, are about the age Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus. Earlier in the service they each sang a special song about the Blessed Virgin. It was very moving to hear their childlike (early teenage) voices and visualize what Mary might have looked like as we all worshiped her Holy Child together.

(painting: "Glory to God in the Highest" by Tom duBois)

Finishing Advent Strong

2009-12-21T10:07:00.010-06:00

Friends, this has been one of the most powerful seasons of Advent my family and I have ever experienced. Never before have we so intentionally participated, physically and spiritually, in what this season calls for, namely, expecting and preparing for the coming of Christ. I know that lots of people in our church have been deeply engaged, as well, and I hope many readers of this blog have done the same, reforming worship in your own homes and communities.

In all of my contemplation this Advent season, I have come to the conclusion that the number one reason why people don’t enjoy Christmas to the fullest is because they go after the feelings of joy instead of the Bringer of joy. Inevitably, the joy they experience is far inferior and short-lived. Let's finish this Advent season strong by centering our lives on our Savior. If we seek Him first, then everything we experience this Christmas - time spent with family, memories relived, sights and smells, exchanging of gifts - will bring glory to God and lasting peace to us. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

A Few Items (as this may be our last post of 2009)

First, for those of you who know me well, you might find it funny that I led "Mighty to Save" (just the chorus) yesterday in our Sunday worship. As I mentioned a couple posts ago, this is an excellent song for Advent, yet I have never led it for a few reasons: 1) it is way too popular (not a good reason), 2) I think singing "He rose and conquered the grave" is redundant (although I love the resurrection language), and 3) I don't "give myself to follow everything I believe in," because I believe in all kinds of crap, as evidenced by my persistent sinful choices (granted, I know the writers are referring to following Jesus). However, as is usually the case with very good melodies, and which is probably the reason for this song's success, our people connected and responded with an enormous expression of praise. So I am no longer "opposed" to leading this song, but I will change a couple things if/when I ever lead the whole song: 1) I will sing "He died and conquered the grave," to more overtly proclaim the atonement for sin accomplished in the death of Christ, and 2) I will change the line in the second verse to "I give myself to follow, the One that I believe in," or "the Gospel I believe in," which is a truer desire to declare. (Insert smiley face.)

Secondly, last night I watched the 2006 movie The Nativity Story. This was the first time I saw the movie, and I was overcome with emotion the entire time. In fact, there were a few moments (e.g., when Elizabeth greets Mary) that the Holy Spirit leapt within my own soul. I particularly appreciated the raw humanity of Mary and Joseph depicted in honest scenes of fear, doubt, and other personal struggles. I have read reviews from obstinate Catholics who say the film is unfaithful to traditional Mariology. That is an accurate observation, and I, too, might be offended if Catholic Mariology were biblical. But much of it is not, and I thought the writer and director did a phenomenal job portraying a truer representation of the Christ-event, birth pangs and all. Also, the comic relief provided in the wisemen was perfect. I laughed audibly a number of times. But the most compelling moment of all was the foreshadowing of Christ's crucifixion in the sight of Mary. My goodness, was that powerful! I highly recommend taking in this movie as a family this season. Perhaps Christmas Eve will be a perfect time for this.

Third, here is my Advent interview with Dan Wilt of WorshipTraining.com. You worship leaders should also check out Dan's Global Call to Worship Development. I am excited to be a part of this movement toward an ancient future of worship.

Finally, and I tell you this to put a fire under our behinds, we have been working on a new look for Reform worship. I am declaring it our goal to launch the new site at the New Year. Our good friend Josh Weaver has been working hard on the improvements. Josh will also be joining us as a contributor at the time of the switchover. We're very much looking forward to that.

Alright, then, you all have a wonderful Holiday season. Don't forget to celebrate Christmas for twelve days. Hopefully, that will come naturally to you, since you have been observing Advent properly. Peace on earth!

Advent Prayer from Isaiah 1

2009-12-16T06:52:00.004-06:00

Holy One of Israel, you alone can remedy the backwardness of your children, for you alone are righteous and high: Purge us of our man-centered ways, and lift us out of the hole we’ve dug for ourselves; by the Spirit our Perfecter, through Christ our Rescuer, and for your glory, O Lord our Father. Amen.

Songs for Advent

2009-12-07T09:24:00.005-06:00

Advent songs are hard to come by. During the four weeks of Advent, many worship leaders, who try to intentionally observe the Christian Year, end up out of frustration resorting to the premature singing of the blissful songs of Jesus' birth. Sure, it's okay to sing and enjoy our favorite Christmas songs before Christmas - Jesus has already been born! - but all I'm saying is that singing them early can hinder our full participation in the spirit of Advent, the season of expectation and preparation for the coming Christ.

The problem is, we have four Sundays of Advent and not enough Advent songs to fill our set lists, that is, without committing the sacrilege of duplicating a song. But don't worry, if we keep with the Christian Year, we have twelve days (from Dec. 25 to Jan. 5), including two Sundays, to sing our cheery Christmas songs. Then again, most of us are sick of those songs by the time Christmas rolls around. Oh, the cultural predicaments we worship leaders find ourselves in.

Here's what I suggest (and it's only the Second Week of Advent, so you have plenty of time to redeem yourself): Much like we avoid singing "Alleluia" through Lent until Easter comes, hold off singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" through Advent until Christmas arrives. Instead, sing Advent songs now through Christmas Eve.

But don't just sing Advent songs, tell the people why you're singing them. Explain to them the setting of the season - the people of God in exile, longing for the coming Messiah. Give them a little history - basically the entire second half of the OT revolves around the story of God's people in exile, awaiting the coming of a Savior. Help them feel the emotions of the season - suspense, anticipation, a bit of anxiety. Bring out the themes of the season - self-helplessness, hope, coming joy. Lead them into the actions of the season - waiting, repentance, lament.

If you are in a contemporary church, chances are that many of your congregants have little or no idea what Advent is. Teach them. If you don't, you will make them mad by refusing to sing "Joy to the World" before December 25th.

Here are some Advent songs that I have found to be helpful in leading our church in the proper observance of Advent. As you can see, the list is relatively small. The contemporary songs below were probably not written specifically for the season of Advent, but they certainly fit. Let's help each other by adding to the list. Think of songs that place us in the setting of exile, in the desperate need of a Savior, songs of repentance and seeking God, of waiting and longing for Jesus to come, including His Second Coming. Special prize for someone who names a good, congregational song about the Second Coming of Jesus ("Days of Elijah" doesn't count).

Traditional

"O Come O Come Emmanuel"
"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
(Cyber Hymnal, click "Advent". I've not heard of most of these, but maybe you have. As you can see, people used to write Advent songs. What happened? I think the Contemporary Church has lost sight of the Christian Year.)

Contemporary

"All I Have" by Brennan & Dobbleman
"All Who Are Thirsty" by Brown & Robertson
"Create in Me a Clean Heart" by Keith Green?
"Dwell" by Casey Corum
"Everlasting God" by Brenton Brown
"Faithful One" by Brian Doerksen
"Give Us Clean Hands" by Charlie Hall
"Good to Me" by Craig Musseau
"Hungry" by Kathryn Scott
"If You Say Go" by Diane Thiel
"Mighty to Save" by Fielding & Morgan
"Prepare the Way" by Charlie Hall
"Prepare the Way of the Lord" by Jeremy Riddle
"Refiner's Fire" by Brian Doerksen
"Unchanging" by Chris Tomlin
"You Alone Can Rescue" by Matt Redman
"You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman

Your turn. (Comment below.)

Advent Message

2009-12-07T08:55:00.007-06:00

Friends, I had the privilege to preach last weekend on the First Sunday of Advent. In the message I give a short introduction to the Advent Season, which you might find helpful. Then I introduce our six-week Advent/Christmas series, O Come, in which we are going through the great Advent hymn "O Come O Come Emmanuel." And then I preach from Isaiah 7 of the sign of Immanuel and it's fulfillment in Matthew 1 and 28.

Click here to listen to the message.

(painting: "Christ in the Womb" by Timothy Putnam)

Advent Worship Resources from WorshipTraining.com

2009-11-12T11:18:00.003-06:00

Our good friend over at WorshipTraning.com, Dan Wilt, has made available a few resources for your Advent Season worship planning, including a FREE webinar event with yours truly. Here is the link to the resource page, where you can peruse and purchase some quality resources, and where you can sign up for the FREE webinar, which will be held at 2:00 EST next Wednesday, Nov. 18. Did I mention the webinar is FREE. I hope you can make it.

Matt Maher: Life-Changing New Album 2

2009-11-03T05:00:00.004-06:00

I wanted to give it another couple weeks before reviewing this album to avoid prematurity. I'm glad I waited...because this post will now reflect two more weeks of me soaking in this beautiful creation. Allow yourself to enter the world of this work of art, and I'm pretty sure you too will have a life-changing experience.

The storyline of the entire record goes something like this: God comes and saves us from ourselves and our world of fantasy, opening our eyes to the reality of our sin and His love, which He demonstrated to us in Christ's death and resurrection, calling us out and taking us in as His beloved children. This is a Gospel album, and I'm not talking about the music genre.

The album opens with a song that presents the framework for the story that follows. There is more than just radio-friendliness in track 1, "Alive Again". Listen carefully to what Maher is painting here - fantasy and reality. In the midst of our busy preoccupation with our sinful fantasies, God's shout breaks through with the reality of His love, waking us up again. Instead of fantasizing over worldly things that will never satisfy, God wants us to see through His eyes that he delights in us and wants to satisfy us as His children (track 3, "Sing Over Your Children", one of my two favorite songs on this album). This love we receive from the Father pushes out all desire for material things and temporal fixes, and it holds us together as the Church (track 4, "Hold Us Together"). We then hold up this banner of love, the cross, for the world to see, so that everyone everywhere might be drawn to Jesus Christ (track 5, "No Greater Love"). Tracks 4 and 5 are fun songs.

Selah

ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL? // ISN'T IT MARVELOUS? // THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE // HE BECAME ONE OF US // WE CRY OUT AND THEN // LOVE COMES DOWN AGAIN // LOVE IS FOUND IN HIM, HALLELUIAH

This chorus is from track 6, "Love Comes Down", my other favorite song on this album. You have to hear the melody of this chorus with the words to get the full depiction of the incarnation imagery. I breathe deeply and smile in wonder and worship every time I hear it.

The album continues with six more honest songs saturating the listener in the Gospel of love, including a song co-written with Matt Redman, track 8 "Remembrance (Communion Song)". Love it, especially the bridge (although I like Redman's version better). These last six songs bring a sweet intimacy to this record, making it easy to dwell in the house of the Lord. My favorite moment, when I inevitably weep, comes at the end of track 9, "Letting Go". Maher simply sings over and over, "I just want to be in your arms." That has been the cry of my heart for the last month or so. (I'll expound upon this in the third post of this series.)

Maher's music style is nothing fancy, pretty common among contemporary praise and worship music. It's light and minimal for the most part, including a couple very raw vocal songs (tracks 9 and 12), and it certainly does not hinder his storytelling. There are definitely some unique melodic and instrumental moments. I think immediately of the bell/piano riff in track 11, "Christ Is Risen", which, for an Easter song, has almost a Christmas feel. And his chorus melody in track 10, "You Were on the Cross", would have knocked my socks off were it not strikingly reminiscent of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know". Nonetheless, the symphonic arrangement at the end of that song alone is worth the $9.99 I spent. Overall, I feel his music accompanies the message nicely, and the music by itself is at times an expression of true beauty.

We will be trying out "Sing Over Your Children", "No Greater Love", and "Remembrance" in our Sunday gatherings. Most of the songs could be used congregationally, though.

Flanigan Advent Live Call

2009-11-02T11:05:00.010-06:00

On Wednesday, November 18th, at 2:00pm EST, Dan Wilt of WorshipTraining.com will be conducting a live phone interview with me. This will be an open call, and all of you are invited to join. On the call, I will be giving some theological, historical, and practical insight into the first season of the Christian Year - Advent: The Season of Expectation. There will also be some polls taken and a time of Q & A. To find out more and to register for this FREE event, click here. Or you can go directly to the registration form. My hope is that many of you will join us on this live call, and that everyone who participates will be empassioned and empowered to lead their families and local churches into the depths of Advent worship.

I am honored and excited about this opportunity to speak from my heart concerning my favorite time of the year, a season that, sadly, is often neglected and overshadowed by our culture of consumerism and instant gratification. Read more about this problem and some practical ways to overcome it here: "How to Get Maximum Fulfillment out of Christmas." This is just a taste of what will be discussed on the live call.

Another Plug?

2009-10-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

Last year, in their October "Best of the Best 2008" issue, Worship Leader Magazine listed Reform worship. as one of "Three Great Worship Websites." While that was much too generous of them, in this month's "Best of the Best 2009" issue, they plugged us yet again, not as one of the "best" blogs, which is kind of a relief, but by putting in their "Worship Leader Forum" a short email I sent the editor last month. The email was simply an abbreviated version of my blog entry, "How Worshiping God Is Possible," in which I expressed how happy I am with WL Mag for running last month's cover article "The Mediation of Christ in Worship." They must have felt that my encouragement to them was worth sharing with everyone. I would have totally overlooked this had not my buddy Micah pointed it out to me. Click here to see my message to the editor as it appears on page 8 of this month's issue. Thanks, Worship Leader Magazine! Here is what it says:

Regarding Robb Redman's article "The Mediation of Christ in Worship" being front and center in the recent issue, thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't tell you how encouraged I am to see the contemporary worship conversation moving in this direction. This is, IMHO, the most important truth for worship leaders and all Christians to understand if we are going to see a renewal of true worship in the Church today.
Gratefully,
Ryan Flanigan
reformworship.com

Vintage Worship: Take My Life

2009-10-26T18:58:00.002-05:00

This is the second installment of what I'm calling Vintage Worship (here is the first one). It starts with researching an old hymn, looking into the life of the composer, the inspiration and story behind the hymn. Then, in worship I present my discovery to the church. We sing the hymn (usually a contemporary version) and pair it with newer songs of similar themes. The idea is to give worshipers a sense of connectedness to the rich history of the church.

I've shared in a previous post the prelude to Frances Havergal's Book of poetry called The Ministry Of Song. I love her poetry and have looked high and low for a copy of this book. (Big prize for anyone who finds it for me.) She is probably best known for her hymn "Take My Life." Havergal wrote the song on February 4, 1874. Here is the story of the hymn in her own words:

I went for a little visit of five days [to Areley House, Worcestershire, in December 1873]. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. [God] gave me the prayer, "Lord, give me all this house." And He just did! Before I left the house, everyone had got a blessing. The last night of my visit...I was too happy to sleep and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart, one after another, till they finished with "Ever, only, all, for Thee."

In years following, Frances pondered the words, "Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King." She felt she should give up her secular concerts, despite the demand of her beautiful voice, having frequently sung with the Philharmonic. But from that moment, her lips were exclusively devoted to the songs of the Lord.

Her prayer, “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold,” was lived out, as Havergal explains in a letter to a friend in August 1878.

The Lord has shown me another little step, and, of course, I have taken it with extreme delight. “Take my silver and my gold” now means shipping off all my ornaments to the church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me... Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don’t think I ever packed a box with such pleasure!

The music traditionally used for the hymn was written by Cesar Malan years prior in 1823. The version I use in worship is a modified version of the one arranged by Passion. Here is the poem in its entirety:

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.

Matt Maher: Life-Changing New Album 1

2009-10-20T12:21:00.012-05:00

I don't highly recommend too many albums. They have to come into my life at just the right time, meaning, the creativity and content offered by the artist and producer must resonate deeply with what the Spirit is doing in me. Sometimes I don't "get" what the artist is presenting when I first listen to it, and only later (sometimes years later) am I in the place spiritually where I can truly take it in. Or sometimes the art itself opens my eyes to something beautiful that I would not have otherwise seen. And sometimes the art is really bad, and I have nothing to glean from it and never will. Note that I don't listen to a lot of music, let alone entire albums straight through.

That said, there have been two albums this year that have transformed my life. I have already mentioned one, The Now and Not Yet by Jeremy Riddle. The other has only been in my soul for a week, and I am already a new man.

All I knew of Matt Maher before picking up his new album was that he is a Roman Catholic and that he wrote "Your Grace Is Enough," a song of which our church has had enough. I knew that Chris Tomlin had popularized it and took off the ever-necessary prepositional phrase "of Jacob" from the verses. Then my good friend Micah posted about Maher's new album, so I had a listen. I was impressed enough by the iTunes snippets that I purchased it. And boy am I glad I did!

Matt Maher has a heart like David's. He knows what it means to "dwell in the house of the Lord," and not only that, but it's obvious he personally and regularly experiences the presence of the Lord, gazing upon His beauty and being held in His arms. He is one satisfied dude. This is what I want, and this is what God is beginning to unfold in my life. Matt is helping me.

At the risk of losing some of you, I will end this post here. However, I will review the album in a second post and take a third post to expound upon how this work of art is changing my life. For now, I highly recommend purchasing this record and letting it begin its work in your heart.

Pure Spiritual Milk

2009-10-14T09:57:00.002-05:00

We see throughout the New Testament Paul, Peter, and others exhorting the followers of Jesus not to go after the desires of the flesh. Paul says we sought our satisfaction from the things of this world back when we were dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1-3). Peter says those passions of the flesh wage war against our soul (1 Pet. 2:11), and instead we should long for pure spiritual milk - if we have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Pet. 2:3).

Why do I follow and feast on the sugar-coated crap of this world? There is no nourishment in it. It actually shrivels up my soul and kills it. Instead I stuff myself so full of worldly entertainment, pleasure, and all kinds of idolatry that I have no appetite when I turn my eyes upon Jesus.

I have a five month old son. He drinks milk. When he is hungry, he lets us know, and we feed him. If we weren't to feed him, he would scream and cry until he got some of the goods. I hate to think of this, but if we weren't to feed him at all, he would soon get sick, weak, and... And if we were to feed him anything other than the milk he needs, the same thing would happen.

What Peter is saying is that we are to cry out to God like newborn infants who are hungry, and God will feed us with his goodness. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. He wants to feed us. He delights to draw near and care for his children. A true child, to continue the nursing metaphor, will latch on to his mother when he is hungry. He won't push her away. Are we seeking God, or pushing him away? Are we crying out to him for pure spiritual milk, the only substance that can satisfy our souls? If not, that is definitely an indicator that we are finding fulfillment elsewhere.

The Zenith of Worship Leading

2009-10-05T13:58:00.004-05:00

A little over two years ago my wife and I were faced with a pretty big decision. I had just finished seminary and was working full-time at a hospital and part-time as a local church worship leader. We were a couple months into being new parents, and I was antsy about getting my career rolling in full-time ministry. The problem was, I had conflicting aspirations, or so I thought. How much of my time and energy would I put into my songwriting career, and what percentage would I put into local church worship ministry? We sought the Lord and his will for our life, and we felt pretty certain he wanted us to pour 100% of ourselves into the life of a local church. So we began the search for a church. As it turned out, River Valley found us, and we have been serving here wholeheartedly for almost two years now.

A few weeks ago I had the joy of attending Vineyard Music's Worship Leader Retreat in Asheville, NC. Absolutely incredible! So many old friends, so many new friends, the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the art of Asheville, late nights at Hannah Flanagan's, sweet encounters with God, deep spiritual encouragement, and on and on. But one thing that has stuck with me the most is what Terry Butler said to us during one of our evening sessions. He quoted Matt Redman saying, "The zenith of worship leading is the local church." It didn't strike me as anything profound immediately, but as I mulled it over with my retreat small group, on the long ride home with Josh, and personally over the past few weeks, it has become monumental.

Since I probably can't re-write it any better, here is what I wrote to my small group guys in an email reflecting upon our time at the retreat, particularly the Redman quote:

"The zenith (highest point) of worship leading is the local church." It shakes me and comforts me to know I've reached the top. The local church is IT. We've made it, guys. It doesn't get any higher than this. We don't have to strive ambitiously to reach any other goal. It's all about the people God has called us to in our communities. If anything is to come of our worship leading, songwriting, or anything else that might bring recognition or increased influence, it will come out of what the Spirit of God is doing through us in our local churches.

I am so thankful that God put it on my wife's heart and mine to give all we have to the local church. I believe he has honored that decision tremendously, and I'm thankful that he has confirmed it once again.

Living and Lasting Word

2009-10-03T07:08:00.004-05:00

Living and lasting Word,
conceiving the souls of mortal men
with seed that cannot die:
Produce in us the same pure love for one another
and for those in whose hearts
you have not yet been planted;
by the Spirit's growth and the Father's selection
for your increase, O Good News. Amen.

(A prayer from 1 Peter 1:22-25)

How Worshiping God Is Possible

2009-09-07T21:54:00.009-05:00

I couldn't be happier with Worship Leader Magazine than I am right now. The lead article this month is "The Mediation of Christ in Worship." This is the single most important truth for worship leaders and all Christians to understand and practice if we want to see contemporary worship reformed and redeemed back to where it should be. The topic at hand is the reason we started this blog two years ago. Seriously, if you're like me you usually gloss over the shiny, nonsensical, worship talk that often fills magazines such as these, but I encourage you, as I have been greatly encouraged by WL Mag lately, READ THIS ARTICLE! (click widget below). Go through it with your worship teams. Stretch yourselves theologically and wrestle with it. This is not too deep for common people to understand.

I am convinced that not only do we need to understand the mediation of Christ "behind the scenes," so to speak, but it must be front and center in our re-presentations of the Gospel every time we gather for worship: in our preaching, in our song lyrics, in our praise and worship moments, always! We cannot assume worshipers know it, and therefore we do not need to verbalize it. The New Testament writers certainly didn't pass up the opportunity to mention the mediation of Christ. In fact, you'll find this great doctrine in the hymns recorded in the New Testament - the very songs the early church sang (Philip. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 1:3-4; Rev. 5:9-13; 15:3-4).

This is extremely serious stuff. You cannot understand the Gospel if you don't understand the mediation of Christ, which means you cannot truly know and worship God unless you get this. You say you believe in Jesus, but how can you if you don't worship in the faith of His reconciling us to the Father? Yes, the heart of worship is Jesus, but it's not Jesus the beautiful man I ascend to in my beautiful songs of worship that please God if I sing them the right way. Rather, it's Jesus the humble Man who descended to us ugly people who could not possibly please God, but who now enter by the Spirit into His humble sacrifice to the Father. Do we have this Trinitarian understanding of worship when we offer ourselves to God, or are we unitarians, trying to please God on our own, essentially trampling underfoot the blood of Christ because His sacrifice isn't good enough?

I thank Robb Redman for writing this (he must be a pupil of Bob Webber) and Chuck Fromm and Jeremy Armstrong, and whoever else was involved in the process, for running it. I truly do hope and pray that worship leaders everywhere will grab a hold of the mediation of Christ in worship, for true worship cannot happen without it. (Click below to read.)

September, 2009

Repairer of the Breach

2009-08-27T15:02:00.004-05:00

God of reconciliation,
you created a perfect world that quickly became full of sin,
man in your image, who soon became your enemy:
Turn our selfish hearts back to you,
and restore us to a right relationship,
that we might receive your love and love you once again;
through Jesus Christ, the Repairer of the Breach,
who, with you, fills us with the Holy Spirit
to love your creation to death
and resurrection. Amen.

Christ-Centered Worship - A New Book

2009-08-26T08:56:00.004-05:00

Hey Friends! Long time no post. The second half of the summer has been absolutely crazy. I do hope to post more frequently this fall as things settle down a bit.

I just wanted to make you all aware of a new book that may instantly become a standard resource in the modern worship conversation. The book is called Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice by Bryan Chapell, author of Christ-Centered Preaching, a preaching standard.

Tim Keller, whom I admire tremendously, has already said this about the new book:

Christ-Centered Worship calls people to go beyond "contemporary worship" without being polemical in spirit. It takes historic worship traditions very seriously but uses the gospel itself as the way to critique and design orders of worship. It is full, balanced, and extremely practical. This will now be the first book I give people--or turn to myself--on the practice of understanding, planning, and leading in corporate worship.

Wow! - the "first book" he gives people and turns to himself. Here is the book's promotional video:

HT: Justin Taylor

Free Tim Hughes Webinar

2009-07-13T10:04:00.007-05:00

My friend, Dan Wilt, will be hosting a discussion with Tim Hughes titled "When Servants Lead: Keeping Your Ego in Check" this Wednesday 7/15 at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time. Here is Dan's blurb about this cyber event.

Or click here to register.

This FREE Webinar with TIM HUGHES (UK, Here I Am To Worship) and DAN WILT, M.MIN. (CA, All You Are) will give worship leaders, musicians, pastors and all followers of Jesus practical tools for "keeping their ego in check" as they authentically lead others.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dan's last webinar, where he interviewed Duke Seminary professor Jeremy Begbie about the Arts and Creation. Listen to it here. Brilliant stuff invoking a deeper desire for creative worship and true spirituality.

I cannot wait to receive Tim Hughes' Spirit-filled insights on Wednesday. If you read this blog, you'll probably know that Tim Hughes is currently one of the most influential songwriters in my life. We lead (or have led) seven songs from his latest studio album Holding Nothing Back.

Worthwhile Discussion on Worship, Music, and Art

2009-06-23T09:05:00.001-05:00

This is the kind of dialogue in which we as worship leaders must engage. If you are a full-time worship pastor, or even part-time, you should be spending some of your work week on stuff like this. From a vocational perspective, your production output will dramatically increase and improve through participating in these discussions. Don't think that you're wasting your time, and don't feel guilty for taking an hour or two (or even ten) reading, thinking, dialoguing, and writing about these things. All in moderation of course. When employed correctly, this type of vocational exercise will encourage more accurate and effective proclamation and re-enactment of the Gospel, carrying over into all areas of ministry and life.

(I found this on Justin Taylor's blog, "Between Two Worlds," and adapted the next paragraph from this post.)

The following eight videos consist of a conversation between Mike Cosper (Sojourn Church, Louisville, KY), Chip Stam (Institute for Christian Worship), and Harold Best (Dean Emeritus of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and the author of Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts and Music Through The Eyes of Faith).

I love the work God is doing through Sojourn Church. I have listened to many of the lectures so graciously provided from the Institute for Christian Worship. And if you recall I quoted Harold Best here and here.

A few things stand out to me in this first clip: 1) "Mature believers are easily edified." 2) We make idols of our preferred musical styles, and there must be a call and leading to cast down those idols. 3) Traditionalism is idolatry, while Tradition brings freedom and must be upheld by everyone, leading us into fresh creative expressions of unchanging content.

Mike Cosper, Harold Best, Chip Stam - Worship Discussion 1 from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Beware Vineyard-ites! Best takes a shot at the Wimber model of worship in this next clip. I would ask Best to expound upon Wimber's model, because I think he unfairly speaks to only one aspect of it. I agree with him concerning that aspect, but I don't think it originates in Wimber. It has the potential, however, to be heightened within the Wimber (or Vineyard) style of praise and worship - being changed by "the presence of the Lord." I for one believe their is tremendous value and biblical warrant for experiencing the intimacy of God in the context of praise and worship (congregational song), as long as it is understood that the worship leader isn't the mediator ushering the people into the presence of God, but Jesus Christ alone.

Cosper, Best and Stam -- session two from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

The volume jumps in this next clip, so be careful. I appreciate the honest and sensitive conversation here about manipulating emotions musically. It's not all bad, but "manipulativism" is where we err - when music and God are equal. I also love the idea of music being "humbled by the liturgy." Music is a servant.

Cosper, Best and Stam - session three on worship from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

An interesting discussion on beauty and art. If you have been impressed with Harold Best's vocabulary and sheer genius to this point, just wait. I wonder if either Best or Cosper knew of Cormac McCarthy before "No Country for Old Men" the movie was released.

Cosper, Best and Stam - Session Four from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

A continued conversation on beauty, and the difference between beauty and "pretty".

Cosper, Best and Stam - Episode Five from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Can we possibly please God with our art? The role of Christ in our worship. This is the heart of the matter. But we are also called to excellence - bringing to God an unblemished sacrifice through Christ.

Cosper, Best and Stam -- episode six from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Another volume burst, and a wonderful discussion about relevance.

Cosper, Best, Stam: Episode Seven from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Now we get some disagreement between these three. I wish it would have come earlier. This final clip is perty deep. It is mostly about visual art, representation vs. replication, truth vs. accuracy, etc. I love Best's prayer of the abstract artist.

Cosper, Stam and Best - session eight from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.