A Brief Overview of the History of Christian Music (in the west)

Here is a fun little overview of the History of Christian Music. I think it is important to note that it is not an exhaustive analysis but an overview. I also think it would be wise to note that it has been shaped and streamlined toward the direction of Christian music in the West.  With that said, I really enjoyed this and wanted to pass it on.

A Brief Overview of the History of Christian Music - by Worship Leader Magazine

Practical Tips For Worship Leaders Video - Jim Altizer

A worship leader friend of mine posted this video about what makes a great worship leader.  There is so much simple, yet widely untold, truth in this video. The practical elements that are shared should be learned by worship leaders allowing them to lead their congregations in more meaningful ways.

Here you go!



You can find some more videos from Dr. Jim Altizer here. Or visit: http://roadmapsforworship.com/

*If you can't see the video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzHLeExWE0k&list=PLC7E71DF46BADEE3C&index=2&feature=plpp_video

"Sunday Morning Checklist" by Paul Baloche

Paul Baloche gives a great rundown of things to think about when you are planning/leading worship. I've seen lists similar to this before, but what I love about Paul's list is that it is geared toward being spirit led through planning and intentionally minimizing distraction. There is a ton of practical in this post, but you can't help but see the pastoral aspect of Paul's heart and leading. Great blog.  Take notes & enjoy.

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Sunday Morning Checklist

by Paul Baloche

I recently missed three Sundays in a row at my local church because of back-to-back conferences and a ten-day tour through Canada. This is pretty rare but since we were going to have three different people leading worship over that time period, I wrote out some reminders to try and keep things consistent while I was gone. Maybe you have wondered how other leaders think about conducting their services. Obviously there is no formula when it comes to leading worship, but feel free to look over my shoulder and see the guidelines that I asked my substitutes to keep in mind.

Preparation:

• Prayerfully plan your set list, considering the spiritual and musical flow.
• Try to do mostly familiar songs with a maximum of one new song.
• Email set list and lyrics to any new songs ahead of time to Roland, the Tech Guy.

Service:

• Begin with a greeting of some kind. Think “conversational”.
• “Good morning. I’m………..” (Let them know who you are)
• Maybe read a scripture or have the band begin the intro of the first song as you say something like, “Let’s all stand together and turn our hearts to the Lord….”
• Go through the set, being led by the Spirit. Keep talking in between songs to a minimum. Talk as much as you need to in order to keep things flowing but not so much that it distracts or hinders momentum.
• Let people know if you’re going to teach a new song. “I’d like to teach a new song this morning.” (Maybe give a brief “context”, ie.) “This is a song that focuses on the mercy of God” or “This is a song inspired by Psalm 96….”. “Let me sing/teach you the chorus.” Go through the chorus once or twice, and then start the song from the top.
• As you are winding down your last song, be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying or doing. Try to discern the mood or atmosphere and allow the music to support that.
• When it seems appropriate, and while the music is playing lightly, say something like “as a part of our worship this morning lets prepare our tithes and offerings”. At that point, continue the song that you just sang, repeating the chorus a little more softly or instrumentally. Or sing a familiar chorus that is in the same key to keep things flowing.
• When they are finished praying over the offering, cue the band to end on the final chord.
• Please don’t walk immediately into the back room, which is visible to the congregation. That always feels a little “elite” somehow. I would prefer that you sit down in the congregation or walk along the edge of the sanctuary towards the back. Feel free to use the restroom or get a drink of water or whatever.
• Please be alert and prepared to come up at the end of the message. Remember that the pastor teaches maybe 25-30 minutes maximum. Try to be discreet and sensitive to “the moment” as you pick up your guitar, tune, etc. (TIP: I usually re-tune real quick at the end of the offering or at the beginning of the announcements when it’s less distracting. I typically duck down to one knee to take the focus off of me as I tune.) As people are being prayed for, be careful that the dynamics and volume of the back do not get too loud in order to allow for prayers and conversation to happen without distraction. We are there to support the moment, NOT to get people focused on us.
• Thank you for serving the Lord by loving His people and helping them to worship Him.

Well there you have it. My list of essentials may be longer or shorter then yours but it’s important for us to define what kind of experience we hope will occur on any given Sunday. My goal is always to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible, and through the vehicle of music, create an environment that makes it easy for the congregation to connect with God.

Two roles are at play here. One is our priestly role, where we are simply lifting our own hearts to God in worship. The other is our pastoral role, where we invite others to join us in this experience by expressing our praise and thanks to the Lord. We lead primarily by example. To borrow the familiar phrase, “Lead worship at all times and if necessary, use words.”

*To see original post visit: http://www.praisecharts.com/sunday-morning-checklist/ 

Worship - sermon series from Trent Vineyard

I came across these videos on worship from Trent Vineyard Church based in Nottingham, UK. Not only is John Wright's accent addictive to us American folk, but the content that we see in these videos is great.  I recommend sitting down and watching these to gain a new/refreshed perspective on worship.

Worship: PART 1

Worship: Part 1 from Trent Vineyard on Vimeo.
In the first talk of this series John Wright looks at God’s creation of the Universe and man’s creation of the temple, and unpacks the incredible access and invitation we now have into God’s presence as we come to worship.

Worship: PART 2

Worship: Part 2 - Reverent Worship from Trent Vineyard on Vimeo.
In the second talk of this series John looks at the ark of the covenant, our attitude as we come to worship, and what the bible has to say about reverent worship.

Worship: PART 3

Worship: Part 3 - Extravagant Worship from Trent Vineyard on Vimeo.
In the concluding part of this series, John Wright explores freedom in Worship, looking at the example of David in 2 Samuel as the Ark returns to Jerusalem.

For more info about this church visit: http://www.trentvineyard.org/