Song Review: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

The story of Peter walking on water toward Jesus has always been a favorite of mine. As a worship leader, I've been looking for a song that did this story justice for so long. I want to recap that a bit if you don't mind. Here is one account of the story from Matthew.

Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)

Jesus Walks on Water

²² Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. ²³ After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

²⁴ Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. ²⁵ About three o’clock in the morning^[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!^[b]”
²⁸ Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
²⁹ “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong^[c] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
³² When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

If we put ourselves in this story, and realize how doubtful we are in our everyday lives, it is no wonder that not many worship songs had been written about it.  In verse 28 we see that Peter's initial emotion was trust yet within minutes he gets reprimanded for having such little faith in verse 31. How and when did this change, or did it? 

I notice three things in this passage that happened. First, he sees the strong wind and the waves. I think this is where most people go wrong when they are stepping out in faith. It isn't often calm seas when Christians step out to follow God in big ways. Notice that Peter no longer was looking to Jesus but to the waves. I can't imagine what was going through his mind during those moments. He gets out of the boat and started walking on the water. That would trip me out, and on top of that there was plenty of distractions around! Wind and waves splashing in his face and he took his eyes off Jesus... wouldn't you?!?!

The next thing we see is that he was terrified! No kidding. Wouldn't you be scared? You just got out of a boat in a storm at three o'clock in the morning and notice that everything around is in utter tumult. You aren't on solid ground, let alone a boat, you are on water... everything you know about water as an experienced boatman comes to mind and you realize that you've never seen anything as heavy as you not sink!

The third thing we see is that he "began" to sink. I think the choice of words is interesting, it doesn't say he sank, it just says that he started. I don't know about you but if you have ever been in a pool you know that it takes longer to say a few words than it does to sink. So, we see him shout "Save me, Lord!" and Jesus grabs him. I wonder how long that took to happen?? Was it a split second or was it more like the torture of quick sand, where anticipation and anxiety can take over.  

Either way, it isn't from the comfortable church pew that he battles this out. Then Jesus' response is hilarious. "You have so little faith, why did you doubt me?" This got me thinking - what is it about our faith now. It seems that we need rationalization for everything, it seems faith is only a word and doubt is a constant reality.  Another thing I noticed is that Jesus recognized Peter's lack of faith and didn't reject him, but extended His hand and grabbed him. This leads me to one of the most simple and honest lines of the song "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United.  In a place of uncertainty and failing,  Jesus has not failed and He won't stop now (end of verse 2).

This song is challenging. It recognizes the drive that Peter had to trust Jesus, but it calls on the Holy Spirit to be our strength in our most certain doubt and failures. My favorite part is the bridge (like just about everyone else that hears it). Maybe I needed the repetition of these words in my heart to speak truth regarding me stepping out in faith, or maybe I'm just not as smart as most people, but it took almost all 6 times through the bridge before it hit me. My trust has pretty small borders if I am honest with myself. I need Him to help me, I can't do it on my own.

Enjoy this song and it's powerful lyrics. If you read it through quickly you won't be doing yourself any favors. Allow God to speak to you through these words and step out on to the water in trust and faith.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United

Verse 1
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep, my faith will stand

CHORUS
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Verse 2
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

Bridge
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior

Here is the video... remember to let God be God in your heart and as you step out in faith. Put your trust in the most capable hands of Jesus and continually seek the Holy Spirit to bring us to a deeper faith in Him.


Original video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw 

A poem from Kipling about church ministry???

So, if you have been in church ministry for any length of time you know that people in the church are not always polite, kind, and perfect. Jesus is. Christians aren't - but should be moving toward, and striving for, Jesus' likeness.

My wife remembered this poem the other day and shared it with me. I began to think about how true this needs to be for life and was challenged by the implications of this for the Christian who is being persecuted. I'm not saying that church ministers get persecuted by their congregations, but there are a bunch of imperfect people so there is bound to be some conflict. Church ministry is like any other vocation that deals with people (which all do - except monasticism) and there will be problems that arise.

So, read, enjoy and remember this one!

IF - by RUDYARD KIPLING

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
 
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

I think the last line could be adapted...

[ ...Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Worship Pastor, my son!]

Kind of a funny thought. Kind of a challenging realization. But, I know that nothing can be more fulfilling than to have the blessing of leading God's people in true worship!  Pastors, Teachers, Worship Leaders, and church workers - remember 1 Timothy 3 (read the whole chapter) and your calling as a minister.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV) - Qualifications for Overseers  

"The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."

Christians (yes this includes all ministers as well), you have a job description as well. Read one of the verses where we find in the bible what it means to be a Christian in Romans 12.

Romans 12 9-21 (ESV) - Marks of the True Christian
"9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

 So, I think Rudyard Kipling got it right in his description of a man. As we move forward in our walks with Christ let us know be held back by what others say/do to us. But, let us hold strong in the values that God has laid for us and when we fail and repent, He forgives.


[Lord, help me to live a life that pleases You. Help me to represent you well and display Your love to those around me. When I'm rejected help me to remember that my identity is found in Jesus. That I am seen by You as pure and holy because of His work on the cross. Help me to exude with joy because of the salvation, freedom and hope you have provided and not get distracted by the issues of the day. Help me to remember You day in and day out and live like it.  - Luke]

Song Review - You alone can rescue

There is something great about a new song catching on fast. Maybe it is just random chance that people love a song the moment they hear it, but I doubt it. I think there are two things at play; the Holy Spirit and a really great hook!

This song, You Alone Can Rescue by Matt Redman, is obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit and has been a hit this past year. We introduced it around this time last year in preparation for Easter and it was a favorite from the first time through it.

To start off, being the music geek that I am, I really appreciated the placement of the song on the original album (We Shall Not Be Shaken). The first few songs set up a place of dependance for mankind on a God who is faithful and loving. When we come to this song we first take inventory of our place and our state (See verse 1). There is this understanding that God loves us, He is faithful, and His grace is sufficient despite our inability which leads us to a truer understanding of the lyrics in the chorus (and title) "You ALONE Can Rescue".  This incredible God (as we will continue to see throughout the remainder of the songs on the album) is our only hope at true life. 

The Second verse sits in harmony with the first and talks about how God has made a way for us to to be rescued. Notice that this line "when our hearts were far away" connotes that despite our condition His love goes further still! We really have nothing to do with it! Jesus does it!

By far my favorite line in the song is, "You came down to find us and led us out of death". Powerful! Aren't you excited for that. We see in this some rich theology. As Christians, our sin, shame, filth, and death has been taken to the grave, buried and our new life is raised with Christ from the dead. That which was dead now is made new.  So we read this line again, "You came down to find us and led us out of death" and we are reminded once again that this is Christ's work not ours.  I don't know about you, but I trust Him over me any day.

The bridge is just a proclamation of this "highest praise" that the chorus speaks of. "We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes. You’re the Giver of Life!" Jesus, our Lord, is the Giver of Life and we lift our eyes to Him in humble adoration because of HIS work.

You Alone Can Rescue
Who, oh Lord, could save themselves,

Their own soul could heal?

Our shame was deeper than the sea

Your grace is deeper still

You alone can rescue, You alone can save

You alone can lift us from the grave

You came down to find us, led us out of death

To You alone belongs the highest praise

You, oh Lord, have made a way

The great divide You've healed

For when our hearts were far away

Your love went further still

Yes, your love goes further still

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life

Great song. 

Thanks Matt for another rich song.

- Luke

New song for Easter! 'Christ the Lord' by Paul Baloche

So excited to sing this song on Easter morning. "Christ the Lord" is a wonderful new song by Paul Baloche echoing the meaning and essence of the hymn "Christ the Lord is Risen Today".

Here is a video from Paul explaining how to play it. One of the many practical videos that Paul has offered to the worship community displaying his heart for seeing worship leaders equipped for ministry. You can find more at leadworship.com or just search for his videos on Youtube.



The Lyrics are great and give a "sing a new song unto the Lord" feel to this hymn which is seen as foundational to many worshipers. Plus it is fun to play and sing!

Let's do a comparison!

Christ The Lord

VERSE 1
Son of God proved His love
That while we were sinners Jesus died for us
No more shame, no more fear
Our Savior is alive for ever, God is near

CHORUS
Christ the Lord is risen today
The Lamb of God has taken our sins away
Love's redeeming work is done
Raise Your voice! The King has overcome
Hallelu- jah, Hallelu- jah

VERSE 2
By His grace, long ago
Our sins were as scarlet, now they're white as snow
Love was nailed to the cross
His dying and His rising has changed our hearts

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Made like Him, like Him we'll rise
Ours the cross, the grave, the sky
(Repeat)

CHORUS
Christ the Lord is risen today
The Lamb of God has taken our sins away
Love's redeeming work is done
Raise Your voice! The King has overcome, Hallelujah!
Christ the Lord is risen today
The Lamb of God has taken our sins away
Love's redeeming work is done
Raise Your voice! The King has overcome
Hallelu- jah, Hallelu- jah
Oh, Hallelujah!


Here are the lyrics from the original Hymn to compare. The bolded parts are common themes the underlined are direct quotes, and the italics are places where Paul captured the 'overtones' of the meaning:


Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! 
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! 
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! 
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! 
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! 
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! 
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 

[the last two lesser sung stanzas - not in the hymnal at my church]

     Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
     Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! 
     Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
     Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

     King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
     Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! 
     Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! 
     Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!


All in all, I feel that Paul did a great job bringing new life to this hymn's legacy with Christ the Lord. For people like me to did not grow up singing these hymns, songs like these are much welcomed because we need to hold on to the great content and truths that have stood the test of time. Yet, we get to do so in a way that is enjoyable to us! With lyrics that bring clarity and not mystery.

Thanks Paul, looking forward to this Easter!

Luke

PS> Another great song this Easter (while we are on the topic of hymns) is Evan Wickham's He's Alive. Take a look at that when you get a chance! Great chorus with addicting melodies to "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".

What is Easter

Here is a great video that speaks for itself...

http://vimeo.com/8560816


What is Easter? (Man on the Street) from joe perez on Vimeo.

Soul Surfer coming soon!

Ok, so I'm pretty excited about Soul Surfer and it's theatrical debut on April 8th around the nation and the world. This is a true story about Bethany Hamilton and how she held on to God's love and strength to make it through such an amazingly dificult time after losing her arm to a shark.

Check out the trailer.


This movie is an awesome represntation of the life that Christians should lead and points to Jesus as the way that Bethany made it through. You can read more at http://t.co/EvIG7kG and share the news about this movie. Let the name of the Lord be praised through this movie!

Luke

Learning to Sing - Tim Hughes

How economics and justice turn noise into music
By Tim Hughes

It was the American author and humorist Mark Twain who wrote, "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

When I read the Bible, one thing seems abundantly clear: God is passionate about the poor. Jesus made that pretty apparent when he said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18). In Amos 5, God's heart burns with anger as He rebukes a people who offer up songs of worship and other sacrifices, but trample and deprive the poor for their own selfish gain.

However, the simple reality is that we have a tendency to become blind to the truth. We somehow miss the fact that issues of poverty, justice and money are all over the Bible. We forget that while idolatry is the most common theme in the Old Testament, poverty is the second. We look blankly at the fact that one out of every 16 verses in the New Testament tackles the subject. In the first three Gospels poverty crops up every 10 verses, while in the book of Luke it's there every seven. We read the Bible and somehow all this just passes us by. We're left singing our songs in state-of-the-art auditoriums, while the world outside aches.

And in the spirit of Mark Twain's little quip, it's little wonder we skip over these major themes. They scare us because they are all-too-easy to understand; they scare us because of what they might require of us. We can't escape the truth that God's heart breaks for the last, the least, and the lost, and if we want to glorify God in all that we do, issues of justice and the poor need to be at the core of who we are. This will transform our economics-how we work, what we do with our money and how we spend our time. And it will transform the way we understand worship.

If You Want to Kiss the Sky
Speaking at the US National Prayer Breakfast in 2006, Bono remarked on God's heart for the poor:
"God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house . . . God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives . . . God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war . . . God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them [the poor]."

Part of what I do involves traveling to different parts of the world training other worship leaders and leading worship at different churches and conferences. I get to work with some amazing people, to hear inspiring speakers and to see God move in remarkable ways. Recently I went on a ministry trip to South Africa with some friends from Soul Survivor. Compared to most trips, this one was fairly low-key. We led at a couple of relatively small evening meetings, but for the rest of our trip we spent time visiting different townships and projects throughout Durban. We spent one afternoon playing football (soccer) with some children who had been orphaned through AIDS. We spent a morning serving breakfast to a group of men who were homeless. We spent time with some children we met begging on the street who were merely surviving the realities of life with no home or family. We visited people's homes, we chatted, and at times we laughed and cried together. During the week, my heart was so stirred. I felt devastated at the injustice, and (strangely) fell more in love with Jesus. In the lives of the people I met, I encountered Christ. I can honestly say it was one of the best trips I have ever made. There were no big meetings. We didn't see hundreds of lives changed. On the contrary-it was our lives that were radically changed.

Money, Justice, and Worship
I feel constantly challenged to consider my own personal response to the Bible's mandate to love the poor. Economics at a certain level is a system of choices. We live in a global village; our lives our interconnected. Our personal actions and choices have an impact on others. From the clothes we buy, to the coffee we drink, to our carbon footprint-all of this has an impact. So are we making choices to bless, honor, and serve those who need our help? All of this also affects our finances. In many ways our checkbooks are journals of our personal choices. So, how am I giving sacrificially to bless others? Am I a cheerful giver? Does money have a hold on me? But this is about more than money. We can give away huge sums of money but our hearts can still be far from God. I believe God is calling us in the Church today to give all that we are, to live generous lives, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

The prophet Micah implores us to "love mercy." I sometimes wish the call were to "do mercy." That would be much easier. "Loving mercy" involves so much more. It involves the giving of the heart. It involves relationship. It's the difference between charity and justice. Charity doesn't need to involve the heart; it doesn't need to be about love. It's far too easy for charity to be about how it makes me feel, how it makes me look. There's something much more selfless about justice. Justice is about the needs of other people. Justice comes from love and love comes from relationship. Loving mercy means friendship with the poor.

Loving Mercy
In his fantastic book, The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Clayborne writes, "Writing a check makes us feel good and can fool us into thinking that we have loved the poor. But seeing the squat houses and tent cities and hungry children will transform our lives. Then we will be stirred to imagine the economics of rebirth and to hunger for the end of poverty."

So how do we move from doing mercy to loving mercy? Well, it involves seeking God's heart, praying for mercy, praying that our hearts would be softened and changed. It is loving our neighbors as ourselves, looking in the face of someone who has nothing and realizing with disturbing clarity that that could be me-or my children, or in fact my friend. In order to love mercy we need love our neighbors; those we share our street, our city, our planet with. It involves opening our eyes, our diaries, and sometimes our checkbooks and getting out there.

As a worship leader and pastor, I've been challenged to get out of my comfort zone-to see, feel and experience the hard realities of life for many others. To put myself in places where my heart and my complacency can be broken. One place that I've found that I keep being drawn back to is prison. It's never been high up on my places-to-visit list, but last June I had the privilege of visiting a maximum-security prison in Texas with a team to lead worship for about 500 inmates.

As we walked into the prison I thought my heart would be hardened against the inmates, I thought I'd despise them. But on the contrary I found that my heart went out to them. They were warm, friendly, kind and encouraging. It blew our minds. In the midst of such evil we saw a light; we sensed something of God. The guy operating the sound desk was serving a 99-year sentence. (On this occasion we chose not to question any of the sound levels he'd set in our monitors!) Watching a number of these men passionately worship was one of the most incredible sights of my life. I will never forget one man weeping with his hands held high in worship as he sang, "Amazing Grace."

Deeper Worship
These encounters have changed me. They've challenged me to the core; they've unsettled and shocked me. They've highlighted my sin and selfishness and humbled me. More than anything they've led me into a deeper communion with God. It's in these places I've discovered Jesus. And it is in these places that I finally make sense of the God's words in Amos 5:

"I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religious projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I've had enough of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice-oceans of it. I want fairness-rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want" (Amos 5:21-24 The Message).

To God, our singing and our lives are seen as one. There is no separation, and if there is no justice in our lives-no ability to love mercy-then there is no music, only noise. This is a sobering truth, and something that worship leaders need to get their minds around if they hope to truly lead music in their churches. This expands our role in some profound ways.

Another Step
We are loved by God with a purpose to love others. Giving with our wallets and our hearts to the poor is one way to do this, but there are other options. The songs we sing, the songs we write can make an impact. Recently I've been involved in a project called CompassionArt, which brought together twelve songwriters from around the world. We met for a week in Scotland to worship together and to write songs to bless the Church and remind ourselves as God's people that we have a responsibility to love those on the margins of society. From the outset we decided that all royalties would go to help breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice. It was a significant and profound time for all of us. There was huge joy in seeing that our passion for songwriting could combine with our passion for the poor to make a difference.

Following Him
As followers of Jesus we are called to play our part in building God's kingdom; a kingdom that is ruled by justice, where people are loved and cared for. Part of our musical expression as worship leaders is to usher in God's kingdom, to declare His name and to set our hopes on all that is to come. We live in the now and not yet. Our musicality and artistry can all play a part in painting this glorious tapestry of God's extravagant love and promise of a better day, where every tear will be wiped away-there will be no more death or sorrow. But the truly wonderful songs and inspiration will only come out of a heart that is set on serving the poor around us 24-7. Worship is the total alignment of our heart, soul, mind and strength with the will of God. When we worship, we will find we are led to the poor, and if we love Jesus we will gladly follow.


Tim Hughes is the writer "Here I Am to Worship," "Beautiful One," "God of Justice (We Must Go)" among many other songs. Hughes is also the leader of the school of worship called Worship Central.

Worship Old and New

Here is a great book that I read on refurbishing the drive of worship through Biblical truths and examples. It is called 'Worship Old and New' and was written by Robert E. Webber. What I find most amazing about his writing is the logical and simple structure he puts it in. This book is meant for seminary level intro to worship classes and I think it is perfect for that role.

It talks about 4 main things:

1. Biblical Foundations of Worship (Very useful in establishing the 'why' of worship)

2. Biblical Theology of Worship (Looks at worship and the gospel message)

3. A Brief History of Worship (Chronologically follows the progression of worship - very interesting)

4. The Practice of Worship (Practical ideas/examples of symbolic & meaningful worship services)

He points out the Biblical foundations of worship, and examples of worship starting with Cain and Able in Gen 4 and continuing into Rev 4-5 with a truly amazing heavenly worship service. Webber says the essence of worship is two way both in God's initiation and the people's response, "What lies at the heart of worship is God's continual movement toward the peoples of the world and the continual response of the people of God in faith and obedience." It starts with God and ends in the glorification of God.

Webber depicts the most inspiring and natural connection of salvation between the Israelites and the Christian church as the "The Exodus Event and the Christ Event." He expounds on this connection and shows how the story of salvation and freedom from the slavery of Egypt are directly connected through various passages in scripture. We have all heard about this connection, because it is the most famous story of salvation, but the simplicity of Webber's telling is refreshing. He claims that this is the core foundation for our worship.

One of the most amazing aspects of this book for me was his study and historical basis for worship. He first tells of the foundations of worship, then the gives a strong theological argument for many aspects of our worship services. Next, he looks at the historical progression of worship through generations and movements and then lays out practical elements that should be seen in our worship services today.

Overall, I think this book is good for anyone who wants to understand worship in the bible. Although, I do not fully agree with every conclusion he makes, I would recommend this to most worship leaders and worshippers because of its holistic view of worship (not just music, but all aspects of the act of worship) and thought provoking ideas on renewing worship. He tends to focus on emphasizing the 'old' meaning the liturgies and rituals of the early/ancient/medieval eras... I take a slightly different approach when I read these truths. I think there is a way to hold the same, or similar, values yet do them in a new way. (I don't want to get into the details of an appropriate example here because I don't want to slide of topic. Webber alluded to a similar method, but in my understanding of his writings, fell back on implementation of traditions 'in a new way'. Meaning, do the exact same things and make them fresh.

Anyway, I really enjoyed reading 'Worship Old and New' and I'm bummed that I was borrowing it. Oneday soon I'll add it to my personal library. It is a great resource for worship leaders to have.

Glorious - by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown

Here is a new song by Paul and Brenton. It is a great song about our risen Savior. Listen to it real quick...

Amazing lyrics. I love the strength in the verses, yet the simplicity of the message. The premis of this song is this, that Jesus is alive and we are not in service to a dead king - He is alive. That is incredibly significant to our lives as Christians, we are not bound by death and sin anymore, why??? Because Jesus is alive. We stand in this truth and this hope.

The verses speak of the cross and of the resurrection, but the chorus speaks out of the mystery and implications of both the cross and the resurrection and says,

"Glorious, my eyes have seen the glory of the Lord.

Glorious, He stands above the rulers of the earth."

I think it is a powerful message as we are in the weeks just after Easter. We serve a risen Savior, a living God, a resurrected Ruler a God who is glorious. He has conquered the grave and sits beside the Father and rules together over the universe. 'He is above the rules of the earth.' Because of this act, our God reigns. We know that the Father, through Jesus is in ultimate control of this world. We know that He appoints the kings/rulers and He has power to remove them.

Here is a video with the song story:

So, as we look to this new post-Easter season, let's remember the story and the power of Jesus. Let's remember that our God, three-in-one, is Glorious and above all. Let's remember what it means to be Easter people - forever changed by the work of Jesus on the cross.

New song

Sing a new song to God.

We see this phrase all over Psalms as well as conceptually throughout the Bible. What does that mean for us today?

As I seek to understand more about God, I'm put in this position between speechlessness and responsiveness. On one hand I'm craving something, something new. Something fresh. Something from my heart. But, more than half of the time I just come up short and hunting for the right words to say. I'm left with songs and scriptures filtering through my head that have been around for ages.

I can't help but be challenged creatively by these verses (sing a new song verses) but at the same time I've realized that 1000 year old phrases and songs can be new to my lips each time because of my heart. Because, they were new thoughts that sparked these age-old words. So, in my songwriting I want to push forward, but as I seek to Worship I want to bring the best of what I know as on offering of praise.

"Lord help me to continually praise You with new songs and songs that are coming from a new heart. Holy Spirit, I need You to continually work in me and I ask that You will give me more desire for You. Jesus, I want to lift Your name up. I want to bring You praise, because You are good and Your sacrifice was perfect." - Luke

"Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!" Psalms 96:1

Songwriting Consultation by Simon Brading

Songwriters Consultation Day 1

I’m away for two days at an annual Songwriters Consultation that Graham Kendrick runs, there are about 60 of us here from the UK and further. Having a great time. Today we had Jim Wallis talk about remembering the poor, justice and compassion. It was hugely challenging to be honest… Followed by a Q&A session with Jim, Martin Smith and Tre Shepherd.

I guess it’s easy to think that caring for the poor is what the ’social justice’ people do, or just a few projects we do on the side. But the truth is, it’s at the heart of the gospel. The first words Jesus proclaimed in public are quoting Isaiah 61 – ’sent to the poor’ (see Luke 4:16-20). Also, remembering the poor is quite a clear theme through scripture – which obviously climaxes with Christ, the One who became poor to save the poor.

Anyways, heard a lot of stuff today but here’s some thoughts for songwriters… There are three types of compassion/justice songs:

1) Songs that inform us about the poor and injustice. Eg the verses to Delirious’ Our God Reigns

2) Songs that help us worship in the place of poverty, injustice. Eg It is well with my soul

3) Songs that commission us to go to the poor. Eg God of Justice

But all of these MUST be in the context of the gospel – The God of justice sent His son to the poor to bind up their brokenness and bring freedom to the captives, and by extension we carry on this Kingly work of Christ as His hands and feet, as His church. Our motivation for mission and source of compassion is the gospel, and the agent for God’s mission is not a charity but the Church. Yes!

I’m challenged as I haven’t written any songs in either of these 3 camps. Hmmm. Well there’s my thoughts for the day. Over and out

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To check out his original post click here.

Worship in the Bible

The word worship appears in the bible many times having many different Hebrew and Greek origins. Looking at the meaning and usage of these words can be extremely helpful to help us find the meaning of worship and establish a biblical foundation for our worship. We can also see other examples of worship in the Old and New Testament by examining the scriptures closely and applying with it our knowledge of the meaning of worship.

Let's look at some Hebrew and Greek words regarding worship. I grouped similar Hebrew/Greek together as many scholars do to better understand it as a whole.

Words and Meanings:

שחה shachah [H] & proskuneo [G]-"depress," "bow down," "prostrate","bow down in worship", "to adore" = It points to an inner and outer homage to God with awe and surrender. (Gen. 22:5, 24:26-27, Ps. 66:4), (Matt. 2:2, 2:11, Jn. 4:24) Other words that have a similar expression are: caghadh [H] - "to fall down", "to bow down" (Job 1:20, Isaiah 44:15, 17, 19 and 46 : 6)

עבד avad [H] & latreuo [G]-"to serve," "to minister," "to work" = Worship as service implies a total lifestyle of allegience to God. (Ex.3:12, Ps. 100:2, Duet. 6:13, 10:12-13), (Acts 24:14, Rom 12:1, Phil 3:3) Other words that have a similar expression are: abhadh [H] - also abhodhah "to serve", "to work", " to labour", "to be bound", "to enslave" (Exodus 3:12) / therapeuo - "serve," "heal," "tend" "to relieve", "to wait upon menially" (Acts 17:25) / atsabh - ‘carve,’ ‘fabricate,’ ‘fashion,’ is once given ‘worship,’ i.e. ‘make (an object of) worship (Jer 44:19) / also: threskeia [G] (see next section for more details)

ירא yare [H] & phoboumenoi [G]-"to fear, "to respect" = To fear God and have reverence and respect for Him and move toward service. (1 Sam. 12:14, Duet. 8:6, Eccl. 12:13, Job 1:1, Prov 3:7), (Acts 9:31, Acts 13:16, Rev 14:7). Other words that have a similar expression are: sebomai [G]-"to revere", "to fear", "to adore - devout", "religous worship" is used 10 times one of which is (Matt. 15:9) / threskeia [G]- "to observe commands", "to observe religiously" is also used as "religion" it can be "will-worship," "ceremonial observance," "an act of reverence" , = It has the root idea of trembling or fear and also identifies more of a ritual or form of worship. (Acts 26:5, James 1:26-27, Col 2:18)

ידה yadah [H] & exomologeo [G]-"to give thanks," "to make confession," = This was more than a gratitude expression, it also meant a confession of God being God. (Ps 136:1, Phil 2:10-11)

So we see the four basic expressions of worship: bowing down, service, reverence, praise/thanks (confession of gratitude). Each of the primary expressions has many facets and worship concepts that go with them which helps us apply them to our lives and 'live out' worship.

Worship is our response to God yet it is made possible through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at the command and will of the Father. Worship is now available to us! Wow. Jesus sacraficed. We are made clean. AND we are adopted into the family! We are children of God. We are pure. We are righteous. We are no longer bound by our sins. We have reason to Worship! "I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship (BrookeFraser)".

Let us come to God with celebration and give thanks for the wonderful and mighty God He is, and let us fall down before Him with homage and surrender as we begin to catch a glimpse of His power. Let us realize, as our faces are on the ground, that He alone is deserving of our reverence & fear then move toward action & service as we surrender with a lifestyle of allegience to Him. Let us Worship.

He is worthy.

Sources Used:

Crannell, Philip Wendell. "Worship," International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Edited by James Orr. Blue Letter Bible. 1913. 1 Apr 2007. 3 Mar 2010. type=GetTopic&Topic=Worship&DictList=4#ISBE>

Webber, Robert E. "Worship Old and New" Copyright (c) 1994, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI

Muchow, Rick. "What does the word 'worship' mean?" Unpublished document from an E-mail.

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Definition for 'WORSHIP'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". bible-history.com - ISBE; 1915.

Theology in Worship

We are seeing a huge push in our Worship circle for infusing our new songs with rich Theology and Biblical truths. I'm super excited and passionate about this and you will most likely see some future posts about this.

It is so important and vital for worship leaders to be thinking about. What is the message that we are sending with our set-lists?

I was at a Korean church this last sunday and I don't speak Korean enough to see their theological stance. But, I will tell you this. I know a few words... Some Key ones and I heard them many times throughout the service and songs. I heard: Jesus, Father, Holy, Rose Again, and I think Holy spirit (by context). I was shocked that as a non-korean speaker I was able to see much of the Gospel message. And not only that, but the pastor was vividly in love with Christ. Biggest smile. Kindest heart. He was in Love with Jesus.

That is how we should strive to be. We need to be so real in our services that no matter who is there (if they know the language or not) they can connect with Jesus. Our worship should speak of the truth of the gospel.

Just a friendly reminder. Let's be intentional to bring Jesus to church.

Also, I wanted to let you know about the links on the side of this blog. They are of some really respected people. Worship central and Generate are to movements that are worth checking out. I will be continuing to update and add important sites to this list so keep up.