The following is part of a series of blog posts dedicated to exploring John Wesley’s Rules for Singing. Reflections on Rule #1 2. Sing lustily, and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of it being heard, than when you sing the songs of the world. Wesley is obviously using rule #2 to press … Read More
On Technology, In-Ears, and Personal Sacrifice for the Sake of the Congregation
My friend Mark will be contributing his mad electric guitar skills to our band this Friday night for Ascent GA, a fusion of modern worship and rich liturgical elements. We had our dress rehearsal last Saturday, and it was Mark’s first experience with in-ear monitors. The listening transition is always a shock. I can always count on Mark to think deeply and reflect biblically on every aspect of life. It’s something I admire about him. Sure enough, Mark has … Read More
Worship as a Cross to Bear: John Wesley’s Anti-Consumeristic Approach
The following is part of a series of blog posts dedicated to exploring John Wesley’s Rules for Singing. 1. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing. For every Sunday that I have led worship; for every special event where I have led congregational singing, there is … Read More
John Wesley’s Rules for Singing
Perhaps many have seen this. It has circulated far across the world wide web. I find it fascinating how relevant Wesley’s points are today. These rules for singing used to be a mainstay in Methodist/Wesleyan hymnals. I’ve printed them in our worship bulletins, and they’ve elicited interesting responses. Here they are: 1. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is … Read More
How Great Thou Art is NOT an Old Hymn
I’m currently reading T. David Gordon’s, Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns (Phillipsburg, P&R, 2010). A full review will be coming, Lord-willing, in which I disagree with the premise and many of the arguments. But there are still important insights he’s making, and perhaps I’ll share them along the way. This particular diatribe sounded strikingly similar to a post of my own (“The Same Old List: Evangelicals and Our So-Called ‘Old Hymns’”), only it was written with more brevity and clarity: … Read More
“We Throw One Hymn into the Mix Every Sunday”
I try to stay connected to several online worship leader forums. On one of them, under a discussion of “Contemporized Hymns,” I found this insightful comment left by Robert Cottrill: H-m-m… It seems to me the wording speaks volumes–“this church throws one hymn into the mix every Sunday.” Sounds rather like a bone tossed to a barking dog to keep him quiet! This approach is all too familiar. A church committed to contemporary music, that tries to keep the old … Read More
6 Fundamentals for Worship Leading
Bruce Benedict of Cardiphonia (a great site on worship, liturgy, and the synthesis of the traditional and the modern) offers a full description of these 6 fundamentals that I find right on target…and convicting. Here’s a summary: 1. Worship Leaders must cultivate a life of faith.2. Worship Leaders are called to be shepherds and guardians.3. Worship Leaders are called to be great musicians.4. Worship Leaders are called to be administrators.5. Worship Leaders are called to be liturgists.6. Worship Leaders are … Read More
Indelible Grace Finally Gaining Legitimacy in the PCA
Indelible Grace (the pioneer of the hymns movement) is leading a hymnsing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This is exciting! (The artist list is pretty hot, too.) What is being undersold about this event is that it’s connected with a larger event–the General Assembly (GA) of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). This is significant. I was involved with the PCA for 5 years, gaining some important ministry chops at a church plant here in Denver, interacting with the … Read More
The Importance of Mentoring the Next Generation of Worship Leaders
In the last few years, God has brought on a strong urge think about mentoring those younger than myself. In fact, I’ve got five working relationships with young men at various ages and stages of interest. I’m teaching guitar lessons to a 10-year-old and an 12-year-old. I’ve been incorporating another young man, about 14, into our worship band. I just had lunch the other day with an 18-year-old, encouraging him to pursue the high calling of pastoring people through worship, and I’ve brought in another 18-year-old on board to expand the ministry of modern worship to our students and children. I’ve begun a long-distance relationship with a 20-something on the west coast with semi-regular phone calls and prayer. For each of them, there’s no magic formula. There’s not even a game plan. In fact, I’ve adopted a methodology I largely call “absorption mentoring.”
Taking Children to Jesus in Worship
I just finished reading the fabulous booklet How Our Children Come to Faith, by Stephen Smallman (Phillipsburg: P&R, 2007). I’m buying a bunch of copies for the young parents in my small group, and I’m now insisting that it be on hand at our church to give to parents who are bringing their children forward for baptism or simply interested in the topic.
- Page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2