This past Sunday I read a verse that reminded me of a unique way to look at Jesus and our on relationships. At the time I was at a discipleship seminar, but I couldn't stop thinking about it and what other implications it has.
.....Luke 6: 17 "He went down with them and stood on a level place".
At this time Jesus spent the night praying on a mountain top to God and in the morning he called the twelve disciples to Him and then walked down the mountain to where a large crowd of disciples had congregated. The specific words used once Jesus reaches the large crowd is that he stood on a level place. I realize that he was walking down from a mountain, so it's obvious he would stand on a level spot from walking at an angle, but this can also testify to his humility.
Jesus was known to the twelve and known to the large crowd of disciples. He was known for performing miracles, preaching, and teaching to thousands of people. However in this example he shows us that he didn't see himself as this. Instead of standing on the mountainside above everyone to address them he made his way to a level place.
Not only did he stand on a level place and address them but in verse 20 it states that "He looked at his disciples". Jesus stood on a level place and looked at them rather than just preached.
When I think about my own relationships I need to make sure I walk in this same humility. That when I talk to people I stand on a level place and look at them. That i'm intentional in showing them that I am the on the same level rather than stay somewhere I know i'm not.
Let's be like Jesus. Let's stand on a level place.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Exposed Through Light
" This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed". (John 3:19-20)
Okay, let's be honest here i'm one of those people who haven't spent much time digging into John Chapter 3 because, let's face it, I already know John 3:16, right? I've read through the chapter, but not much sticks besides that token verse. Upon reading through the chapter again focusing on what comes after John 3:16 my eyes opened up.
Easter Sunday is a day of celebrating Jesus and the fact that He is risen, but often times I still ponder on when He became real to me and that original decision to follow Him. The verse above states that everyone who does evil hates the light.....their deeds will be exposed and this is something I struggled with for a while. Even when I didn't think about it I was blinded by darkness and feared stepping into the light, because of what I might look like. Interesting and convicting. Thank-you Jesus for saving me!
" But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God". (John 3:21)
Then there is the other side to this string of verses, verse 21. I came into this light out of darkness by truth of God and wanting to know more about Him. I went from hiding my heart to opening it up, exposing it, and letting God see it no matter how dirty it is. From then on I desired truth and to seek God's will and His sight, not my own.
.... I pray I can continue to seek His truth and to be in plain sight for the Lord. Never hiding things, but opening myself up to Him daily. We should all remind ourselves of where God has brought us and what He's saved us from.
" Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever!". (Psalm 118:1)
Monday, February 25, 2013
Worship as Devotion
Monks as we know them are those who chose to live a life of solitude through prayer and contemplation. The monastic movement originally began as a protest against the growing worldliness of the church, but gradually it became a formative and influential movement within the church. The showed the church what it meant to not just do the acts of worship, but be devoted to them and to spend purposeful time with God. The movement helped level out the church and create a deeper sense of personal devotional meaning in prayer.
I wonder how many churches have a deep devotion to prayer and not just corporately, but personally as well. What would it look like if the church pushed for not just deeper personal prayer, but radical prayer. I'm not saying we should all quit our jobs and join a monastery in order to be more devoted, but using their example can help.
Using the monks example of living a devoted prayer life can help in any Christians walk. I will be the first to say I don't have the most devoted prayer life, but when I picture the monks I can't help but be challenged.
Recently I have been challenged by resting more in the presence of God and what better way to do that then have a more devoted prayer life. A time where I rest in His presence, but spend quality time with Him in prayer.
Let's become monks, but not become monks as the same time. I hope that makes sense.
In Christ,
Corey
I wonder how many churches have a deep devotion to prayer and not just corporately, but personally as well. What would it look like if the church pushed for not just deeper personal prayer, but radical prayer. I'm not saying we should all quit our jobs and join a monastery in order to be more devoted, but using their example can help.
Using the monks example of living a devoted prayer life can help in any Christians walk. I will be the first to say I don't have the most devoted prayer life, but when I picture the monks I can't help but be challenged.
Recently I have been challenged by resting more in the presence of God and what better way to do that then have a more devoted prayer life. A time where I rest in His presence, but spend quality time with Him in prayer.
Let's become monks, but not become monks as the same time. I hope that makes sense.
In Christ,
Corey
Monday, February 18, 2013
Worship is a Group Activity
"Worship is a group activity and the meaning of worship must be learned"
- Robert Webber, Worship New and Old
We gather together for Church on Sundays.
We gather together for Bible classes on Sundays.
We may gather together for a service during the week.
We may also gather for a small group during the week.
Within the Church body there are many gatherings and everyone looks different. When the body meets together for these gatherings they perform some type of group activity and since worship is in every breath we breathe, Worship is considered a Group activity.
There is so much emphasis put on the idea of meeting together and coming together to worship. However, as the body performing the group activity there are things that must be done when we come together to worship. Every person shouldn't just come, but come expectant. They must come in anticipation of meeting God and blessing Him.
"The senses must also be engaged in worship. In drama we see, hear, smell, and even taste. So it is in worship"- Robert Webber. As we come expectant to meet with God every part of our senses should be in tune with what is going on. If we gear our senses to something that may seem unpleasant to us, Webber states, then worship will be disturbing and unfulfilling.
If we focus on God during these times then it can only point us to Him.
It will remind us of the reason we have group activities in the Church.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts" Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
- Robert Webber, Worship New and Old
We gather together for Church on Sundays.
We gather together for Bible classes on Sundays.
We may gather together for a service during the week.
We may also gather for a small group during the week.
Within the Church body there are many gatherings and everyone looks different. When the body meets together for these gatherings they perform some type of group activity and since worship is in every breath we breathe, Worship is considered a Group activity.
There is so much emphasis put on the idea of meeting together and coming together to worship. However, as the body performing the group activity there are things that must be done when we come together to worship. Every person shouldn't just come, but come expectant. They must come in anticipation of meeting God and blessing Him.
"The senses must also be engaged in worship. In drama we see, hear, smell, and even taste. So it is in worship"- Robert Webber. As we come expectant to meet with God every part of our senses should be in tune with what is going on. If we gear our senses to something that may seem unpleasant to us, Webber states, then worship will be disturbing and unfulfilling.
If we focus on God during these times then it can only point us to Him.
It will remind us of the reason we have group activities in the Church.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts" Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Monday, February 4, 2013
I Didn't Even Know It
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 3:16)
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, ad on the sabbath day he went into the synagogue, a was His custom.." (Luke 4:16)
"And when they had sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (Matthew 26:30)
I like to put together verses that show kind of a path you can follow. These verses pertain to any Christians life and as I put them together, they pertain directly to worship. I like simplifying worship so that I can fill in the spaces after it. My rough definition is to attribute value to something, or give worth to something. After this I ask myself the question what do I give value to most, or give worth to the most?
A few weeks ago I realized I wasn't praying as much, or seeking God as much in my quiet time. A few weeks ago I realized I wasn't going to the same church every week, or really getting fed spiritually by a church at all. A few weeks ago I realized I haven't sang a song to the Lord in a long time.
I wasn't giving worth to praying, going to church, or singing. So by definition, I wasn't worshipping in these areas. This seems harsh, but it makes sense to me. Fast forward to the present and I have begun to pray more, attend a church regularly, and sing to the Lord more. This time was different though, because these verses only popped up in my head tonight. Usually I would have been slapped in the face by them a few weeks ago, but the lesson came later.
" He appointed the twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:14-15)
The first thing Jesus said to all of them was "that they might be with him". While they were with him they learned from him and became like him. As I was searching for God those few weeks ago I was also with him and in doing so, became like him. As I became like him I began doing what he had done and in this case it included praying, going to church, and singing. Very simple things, but powerful. I also realized how valuable they were to me and it formed into worship, without knowing it.
We must constantly look at Jesus' life and model ours after it. We must constantly be with him and be intentional about applying what he shows us.
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, ad on the sabbath day he went into the synagogue, a was His custom.." (Luke 4:16)
"And when they had sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (Matthew 26:30)
I like to put together verses that show kind of a path you can follow. These verses pertain to any Christians life and as I put them together, they pertain directly to worship. I like simplifying worship so that I can fill in the spaces after it. My rough definition is to attribute value to something, or give worth to something. After this I ask myself the question what do I give value to most, or give worth to the most?
A few weeks ago I realized I wasn't praying as much, or seeking God as much in my quiet time. A few weeks ago I realized I wasn't going to the same church every week, or really getting fed spiritually by a church at all. A few weeks ago I realized I haven't sang a song to the Lord in a long time.
I wasn't giving worth to praying, going to church, or singing. So by definition, I wasn't worshipping in these areas. This seems harsh, but it makes sense to me. Fast forward to the present and I have begun to pray more, attend a church regularly, and sing to the Lord more. This time was different though, because these verses only popped up in my head tonight. Usually I would have been slapped in the face by them a few weeks ago, but the lesson came later.
" He appointed the twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:14-15)
The first thing Jesus said to all of them was "that they might be with him". While they were with him they learned from him and became like him. As I was searching for God those few weeks ago I was also with him and in doing so, became like him. As I became like him I began doing what he had done and in this case it included praying, going to church, and singing. Very simple things, but powerful. I also realized how valuable they were to me and it formed into worship, without knowing it.
We must constantly look at Jesus' life and model ours after it. We must constantly be with him and be intentional about applying what he shows us.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
God Wants The Worship Of The Inner Person
"God wants more than ritual. God wants the worship of the inner person," Robert Webber, Worship New and Old.
From the beginning of creation and to the end, God has been pursuing His people. In the Old testament God made a covenant with Israel, "That they would be His people, and He would be their God," (Jeremiah 32:38). We know that Israel failed many times and it wasn't until the New covenant was made through Jesus Christ that the old one had been fulfilled. In the new covenant we are able to worship God in our inner most being, because we became the temple.
When I think about that first statement from Robert Webber and the idea of God pursuing me at all times, I can't help but be thankful and want to do so from my inner most being. I have to make sure that i'm not only expressing this from the outside, but that when I do so from my heart it is real and genuine. My God has done more than I could ever imagine for me and He continues to do so even now.
God wants the worship of the inner person and as you begin to do this it can only make its way to the outside. Let God continue to work in you until it comes from the inside out. This is a simple statement, prayer, thought, or whatever it may be, but the Lord works through the simple in order to do the complicated.
As I enter into this new season in my life I want to be purposeful with my time in the Lord's presence. My hope is that others would be encouraged to do the same.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Freedom in Worship
I haven't posted in quite some time, but I got the urge to do so as it gets close to 1am. I'm not sure why I told you what time it is, but I often get inspired late at night.
Anyway....
One of the things I'm passionate about as a Worship Leader is seeing the people of God experience freedom in worship. I want them to feel safe and secure in God's presence while they worship, so they can express themselves freely. It doesn't matter if they are lifting their hands, dancing, screaming or kneeling before the Lord. It only matters that we do so with the right heart and that above all, God is glorified.
Why are we able to experience this freedom:
- Christ has set us free. (Galatians 5:1)
- There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1-2)
- Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
" We worship God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit."
I long to see the day when the body of Christ in all areas of the world can feel freedom while they worship. I want the body to be able to express whatever they have been feeling about God on any given Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday, or whatever day there is a Worship Service at Church. One of the things that can help is if we come with confident expectation before the Lord when we meet together (Hebrews 4:16).
What would it look like if the body came before the Lord every Sunday excited and ready to worship Him? Excited and ready to share what the Lord has been showing them. Excited and ready to lay themselves down before the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
"God I pray that we can experience this kind of Freedom in the Church. That the body would not hold back because of the way things are, but that Your presence would allow people to sense that freedom as they worship You. Lord I know this will come and I thank You now for the amazing work of Your hands!" Amen.
Anyway....
One of the things I'm passionate about as a Worship Leader is seeing the people of God experience freedom in worship. I want them to feel safe and secure in God's presence while they worship, so they can express themselves freely. It doesn't matter if they are lifting their hands, dancing, screaming or kneeling before the Lord. It only matters that we do so with the right heart and that above all, God is glorified.
Why are we able to experience this freedom:
- Christ has set us free. (Galatians 5:1)
- There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1-2)
- Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
" We worship God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit."
I long to see the day when the body of Christ in all areas of the world can feel freedom while they worship. I want the body to be able to express whatever they have been feeling about God on any given Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday, or whatever day there is a Worship Service at Church. One of the things that can help is if we come with confident expectation before the Lord when we meet together (Hebrews 4:16).
What would it look like if the body came before the Lord every Sunday excited and ready to worship Him? Excited and ready to share what the Lord has been showing them. Excited and ready to lay themselves down before the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
"God I pray that we can experience this kind of Freedom in the Church. That the body would not hold back because of the way things are, but that Your presence would allow people to sense that freedom as they worship You. Lord I know this will come and I thank You now for the amazing work of Your hands!" Amen.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Passion
Recently we had lecture series and David Pierce from Steiger International came to speak to the student body. David started Steiger (an International Ministry) in hopes to reach non believers around the world. Although David spent most of the time recruiting for His ministry that I don't feel called to there was something else I saw in Him, Passion.
You can tell by listening and hearing Him speak that David is passionate about God and passionate about the ministry he is called to. Passionate people can be infectious and God is using David in this way. I admire his passion for his ministry and God.
It made me think about my own ministry and where I am called to be. As a worship leader I have to have passion for leading Gods people into worship and a passion for their hearts. However, I need to have passion in my own relationship with Christ first. I can't lead people into God's presence if I'm not passionate about pursuing God in my own life.
Ministries can be built with passionate people, but we can never forget that unless we have an undying, passionate relationship with Christ then surely those ministries wont be started on the right foundation.
Thoughts?
You can tell by listening and hearing Him speak that David is passionate about God and passionate about the ministry he is called to. Passionate people can be infectious and God is using David in this way. I admire his passion for his ministry and God.
It made me think about my own ministry and where I am called to be. As a worship leader I have to have passion for leading Gods people into worship and a passion for their hearts. However, I need to have passion in my own relationship with Christ first. I can't lead people into God's presence if I'm not passionate about pursuing God in my own life.
Ministries can be built with passionate people, but we can never forget that unless we have an undying, passionate relationship with Christ then surely those ministries wont be started on the right foundation.
Thoughts?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Simple Lyrics
I have been struck by this song i'm doing in a worship set this upcoming weekend. The song is called "Set A Fire" by the United Pursuit band and it goes like this:
No place i'd rather be
No place i'd rather be
No place i'd rather be
Then here in your love, here in your love
So set a fire down in my soul
That I can't contain, that I can't control
I want more of you God
I want more of you God
I love writing songs that have big ideas and recently, a lot of lyrics. This isn't too bad, but sometimes my songs can get wordy and start to not make sense. This song is a nice cry of the heart. It has simple lyrics and can be used easily in a worship set.
I love the phrase set a fire down in my soul, because it makes me think how many times I pray that. When a song can make you think past the lyrics or the melody, then you know its powerful.
Thats it for now, God bless!
No place i'd rather be
No place i'd rather be
No place i'd rather be
Then here in your love, here in your love
So set a fire down in my soul
That I can't contain, that I can't control
I want more of you God
I want more of you God
I love writing songs that have big ideas and recently, a lot of lyrics. This isn't too bad, but sometimes my songs can get wordy and start to not make sense. This song is a nice cry of the heart. It has simple lyrics and can be used easily in a worship set.
I love the phrase set a fire down in my soul, because it makes me think how many times I pray that. When a song can make you think past the lyrics or the melody, then you know its powerful.
Thats it for now, God bless!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Why Write A Worship Song?
Instead of talking a whole lot about why writing worship songs is good, i'm going to make the reason simple: Because God deserves it. God deserves the outpour of our heart and the glory due to Him through songwriting. Last class we shot out ideas of why we write worship songs and these included catharsis, testimony, money, and others. The real why was simply because God deserves it and by doing so we are obeying God. I don't write a lot of worship songs because they never end up how I want them to, and then I just throw them in the trash. The more important idea is that when I do write i'm doing it because God deserves it rather than writing without reason.
Psalm 96:1 "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth."
This verse doesn't say sing a new song followed by to the Lord, but rather it says sing to the LORD a new song. When we sing that new song we are doing it because the Lord deserves all the glory and honor from it.
Why write a worship song?
... Because God deserves it.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Back In His Footsteps
To this day I still use the word God spoke to me when I truly began living for Him. For those of you who know me you may be familiar with my life verse, but for those who don't I've probably used it in my blog before. The scripture is from Romans 12: 1-2 and it was the word God spoke to me when my eyes were reopened to Him.
I had lost His footsteps somewhere along the road and I was traveling down a path I shouldn't have been on. Up until I finally left my first college my walk with the Lord was absent, but he changed that once I dropped out. Looking back it was God leading me away from the school, so that he could work on me and reclaim me. Looking back on that period in my life God put a pause on everything and made me sit down and talk with Him... for about a year and a half. When I mean sit down and talk with Him I mean praying and asking hard questions and Him giving me hard answers. Answers that tore me up and changed me completely. This is where my life verse comes in.
I had read it right before I left my first college and then about five hundred times once I got home. For me the second verse related directly to where I was which states "Do not any longer conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve God's will for you, His good pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2)." WOW! Every time I read that verse, or recite it those incredible memories get stirred up and I get fired up. During this year and half God drilled this into me to the point where I only wanted to be transformed by the renewing of my mind according to what His word told me. This is something I never thought would happen.
Since the second verse had pushed so hard into me, once the first verse finally hit me my eyes were truly opened. "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1)." It wasn't enough for me to leave the bad things alone, but fully give myself to Him. Simple yet profound.
After this moment I felt my footsteps realigning with His and then the train start to move. That train brought me here, to Visible Music College, where God has me fulfilling his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Last class we talked about time and it's different terms. One of those terms is Kairos referring to the fulness of time, or a season of life...
That was a season of life where God worked in me and truly rocked my world.
I had lost His footsteps somewhere along the road and I was traveling down a path I shouldn't have been on. Up until I finally left my first college my walk with the Lord was absent, but he changed that once I dropped out. Looking back it was God leading me away from the school, so that he could work on me and reclaim me. Looking back on that period in my life God put a pause on everything and made me sit down and talk with Him... for about a year and a half. When I mean sit down and talk with Him I mean praying and asking hard questions and Him giving me hard answers. Answers that tore me up and changed me completely. This is where my life verse comes in.
I had read it right before I left my first college and then about five hundred times once I got home. For me the second verse related directly to where I was which states "Do not any longer conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve God's will for you, His good pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2)." WOW! Every time I read that verse, or recite it those incredible memories get stirred up and I get fired up. During this year and half God drilled this into me to the point where I only wanted to be transformed by the renewing of my mind according to what His word told me. This is something I never thought would happen.
Since the second verse had pushed so hard into me, once the first verse finally hit me my eyes were truly opened. "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1)." It wasn't enough for me to leave the bad things alone, but fully give myself to Him. Simple yet profound.
After this moment I felt my footsteps realigning with His and then the train start to move. That train brought me here, to Visible Music College, where God has me fulfilling his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Last class we talked about time and it's different terms. One of those terms is Kairos referring to the fulness of time, or a season of life...
That was a season of life where God worked in me and truly rocked my world.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Running Sound: Know the Basics
http://www.musiccleveland.com/PA_System_Basics.html
This past summer I got the most experience I've had running sound. I didn't necessarily run a board for an extended period of time, but I did get to set up a system and see how it works. My home church had to set up and take down every Sunday and so as I helped my friend (the sound guy) set everything up I paid attention to how he did things and worked the room to get the best sound out of it. During the week when I would have worship practices I needed to set up a system myself, so that helped me get very familiar with how things worked. Although I may not be able to mix well and EQ rooms right now, I have enough knowledge to step up if need be.
Basic System:
- mixing board
- amps (supply power for speakers, instruments, mics, ext..)
- speakers
- cables (mics, instruments, speakers,ect..)
- microphones/instruments
Setting it up:
1) Make sure all power is OFF
2) Plug necessary cables into the input/channels of the mixer and then into the designated microphones/instruments
3) Plug speaker cable into the output socket of the mixer
4) Plug other end of speaker cable into the input socket of the speaker
5) Plug the amps into the mixer board (if you have them) and then you will plug the speakers into the amps
6) When turning it on: Mixer first, then amps, then speakers.
7) When turning it off: Speakers first, then amps, then mixer
That should be a how to on a basic PA type system with instrumentation. If there seems to be some iffy things then let me know, after all I don't know it all. I would also suggest running through these steps with your whole worship team so that everyone has an idea of how to set it up and turn it on to get things rolling. It can't hurt, but only help.
My goal is to grow in proficiency with sound so that if I ever need to step up and run it, I can. Hopefully this helps those who may not have understood before and gives you an idea of the basics.
God Bless!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Are you a Follower or a Leader?
I remember when I was in high school people would ask this question all the time. Are you a follower or a leader? Every time it was asked I didn't really answer because I didn't care, but it was somehow followed up by a condescending; Oh, your a follower... Every time this came about it made it seem like it was bad to be a follower, or to follow something rather than to take the lead, or be the initiator.
A few days ago in class the statement was made that in order to be a good leader you must be a follower first. I haven't thought about what happened in high school in a long time, but this idea brought me back into the past and through the path I've traveled up until now. All I have to say is transformation is amazing and you wouldn't even notice when it takes place. This was the case in my instance. Through these years I had put myself into the "follower" mindset, but God had a different plan which was using that in order to make me a leader. Now it all makes sense!
I wish that someone would ask me that question because then I'd answer, "Both". You need to be a follower first in order to be a leader, but as you become a follower you also become a leader. Very interesting and inspiring.
"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ". (1 Corinthians 11:1) Paul one of the biggest if the most important leaders in Church history. Not only did he start it, but throughout his entire life he led it alongside other apostles. Paul was a leader and he recognized this, but he also recognized his place as a follower to the biggest leader of all, Christ. It takes many things to become great followers and leaders such as humility, patience, strong will, and many others. The great thing is that these appear more so once we follow the example of Christ and become like Him.
So as we follow leaders here who we will learn from and get incredible insight from we can't forget our ultimate leader which is Christ, who called us all the follow him.
Be Blessed!
A few days ago in class the statement was made that in order to be a good leader you must be a follower first. I haven't thought about what happened in high school in a long time, but this idea brought me back into the past and through the path I've traveled up until now. All I have to say is transformation is amazing and you wouldn't even notice when it takes place. This was the case in my instance. Through these years I had put myself into the "follower" mindset, but God had a different plan which was using that in order to make me a leader. Now it all makes sense!
I wish that someone would ask me that question because then I'd answer, "Both". You need to be a follower first in order to be a leader, but as you become a follower you also become a leader. Very interesting and inspiring.
"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ". (1 Corinthians 11:1) Paul one of the biggest if the most important leaders in Church history. Not only did he start it, but throughout his entire life he led it alongside other apostles. Paul was a leader and he recognized this, but he also recognized his place as a follower to the biggest leader of all, Christ. It takes many things to become great followers and leaders such as humility, patience, strong will, and many others. The great thing is that these appear more so once we follow the example of Christ and become like Him.
So as we follow leaders here who we will learn from and get incredible insight from we can't forget our ultimate leader which is Christ, who called us all the follow him.
Be Blessed!
Monday, September 3, 2012
Preference is good, right?
Since I began leading worship one of the reoccurring issues i've faced is preference. It's easy to pick out songs and arrangements that I'm familiar with and I like, but it's harder to do the latter...... right? Preference was key to my success and also key to the stunt in my growth as a leader.
..... "16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16 NIV).....
Right! It's in the bible. On a worship team it's as simple as letting someone else choose the way a song should end, or how to arrange it. It's as simple as removing yourself and allowing others to step in. Preference is a crutch that a lot of worship leaders hang on. Not only is it harmful to you personally, but to you're congregation as well. If I followed my personal preference every Sunday then I could easily stunt the guidance from the Holy Spirit when choosing songs and who wants to do that? Not me!
Jesus constantly laid down His life for others. Since we're supposed to follow His example of living then why wouldn't I do the same? Why wouldn't I lay down my life to allow more amazing things to happen on the worship team, in the Church, and in His Kingdom.
"21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21 NIV)
Dear Lord, allow me to follow in Your footsteps in order to become more and more like You each day, so that I can lay myself down for others and move my preferences aside.
Amen.
Last class we talked about a whole bunch of incredible ideas for worship leading and worship ministry. Low and behold preference was one of the topics, but at this point my viewpoint had changed dramatically since the years past. After looking back, I saw the journey of following my own preference to laying myself down. Laying myself down..hmm.. why does that sound familiar?
..... "16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16 NIV).....
Right! It's in the bible. On a worship team it's as simple as letting someone else choose the way a song should end, or how to arrange it. It's as simple as removing yourself and allowing others to step in. Preference is a crutch that a lot of worship leaders hang on. Not only is it harmful to you personally, but to you're congregation as well. If I followed my personal preference every Sunday then I could easily stunt the guidance from the Holy Spirit when choosing songs and who wants to do that? Not me!
Jesus constantly laid down His life for others. Since we're supposed to follow His example of living then why wouldn't I do the same? Why wouldn't I lay down my life to allow more amazing things to happen on the worship team, in the Church, and in His Kingdom.
"21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21 NIV)
Dear Lord, allow me to follow in Your footsteps in order to become more and more like You each day, so that I can lay myself down for others and move my preferences aside.
Amen.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
More Than A Song
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In Romans 12:1 Paul writes, "1Therefore, 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 spirituala act of worship."
I try to let those words "Living Sacrifice" be apart of my daily prayer and daily thinking. Although I may fail I will do the best I can as a worshiper and follower of Christ.
In Christ,
Corey
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