The FORGE Conference

I wanted to say thank you to Jack Osteen and Joel Klampart for dreaming into being the Forge conference and braving into being a resource for worship leaders in New England.  It was an honor to be a part of the conference, and to serve alongside of some fantastic guys.  Thank you also for making it a priority to do a session on family worship, and bring home the practice of worship for those of us who lead corporately.  I pray God stirred in the hearts of men and women a blazing passion to reclaim this forgotten practice.

Teaching on family worship there was a gift.  Equally as rewarding was leading hymns like “Blessed Assurance”, “Nothing but the Blood” and “Come Thou Fount” on the boardwalk of Ocean Grove, NJ, as people walked by and watched us profess “this is my story, this is my song”. I will cherish that memory…

I look forward to being a part of this conference next year, and I am praying that God moves mightily in New England through his church and the leaders I met at Forge. May God glorify himself…

O God of Our Salvation

O God of Our Salvation is a hymn describing the role of the Trinity in the scope of salvation.  My friend Michael Bleecker and I wrote this song in an attempt to give fresh voice to an unchanging truth.  Michael has done a video showing how to play this song on guitar. Hope it is helpful. If you are doing this song in your church, we would love to hear from you…

The Sufficiency of Scripture

Last night for our worship time together, Jamie and I watched this video of Ryan Ferguson reading Hebrews 9 and 10. This alone is one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard. Take 11 minutes out of your day and allow the scripture to dwell richly in you.

How Does a Worship Leader Cue the Congregation?

Excellent help from Bob Kauflin on how worship leaders can direct the congregation…

Author: Bob Kauflin, Categories: —Instrumentalists, —Leading a Congregation, —Vocalists, Tags: leading worship

via How Does a Worship Leader Cue the Congregation?.

Reforming the Role of the Worship Leader

Last week I had the privilege of doing a webinar for the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas.  I was given an open agenda, so took the opportunity to flesh through some of the things I am passionate about regarding what it means to lead the church in worship. While I was honored, it was very challenging speaking into my computer for half an hour. Regardless, I wanted to share this with you and pray that God uses it to sharpen and encourage.

http://www.sbtexas.com/church_ministries/ReformingtheRoleofWorship.mov

Confessions of a Failed Worshiper

Here is the link to a great article by Matthew Smith regarding modern worship and the reimplementation of hymns. His hymns and the Indelible Grace group would be worth looking into, and this blog is well worth the read. While you’re there, check out all of Tim Challies blog.  It’s a treasure in the digital world.

Hymn 77

By Isaac Watts

(The love of Christ for the church, in his language to her, and provisions for her. (Song of Sol. 8:5-13)

Now in the galleries of his grace

Appears the King, and thus he says

“How fair my saints are in my sight!

My love how pleasant for delight!”

Kind is thy language, sovereign Lord

There’s heavenly grace in every word

From that dear mouth a stream divine

Flows sweeter than the choicest wine

Such wondrous love awakes the lip

Of saints that were almost asleep

To speak the praises of thy name

And makes our cold affections flame

These are the joys he lets us know

In fields and villages below

Gives us a relish of his love

Bu keeps his noblest feast above

In Paradise within the gates

A higher entertainment waits

Fruits new and old lay up in store

Where we shall feed, but thirst no more.

I want to know the love of Christ in a depth and vibrancy in which Watts walked and understood. I pray these words stir your affections for Jesus as they have mine today.