Getting ahead of the "Worship Wars"

What is your worship style preference? Does that match up with your team, and your congregation?

In nearly 30 years of leading corporate worship services of group of 1 or 2 all the way up to thousands, I’ve experienced my fair share of criticism as well as praise for the services I’ve led. Early on, I once was identified in my church as “that crazy guitar guy”. I’ve also experienced the all too familiar interaction with a person from the congregation letting me know their critique’ of the worship music on any particular Sunday. “Not enough of this, too much of that, etc, etc.” Worship services in churches throughout history are evaluated by any number of scales or standards, along with the hard working servants who are assembling those services week after week.

Whatever criteria we’ve used to gauge whether a church service was “good” or “not good”, “powerful”, or “lifeless” —most of this simply comes down to personal preference.

“Wow Charlie, that is “tweetable”… Click here to tweet that statement!

Is personal preference bad? Who is the ultimate judge of whether our worship is acceptable or not? Except through the eyes of God, I’m not sure we are able to rightly judge anyone’s worship. Thus the “worship wars” may rage in a church setting. As long as there are people in our churches, we will have personal preferences, and along with that the possibility for conflict or disagreement about direction, vision, and execution in our services.

Much like personality, mindset, or even “love languages”, we all have personal tendencies and preferences that drive how we think, see, feel, and do in the world! If we can identify those predispositions, allow space for each other, we can have a peaceful and fruitful conversation! Giving grace and having patience where our preferences don’t align, or even are at odds, is Gods desire for our fellowship.

I have created a simple tool to allow you as a worship leader to assess first your own worship style preference— then assess your perception of your congregational preferences. The assessment is a nice starting point to begin a discussion on worship styles. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers. This handy, and brief tool can get you started on the road to a peaceful and diverse, rich expression of worship.

Feel free to take the survey HERE (I ask for your email, and may contact you occasionally, but will never share any personal information with anyone without your permission)

In my work with churches, this is one of the first tools I would implement with your whole worship team. Drop me an email and we can discuss how I can come alongside you to enrich and deepen your work!

Join my email list, and receive a free copy of my article, “My 5 step process to evaluate the worship style of your church!

Give what you have, get what you give plus a whole lot more!

Study this photo— it’s a stereogram, or a computer generated image pattern that reveals a hidden 3-Dimensional picture!

Tuesday Tune-up!

Pastor Charlie covered Mark 4:21-41 this week. He explained the passage in three stages:

Conceptual-  Learn about the “kingdom of God”.

Jesus, and our growing knowledge of him, are the “light” that should never be placed in hiding. No, we should seek to be “fertile” to accept the seeds of God’s wisdom and love, and then multiply it all thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and one hundred fold! 

Jesus reminds us that everything, including himself, although may be hidden at first, will be revealed.  Charlie also reminded us of the statement Pastor Jim made back in January:

“We carry a glory to be revealed, not a secret to be hidden!”  

Practical- Do you have ears to hear?

Jesus taught that the “measure” we use in learning from him will be measured back to us.  Don’t approach God with a “tea-cup”, instead be like Charlie suggests and bring in the fifty-five gallon barrell and ask God to fill you up!

We need to spend time to focus on God’s word.  Much like a “stereogram”, it sometimes takes time, and practice to fully “see what we hear”?  Attached at the top of the email is the actual stereogram used on Sunday. Can you see what the wonderful three dimensional picture shows?

Further in this section, Jesus shares two more agricultural parables, the “growing seed”, and the “mustard seed”

The growing seed reminds us that even though a farmer plants, he doesn’t know how the plant sprouts, grows leaves, and then ripens to be harvested!  This should teach us that when we share our faith and love for Jesus with others, we really don’t understand if or how the person will understand and apply it to their own heart. That is a job reserved for the Holy Spirit alone!

The mustard seed parable is an excellent example of how things work in the kingdom of God.  Like this small and pervasive seed (mustard) can grow to be a very large tree where birds can perch, so our smallest efforts of learning, growing and having faith can and will show great dividends in the future.

Charlie introduced his “mustard seed goal sheet”. He uses this to “check-off” several goals he has set every day of a month.  Try it for the season of Lent, see if God blesses your smallest daily commitments, just like the mustard seed principle!

Additional copies of the sheet can be found here: Mustard Seed Goal Sheet

REAL LIFE HAPPENS-  Mark 4:35-41

After teaching all day, Jesus instructs his disciples that they will travel across the Sea of Galilee.  So loaded up in the boats, the men encounter a terrifying storm. Jesus is asleep on a cushion, but is awoken by his disciples.  “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” they ask him. He wakes, rebukes the wind and sea to calm, and then has a question for them as well: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”  We all face storms and fearful circumstances in life. But Jesus is more than able to handle all of it. He expresses his authority, and echos Psalm 107:23-30 in being the Messiah!

Take heart today, we serve a powerful and mighty Savior!  Let’s pray together to have “ears to hear” His voice!

Welcome to Encouragers United!

Introducing: Coach Bill Eddins!

Calling on his experience as a middle school teacher and high school coach for over 30 years, Bill Eddins now works with college-age student-athletes at Malone University in Canton, OH.  A Canton native, and the son of well-known local basketball coaching legend, Don Eddins, Bill grew up in a sports minded community, and quickly joined the family business as a coach himself. He served as nearby Louisville High School’s head boys basketball coach from 1993-2001, collecting Division II Ohio Boys Basketball Coach of the Year honors in 2001 after leading the Leopards to their first undefeated regular season in school history. He taught middle schoolers for over 30 years, encouraging hearts and shaping lives with both challenge and support. 

He most recently joined the Malone University Athletic staff, and now coaches the Women’s Golf team, he also serves as an assistant administrator in the department mentoring and encouraging student-leaders throughout the University. Experiencing difficulties in his family, including the divorce of his parents, as well as witnessing a good friends death have shaped Coach Eddins outlook on life, excellence and relationships.

Take a listen to my recent interview with Coach Eddins:

Coach Eddins has spent a lifetime encouraging, teaching and building into students, athletes, and his wonderful family.

Let me introduce myself!

Here’s an audio introduction from the “Christ-Centered Athlete Podcast”. It’s a nice introduction to who I am, and what I’m all about! Listen here:

INTRODUCTION PODCAST!

A wonderful new endeavor I'm involved with!

Dayspring Music Ministry is a new non-profit organization I have helped to create. My friend Rex had a dream where he saw people who were lonely, hurting and dying in a health facility. He observed the pain and loneliness they were feeling. But then the atmosphere and tone of the scene changed when a small box began playing Christian hymns in the middle of a room. Everyone around was attracted to the music, and they began singing together and feeling better! The “Dayspring Music Box” is the result of his vision. It’s a simple .mp3 player, loaded with either traditional hymns or Christmas carols. Each series of songs also include scripture readings from the Bible. It can be charged and replayed over and over. These classic songs bring back fond memories for even patients suffering with memory issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It being used in nursing homes, hospitals, funeral homes, and hospice care facilities— in addition to many homes across the country. More in formation can be found at our website: http://dayspringmusicbox.com