In some cases, “Audition” has become a forbidden word in Church world. It is that difficult topic that none of us want to talk about really. We don’t know where different generations stand on it; depending on how you were raised and how you interpret Scripture, you can fall all over the map on this issue. …
Better Together
If I told you that ministry didn’t have to be lonely, or that you could have a massive impact on your city or region simply by your willingness to invest in a few relationships, that it is possible to develop relationships across the boundary lines of church and denomination, and that those relationships could potentially …
Misplaced Value
I remember wondering (quite a few years ago) – when I noticed some churches had Jesus on the cross, and others didn’t have him on the cross – why there was a difference in the two ways the cross was displayed. I guess the subtle difference in the manner in which it was displayed kinda …
Recruiting Musicians
“Hey! Can you play guitar?… Yes?… Well, join the worship team!” If it were only that simple. Unlike recruiting and hiring musicians for most secular groups – where the allure may be a record deal, exposure to large audiences, or a good source of income, recruiting musicians for a Worship team involves many important – …
Worship Team vs. Worship Band
Is the church platform exclusive for the select few or should it be a place to raise up people who are gifted to lead? There are many great worship bands that tour and record albums to spread the gospel, and many small churches that lead worship with very few people in their teams. Both bring …
5 Things Every Worship Drummer Should Know
Over many years of playing drums in various churches, I’ve come across many different drummers, varying from beginners to seasoned players. And yet I’m shocked at how many of them have totally missed the boat on what we’re trying to accomplish! So I’ve come up with 5 things that every drummer, from start to finish, should be …
Three Distractions
Dear worship leader, musician, singer, and creative artist, we know the drill: shiny guitars and red keyboards. Set designs and set lists. Countdowns and title packages. Custom patches and custom in-ears. Smiling greeters and smiling worship leaders. Jangly guitars and pumping fists. Backing tracks and backing vocals. They are, in fact, elements of weekend services. …
The ALSO Idol
In the last chapter of Joshua, there is a nugget that can be uncovered in regards to what true worship is and what it is not. This chapter starts out with Joshua gathering all the tribes of Israel together to charge them to trust and serve the Lord. He begins by reminding the people of …
Tuning a Drum Kit for Modern Worship
One of the things I am frequently asked about when I’m playing a show, doing a clinic, or just filling in at someone’s church is, “How should we tune our drums?” The more churches and drummers that I’m around, the more I realize that very few people feel confident in tuning drums. In most worship …
Worship Review: Ghost Ship // Costly
Worship Review: Ghost Ship // Costly Ghost Ship is Seattle based band with a unique folk/ambient/Seattle rock sound that is all their own. There is no confusing Ghost Ship with anyone else out there. Ghost Ship’s music was made popular through their ministry at Mars Hill Church which dissolved in 2014. They had 3 …
Theology in Worship
Let’s get this out of the way, if you are reading this, and you have any beliefs or ideas about God, congratulations, (hands you invisible diploma) you’re a theologian! The only question is, where does our theology come from? I think we can all agree that theology matters when it comes to the pulpit and …
Is My Worship the Same on Monday?
On Sunday my church was on fire. The message taught and the worship that accompanied it were sewn together in this perfect little quilt called Sunday Worship. People responded. As the team closed the service with a song congregants came forward worshipping, kneeling, singing out, and declaring that through it all our eyes would be …
Worship on a Budget
We all know that money can’t buy you happiness. It can’t buy you anything of lasting importance at all, in fact. In the worship ministry world, it seems that often times money, which buys equipment & environments, has become equated with excellent worship. There’s a subtle undercurrent out there that pulls us into believing that unless we’re …
Four Tips for Drummers in Worship
Playing drums in a church setting requires a certain mentality. We must always be aware of what’s going on around us, and be in tune Spiritually with God so that we can be effectively led by Him. As a musician on the worship team, you are in fact, a worship leader. It’s not just about playing the drums, it …
Memorizing Your Music
The pressure is real. We are all in a time crunch. If you and your music team are striving to be memorized on Sunday, let’s cover some tips and tricks that will get you memorized most efficiently. But before we jump into the specifics of memorization, let’s talk a little about how to set your team up for …