Differences between playing in a 'performance band' and a 'worship band'

Well this is quite the controversial subject (church musicians being involved in secular bands) but I am not here to debate the subject today.  I am only here to compare / contrast the unique nuances and demands on both the church musician and the secular, or "gigging" musician.


Many church musicians play in secular bands – performing in pubs & clubs or function bands etc.  So what distinctive qualities does being a worship musician require that are different for a ‘performing’ musician and vice versa? And can one environment benefit from skills developed in the other? Well, church musicians primarily exist to help the congregation engage with God in worship, whilst gigging musicians primarily exist to entertain the crowd (although for a Christian gigging band there may also be the desire to use music to present the gospel and glorify God).


We’re striving for excellence in both contexts but the application may be a little different.  The table below outlines some of the traits that make musicians effective and how they apply in the respective environments.

	Church musician	Secular musician
Flexible in the moment	Very important given that you might play with different musicians each week, and worship times can be unpredictable, with unforeseen changes to song lists and song formats, and having to adapt to contributions from leaders and congregation.	Probably less of a priority for a gigging band who will agree a set list, rehearse it and deliver it exactly as agreed – every time.
Technically proficient	It’s certainly desirable to be as good as possible on your instrument. However, many worship songs are quite straightforward harmonically & rhythmically and can played very well by an intermediate player.	Depends on your band. If it’s the Backstreet Band, then don’t worry about it! However if your covering Stevie Wonder or trying to sound like Dirty Loops you will really need to know your chops and have practiced many hours.
Well Rehearsed	As well as being clued-up on basic arrangements for the songs you’re going to be using at church, it’s good to ‘practice spontaneity’. Look at how you might transition between songs be prepared for the unexpected!	Usually you’ll need to know exactly what you’re playing in every bar of every song – including the exact sounds that guitarists and keyboard players etc will use. The rehearsal almost becomes a drill where you get the song arrangements in your head perfectly.
Authoritative & confident	Less experienced musicians can tend to be a bit apologetic and weak in the way they play. Even if you lack confidence, play your instrument with conviction (that’s not the same as LOUD), and don’t be scared about making mistakes. We all do.	An audience will be unimpressed by a group of muso’s who look shy. If you’re well rehearsed, you can go out and engage the audience – they want you to!
Able to memorize	Having a large repertoire of worship songs in your head so you don’t always need the music in front of you is very liberating especially if you’re suddenly asked to play an unplanned song.	Unless you’re in an orchestra, it’s generally unacceptable be using written music at all in a gig – it looks amateur. Memorize the set!
Rock solid rhythmically	Certainly a good goal for all church bands – practice having drums and bass working tightly with a steady tempo – perhaps use a click. The other musicians should lock in to provide a stable foundation for the worship song.	It’s generally a great compliment if your band is called ‘tight’ – not only do you lock in with solid drums and bass, but every riff, lick, change and transition is perfectly executed to delight the audience.
Creative	Finding new and interesting arrangements for worship songs can breathe fresh life into them. The tried and tested arrangements are fine but a bit of creative thinking (especially with your own church in mind) can be very welcome.	If you’re in a covers band, then emulation is more important than original ideas. However, if you’re playing your own stuff, then it’s vital to be interesting and inventive, or the punters won’t come back.
Able to improvise	Really useful in a church context to add variety, and roll with the unplanned moments. But avoid jam sessions in corporate worship services.	Not necessary if you’re only playing predetermined arrangements, but really useful when initially creating arrangements, or if there’s more of a jazz/improvisational element to your sound.
Able to read music	Always an advantage, although chord charts tend to be more helpful in the church setting. Note-for-note playing of the songbook arrangements tends to sound very flat and uninspiring, so take cues from the score but don’t rely on it.	Well, the Beatles apparently couldn’t read music and they seemed to be moderately successful. But they did have George Harrison who could. Draw your own conclusions!
Entertaining	In church the goal shouldn’t be to entertain the congregation. Some would identify that as a ‘problem’ with modern worship leading styles. However, being demonstratively passionate about what you’re singing and being a ‘lead worshipper’ seems fitting. Heart attitude is everything.	Eye contact, physical movement, passion, eloquent banter, using space on stage, putting the audience at their ease. Yes to all of that if you want them on your side.
Sensitive to the Holy Spirit	Very important if you hope to lead a congregation and help them engage with God’s presence. It goes deeper than just being gifted at your instrument.  Spend time with God in private and it will show in public.	Everything we do as Christians should be part of our worship, including ‘secular’ gigs. I still want to bless God with my instrument wherever I’m playing.
Of good character	If you’re the best drummer in England, but never show up to rehearsals and meetings on time, or if you’re consistently sinning in your personal life, then I would rather not have you on the worship team. Character is every bit as important as gifting. Church is not a good place to realize your rock star fantasy.	Many successful secular bands are populated by people whose lives are a total mess, but as Christians we are called to spread the seed of the gospel everywhere, to be salt and light and to influence our culture for the glory of God. That means living lives of purity, wherever music takes us.

What Do You Do When The Congregation Isn't Responding?

We have all found ourselves in a season when it seems we step on the platform and attempt to usher our congregation into the presence of the Lord -- and nothing happens.  How frustrating this can be!   Yet we all find ourselves in this familiar place sooner or later.

The below is a short illustration from an acquaintance of mine who is also involved in music ministry.  I believe you will find it most informative and a blessing too.

--------------------------------

I’m a behind the scenes guy at my church. A lot of what I do shows up in the finished product that is presented on Sunday morning, but I seldom come to the front myself.  But there was this worship medley by William McDowell that I wanted the praise team to sing, and I kinda knew even before I presented it to them that I’d be asked to sing it. His voice is similar to my own so it only made sense.
So I teach the song and everything goes well. Sunday comes and we present it. I begin leading the song and right away I notice only a small handful of the audience seems to be into it at all. Only 3 or 4 or standing, maybe another few that I can see actually closing their eyes and making an attempt to worship. That’s the downside to singing with your eyes open, unfortunately. Sometimes you can “see too much” and discourage yourself.

So we continued to move through the medley and everything went well, but I was discouraged. I had people come up to me and say they enjoyed it, but I personally didn’t feel good about it. I blamed much of it on the audience, and the rest on myself. You see we used to be one of those churches who had “testimony service”. We did it for many years-most of my life, really. So even though we’ve had a praise team for several years now, many of our older saints just don’t “get it”. “We don’t know how to worship”, I told one of the young ministers who was encouraging me.

Then there was me. See I've always had this inward battle about my own singing and whether it’s “hype enough” or “exciting enough”. I struggle with thoughts that my singing is “too calm” or “too boring”.  It didn’t help that our regular worship leader is a powerful anointed singer and woman of God that just electrifies the service every time she sings.

So, overall just not especially having enjoyed the experience, imagine how I felt when our worship leader sends me a text saying she wants me to do it again the following Sunday. I hemmed and hawwed and stated my case, but in the end I promised I’d be obedient. So I’m sitting there on the keyboard that Sunday playing and she’s going forth with the praise team. And just when I’m convinced the spirit is leading her another way she stops down and asks me to come up.
Any time I get up to do something I try to prepare myself mentally and spiritually so I’m in the right frame of mind and I have the right attitude. I just won’t get up in front of people with a negative spirit, I don’t care how I feel personally about what I’m about to do. I call it my 5 Second Rule Of Music Ministry.  So in the few seconds it takes me to get up to the stage I decided that this time I’d do two things. I’d make more of an effort to go deeper into the songs emotionally myself. To make sure I’m actually worshiping, lifting my hands, closing my eyes and talking to God.

But then the second thing I decided to do was to do a better job leading, encouraging and guiding the audience in worship. So right away when I took the microphone this time I began to just talk to them about worship, encouraging them to surrender all they had been through that day, even the previous week. I began to explain to them that worship isn’t something that “happens to you”, it’s something that you do.  I began to sing, this time moving my hands more, lifting them more, talking to the audience more. This time the atmosphere was different. There were many more people worshiping. Many more standing, lifting their hands. Many more who were seated were doing the same thing. The atmosphere was filled with a spirit of worship. Even when the pastor came up, which was much later, the praise and worship portion of the service was still on his mind. He began to talk about the songs we sang and the kind of worship we offered, referring to it as a “slow rain”. In fact I ended up going back into a portion of it again by his request.

So now, thinking back on it I realize that it wasn’t necessarily the audience that had the problem the first time, it was me. It wasn’t them that needed to surrender, it was me. It wasn’t them that wasn’t worshiping, it was me that wasn’t. I learned that day something I really already knew. Something I’ve said to others before. Simply, that when you stand before God’s people you have to give God your best. It has to come from a pure place that isn’t influenced or affected by what the audience is doing- or not doing.

Because the truth is even in the second performance of the medley there were still people who weren’t really into it at all. And there always will be, in every performance; for all of us. But the solution is not to simply keep our eyes tightly closed for the entire thing and ignore the audience entirely. The solution is to sing from the purest place you can, giving God the best praise or worship you can. Connect with and focus on those who are with you and being blessed. Avoid focusing your attention on those who don’t seem to be interested, and don’t take it personally. Doing so could cause you to miss being a blessing to someone else. Or worse yet, miss being blessed yourself.

Should Church Music Ministers be Paid? Part 1

Should Church Music Ministers be Paid?  Part 1

Greetings from blogland!  Our discussion today combines the biblical with the practical; ancient customs and scriptures versus twenty-first century application.  I know of pastors who follow this blog and if you are a pastor reading this, please proceed with an open mind.  I understand opinions on this subject vary dramatically and I believe I am able to be objective as I write this as I have lived on both sides of the fence: paid and not paid.  I am certainly not asserting that my opinion is the final word on this topic:  I am only presenting my findings after much research and experience.  Having said that, let us delve into the question at hand to learn what the Bible says regarding compensation for music ministers.

Who in the Bible was compensated for church music ministry?

The tribe of Levi!  We commonly refer to them as the Levites.  This tribe of Israel was hand-picked by God.  The Levites are our biblical model for this topic and the Bible has a lot to say about their significance.

Aaron was the individual chosen by God to act as the head of the Levites.  Aaron was a Levite (Exodus 4:14) and we read of his ordination in Leviticus 8:1-12.  Aaron's sons and extended family would multiply and serve as ministers of everything found in the church, including music.  (Numbers 18:1-6).  God was teaching his people how to worship him.  To do so, he needed ministers to oversee the operations of the tabernacle.  These men were called priests and Levites, and they could only be members of the tribe of Levi.

In I Chronicles 6:31-47 we have documentation of David appointing temple musicians.  Verse 31 and 32 clearly tell us:  "These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there.  They ministered with music before the tabernacle".  (NIV)  The men named in verses 33 through 46 were all Levites.  I Chronicles chapter 23 names the men David appointed (all Levites) and we learn in verse 5 he appointed (four thousand) musicians.  Wow!  And I Chronicles 15:16-28 tells us David appointed signers and musicians to join him in leading the procession of the ark of the covenant.  Now that we have established that the Levites were the chosen people to minister in music let us discover how they were paid.

How were the Levites compensated?

Okay, this is the fun part.  Show me the money!  Numbers 18:21-24 answers the question  of the blog - yes the biblical model as prescribed by God does order music ministers to be paid.  The original model in the old testament has music ministers paid from the offerings collected of the Israelites.

Not only did a Levite's compensation come from offerings, they were also provided housing!  In fact whole cities (48 cities in all) and suburbs were designated by God to be set aside just for Levites.  God provides the details to Moses in Numbers 35:1-8.

Additional supporting scriptures

Lest I only reference old testament scriptures let's take a look into the new testament also.  In Luke 10:7 Jesus says "...the labourer is worthy of his hire."  Jesus told his disciples to accept hospitality graciously because their work entitled them to it.  Ministers in the church deserve to be supported, and our responsibility is to make sure they have what they need.  There are several ways to encourage those who serve God in his church.  The church should support ministers emotionally, by showing appreciation, and through financial support.

In I Corinthians 9:4-10 and verse 13 Paul discusses the compensation of Christian workers by the church.  The church has the responsibility to care for its pastors, teachers, and other leaders.

Who gets paid?

The answer to this question as it relates to your local congregation is varied.  First we must realize the Levites had the support of an entire nation and therefore they enjoyed an enormous 'bank' from which to withdraw from.  In our current-day world of Christianity in which Christians are very segregated due to many denominations, your pastor's 'bank' or resources from which to compensate you with may be severely limited.  In the day of the Levite musicians and singers, the entire nation of Israel was of one group or 'denomination'; thus the land was unified in its compensation to the Levites.

Add to this the fact that most leadership in Christian denominations today (on a country-wide level) do not implement organized compensation for their pastors, let alone music ministers.  This is very unfortunate and a topic of discussion in and of itself.  In fact the reason God instituted the model of compensation in the manner He did shows us the importance He placed on music; God gave instructions to Israel regarding payment for music ministers and priests together and in the same breath.

Nevertheless in our churches today a local congregation may only be able to afford to pay one individual - usually the head coordinator/director of the music department.  Larger congregations with more resources may choose to pay multiple people - singers and/or musicians both.  This seems to follow reason:  more resources provide more options to leaders and financial decision makers of a church.  And after all other costs need to be addressed besides just clergy and the music ministry.  As it is natural for a dedicated church musician to understand the biblical precedent for compensation and so desire it, many vocalists and musicians find their way to large congregations that are able to more freely offer payment for services rendered.  Note to people who criticize singers and musicians who may relocate to one of these larger congregations: this does not necessarily mean the music minister has "sold out" or given in to the love of money.

Remember, as established earlier in this discussion, the seek such support (from the church) is rooted in biblical precepts.

In Part 2 we will discuss two more vital questions pertaining to this discussion.  Stay tuned!

Why Should We Worship Jesus?

Greetings to all my friends in blogland!  Today I am very excited to kick off the first in a five-part series titled, "Why Should We Worship Jesus?"  Last month it came to me that as participants in various types of music ministries, we often use the word worship interchangeably with other terms.  For example, worship service, worship music, a time of worship, etc.  But exactly why should we worship Jesus?  And how does worship affect each of our respective ministries?  Come along with me as we explore worship and how it is vital to our calling.

Why Should We Worship Jesus?  (Part 1)  by Nathan Kesler

What Worship Is Not

We will define what worship is but we must first define what worship is not.  This is because there is a tendency among some Christians to define worship too narrowly and thereby overlook the fullness of what worship is according to scripture.  First, worship is not something solely by Christians or "spiritual" people.  Rather, because everyone was made to worship God, everyone is in fact a worshiper whether or not he or she has any religious or spiritual devotion.

Second, worship is not merely a style of music.  In conversation I often classify Christian music by genre.  For example, I refer to albums by Hillsong as 'contemporary praise and worship', an album by Selah as 'traditional praise and worship', a Gaither Homecoming album as 'southern gospel' and a Ricky Dillard album as 'black gospel'.  But in reality a song from any genre of Christian music is essentially worship music - only arranged and presented in different venues and contexts.  If you have been involved in church ministry for any length of time you undoubtedly have witnessed spirited debates between those promoting one style of Christian music over another, usually in the context of corporate singing.  Sadly, such conflicts can reduce the concept of worship to little more than a style of music or preferred kinds of instrumental accompaniment.  When the Bible speaks of worship, it does include God's people gathering to sing praises to God (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16), but worship is also something much bigger than simply singing or musical tastes.


Third, worship is not something that is connected to a time and place.  In John chapter four there is a discussion between Jesus and a woman who is uncertain of where and when worship is to occur.  Jesus responds to her by stating that worship is an ongoing, unbroken life of communion with God empowered by the Holy Ghost and informed by the truth.  Therefore, while worship does happen in specific places at specific times, such as Sunday services at a church building, worship is not limited to any time or place.  Rather, worship is to exist as a ceaseless lifestyle of God's people in every time and every place.



Fourth, worship is not something that starts and stops.  Church worship services may start and stop but the worshipful life of a Christian is to continue unceasingly.  As has been said, if you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him one day a week.

Stay tuned for my next post in this series.  Now that we have discussed what worship is not we will discuss what worship is.

Hello to all my music ministry friends and acquaintances.  First I would like to apologize for my lengthy absence since my last post.  Truly I have been through a season of difficulty, self-examination and change (with the help of the Lord).  I would like to echo Paul as stated in Philippians 3:13-14:  "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (KJV).

Today I would like to touch on the passion we all share as Christians who have been called to some aspect of music ministry - whether it be vocal, instrumental or the leadership of such ministry.  Ephesians 4:1-3 is my focus for today and it reads:  Verse 1: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Verse 2: with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love."  (KJV).

For the sake of this discussion let us consider our respective music ministries as the spiritual vocation we have been called to in this text.  Ephesians 4:1 in the NIV says, "As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."  If Paul had not thought it important for us to walk worthy he would not have appealed to us in this manner.  In verse two Paul proposes we do this by exercising lowliness, meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love - endeavoring to keep unity and peace.

In other words, by being humble, gentle, patient, understanding and peaceful.  We could fill volumes discussing applications of these precepts as they pertain to our lives and our music ministry callings.  For today though let us turn our focus inward and examine the application of the aforementioned attributes as they pertain to service within the walls of our churches.

Ask yourself these questions:  When I attend a music/vocal rehearsal what is my demeanor?  Do I strive to create a positive, joyful atmosphere? Do I give my team the impression I know it all?  Do I come across as a microphone hog?  Would others feel my instrument/voice is usually louder and overbearing as compared to the others?  Do I end up singing the majority of song solos?  And ultimately if I wasn't a leader in my department would I desire to serve someone just like me?

I will be the first to admit during the past twenty-two years of involvement in church music ministry I have been guilty of such behavior at times.  Thankfully the Lord has taught me maturity over time and allowed me to minister in a variety of denominal settings and culturally diverse venues.

Ask yourself: Prior to ministering in church services do I spend time in prayer and spiritual meditation?  Is my mind focused and determined to enter into the presence of a holy God by offering my sacrifice of praise and worship?  For that matter, what is my motive behind taking a place behind an instrument/mic?  Do I give less effort if I am ministering before a congregation of ten people or ten thousand?  And ultimately am I living a life worthy of this musical calling He has placed in my heart?

Once we have examined ourselves let us humbly bring these questions of personal introspection to our church's music departments.  Encourage each member of your music department to examine themselves and to be accountable to Jesus.  Finally, allow Jesus to continue being the center of our music ministries.  As the Colorado Mass Choir titled an album, "God Gets the Glory".

Don't lose sight of your department's role in the grand scheme of things

Hello, the title of this post is a little different... It may even seem contradictory.  But in a few minutes you will understand where I am coming from in this post. 

Yesterday I sat down with an older gentleman in my office to complete a business transaction.  In casual conversation I learned he was a Christian and he told me which church he and his wife attend in Houston, TX.  He was very animated and excited about his church and I complimented him on this.  I always feel it important to convey to others your enthusiasm for your church; this is often the first step in that person wanting to know more about your church.  After all if you are excited about going there, your excitement ignites curiosity in their minds to know more.

I continued to discuss this gentleman's church building project, size of the congregation (around two thousand), and many other facets of this work.  When I questioned him about his church's music program he explained they only sing acapella and there aren't any instruments utilized in his church.  I am familiar with Christian organizations that do not use music in their services so this was not a shock to me.  However I was surprised when I asked him their service times.  He very happily let me know that his church conducts services seven days per week!  I asked him more about this and he explained that in the early church services were held around the clock and sometimes spontaneously - and his congregation feels that by conducting services every day of the week, all members have ample opportunity to be in services.  I could only agree to that. 

What's the point of me relating this account to you?  Here is what I realized and what I've been thinking about the past day or two: this man's church is well-attended, is a huge organization with churches in numerous countries, and does not utilize music in their services.  Furthermore they hold services seven days per week.  If this man is very excited about his church and is inviting others, maybe us musicians/singers/worship leaders need to step back and realize that not every one of our Sundays must be 'perfect' from a musical standpoint.  I know there is a habit to get pulled into the performance mindset for Sunday or midweek services - after all, we only provide much music for one or two services per week and we want everyone in the congregation to feel God's spirit and respond to the Holy Ghost.  So we have a tendency sometimes to over think each worship service, each song, every aspect of every service.  When you compare all the music we provide for each of our services vs. the Christian who attends a church with no music or very little, and you still see that Christian growing in Biblical knowledge and understanding, you are forced to realize that as minstrels/worship leaders we just need to focus on ushering in the presence of the Lord into our services -- and not be over focused on who sings the verses to this song, or which pianist is playing for this song....  

Please understand I am not advocating sloppiness or a lazy approach to our ministry -- only reminding you to realize that God doesn't *need* any one of us to accomplish his work -- we only are allowed to assist in ushering the presence of God into our services.  And since this is the case, why be preoccupied with having a perfect studio sound when we should be worshipping and praising God with our whole hearts (not our performance facades) as we sing?  After all, God inhabits the praises of His people - let's set the atmosphere for God to show up!  Let us refocus on what is important when we minister to our congregations.

Moving My Music Department Forward - Musician / Vocalist Helps

Hello to all my friends out in blogland!  Just this past Sunday I called a meeting with my musicians and talked over several things that I feel we could benefit from working on.  I believe reading what I am dealing with may benefit you and your approach to your musicians.  Or if you are a musician it may give you pause to think about how you interact with the other musicians in your music department.

Here are the topics I covered in this meeting:

1.  Musicians - if a singer(s) begin singing in a service and you do not know the song, there is nothing wrong with not playing your instrument during that song.  What we were experiencing was well-intentioned musicians jumping in on songs they did not know, and inadvertently creating more musical chaos than positive contribution.  Now I do not say this in a negative way, as my musicians all have good intentions (I have a great group I am privileged to work with) and only try to help by supporting the singer(s) with their instrument.  However my message to them was this: if you don't know the song, don't play.  The only exception I distinguish is the drummer (if your drummer is proficient enough it really helps most songs to have tempo and percussion involved) and the keyboarder (that is me in my department).  So in my case I was talking to the bass player, electric guitar player, and saxophonist.

2.  Each drummer has an assigned service to play - do not pressure the other drummers to play if it's not your service - this may sound elementary but I deal with young and zealous drummers (I have three of them) and many times they feel the need to play the drums at all times.   :0)    To solve this situation I have assigned each drummer a service they are the main drummer for.  The only reason a drummer should be playing in a service that's not 'theirs' is if the designated drummer for that service is either absent or praying at the altar.

3.  Each musician should be attempting to improve theirself outside of church services - I am working with my bass guitar player to locate an instructor to give him music lessons now.  I encouraged my drummers to ask around for someone they may learn from in our community, and I myself have been talking to some musicians from a local church to identify someone I may learn from.  Many church musicians make the mistake of thinking they only need to study their instrument during church services.  This is fundamentally wrong; does a politician only practice giving speeches while behind the podium addressing a nation?  Does the professional baseball player only practice swinging the bat while in a game?

4.  During the week prior to a music/singer practice, I email out links to my musicians and singers of the songs we will be covering in our next rehearsal.  They are usually Youtube links.  I ask each singer and musician to listen to these music links diligently in order to familiarize their selves with the songs.  That way by the time they show up to our rehearsal they are already familiar with the songs and possibly have even picked out their vocal parts.  The musicians are already familiar with the intros, cuts/breaks, and moving parts to the song.  In the past I have emailed out such links only to find my musicians/singers did not even take the time to listen to the songs prior to the rehearsals!  This is very frustrating to me, as I put time and effort into distributing this information pre-rehearsal.  So in this meeting I kindly asked all singers/musicians to make time to study my emailed song links....  Being a part of this church music department requires time at home (think homework) studying..... We will not just show up to rehearsals or church services and attempt the throw everything together in a sloppy fashion.  God deserves our best!

I hope the above topics may benefit you in your music department.  Do not be afraid to raise the bar of expectation for your singers and musicians!

Critique Your Music Ministry Team

Last week I did something that turned out to be very constructive and I would recommend you try it also with your praise team / choir / chorale / musicians.  My pastor and I have been discussing how we may increase the spirituality of our music team and be more demonstrative while we minister.  One idea we came up with was to video a few of our Sunday services and use that footage as constructive material.  I had our sound man take some video footage from the sound booth (I did not tell our music team we were being filmed) and then I had it prepared into a YouTube video. 

Last week we cut our music practice short so we would have time to watch the video and have discussion.  Boy was it a learning experience!  As singers and musicians, we normally do not have the opportunity or take time to critique ourselves and how we come across to the congregation.  While we watched this training video some of our singers and musicians realized they were so focused on hitting the correct notes or playing the correct musical progressions that we were not freely involved in worship.  This gave the visual effect to the congregation of us standing on the platform, stock still, hands at our sides, singing and playing instruments.  Some of our singers and musicians were embarrassed and even disappointed in themselves as they realized the message they sometimes portray to the congregation.  We realized that even though we were singing songs that encouraged the congregation to involve their selves in praise and worship, we weren't doing enough of it ourselves!  Now that our team has viewed the video in a group setting once, I am now asking each member to watch it again in the comfort of their home.  I ask each team member only to focus on themselves and not worry about what Brother so-and-so or Sister so-and-so is or isn't doing.  I asked each member to ask theirself, "Am I praising/worshipping in a manner that represents my God?  Would a visitor or church member feel motivated to praise or worship based on my platform behavior?"  This is a self-critique exercise that will help us all understand if we are losing sight of the goal in platform music ministry: to usher in the presence of the Lord and help others in the congregation enter into God's presence with us.

I would recommend not alerting your music team when they are being recorded; allow everyone to operate in a normal fashion while you are collecting your video.  I could write a whole lot more regarding this exercise and I will in future blogs.  My message to you today is this: try this sometime and you will find it really exposes weaknesses in your team as they convey to your congregation.  This exercise creates great teaching moments and will help everyone remember we are all one team working towards one goal, and the team needs 100% participation from everyone involved.

Easter Sunday Report

It has been awhile since I posted to my blog and I apologize; I will be back on my regular schedule going forward.

I am so proud of the Family Life Church music department!  Sarina and I put together a choir for Easter Sunday and rehearsed three times last week.  The song we chose was Donald Lawrence's "Stranger" and the choir did a wonderful job this past Sunday.  We baptized eight people at the end of the service - in Jesus name!  God is good!

7 Reasons Why We Worship God

Today's blog may be of use for yourself or for you to present to your worship team/choir.  Since the essence of music ministry is offering praise and worship to God, it reasons we should spend a lot of time talking about it.

We live in a day and age when our time and money are spent on places, things, and entertainment.  Things that take up our time, many of which are necessary.  I can relate to the necessary duties: raising three boys certainly seems to vanquish almost every spare moment of my daily life outside of church, work, and sleep.   :0)    But regarding the non-important things we find ourselves caught up in, me must be careful not to let these things take the place of my energy and time we give to God.  Having said that, here are seven reasons why we worship God:

1.  He is my creator: Genesis 1:27  "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

2.  He is my protector: Jude 24  "Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

3.  He is my redeemer: Romans 3:24  "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

4.  He is merciful: Lamentations 3:22-23  "It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness."

5.  He is my healer:  Psalm 127:3  "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

6.  He is slow to anger: Nehemiah 9:17  "...but thou are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."

7.  He bestows blessing on us: Matthew 6:26-34  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all of these things shall be added unto you."

Understanding Praise & Worship - Part 1

Good morning.  This is part one of a discussion about praise and worship.  What is it?  Why do we do it?  What extra responsibilities do we have as worship leaders?  What does the Bible say about what I am involved with at my church?  Lots of questions, all legitimate, so let's talk through some of them.

First, some important points:

1.  Singing or playing an instrument in church is presenting the gospel or the good news.  Every time we present the gospel is should be special, not something we allow to become routine or predictable.

2.  Our preparation time is vitally important.  My prayer and devotions help to focus in on the message I give.  How many times have you seen a church singer or musician show up for a service just to 'do their thing'?

3.  Anointed singing / playing is more than entertainment: it's a ministry.  The sooner you recognize this the better!

4.  When singing / playing is void of the anointing, it is ineffective!  A cold branding iron has never left its mark anywhere.

5.  When you are singing or playing to your local congregation, you are already acquainted with most of the audience.  You must be prepared to minister with a clear concious.  Your friends know you, they see you at your best and at your worst.  Live what you profess and sing.

6.  Perception is everything.  Sometimes the first impression is the lasting one.  When you have prepared your mind, spirit, and soul, the audience will feel the sincerity in what you are doing.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we will delve into these concepts further and begin validating the ideas with scriptures, personal experiences, and (true) funny church stories!     :0)

<a href="http://www.hypersmash.com/hostgator/" id="ME498">HostGator promos</a>

Tips for Developing a Music Ministry at an Established Church -- Part 2

Here is the second and final part of this two-blog series; picking up where I left off, at number seven.

7.  Develop relationships with people in the church and music department

This may seem obvious and an unspoken rule, but you would be surprised at the number of musicians/directors/singers that do not go out of their way to integrate deeply into their congregation.  It can be tempting to stay in your comfort zone, to not go out of your way to talk to that elder sister that sits on the other side of the building....  Or that new family that seems a little weird.   :0)    But remember that half of your success on the platform is the music you present to the congregation: the other half is who you are to those people that are watching/listening to you.

8.  Do not alienate your audience by only doing "your style" of music; gradually incorporate style changes

This is very important to a church, as music is like an opinion: everyone has one (or two, or thirty).  There is nothing wrong with drawing strongly from a base style you are comfortable/accomplished at.  You must be careful though not to find yourself singing/playing/teaching only one style of music.  Not only does this limit the boundaries of your fellow singers/musicians and how much they can blossom and grow in their ministries, it is also very selfish for you to push one certain sound on the rest of the church.  To be varied and comprehensive in your approach, you will need to mix up a combination of church music.  I find that a good mix for me includes contemporary, black gospel, and some material that a few well-known Pentecostal choirs produce.

9.  Rise above criticism

Being in front of everyone and trying to lead in worship through your voice or an instrument is no easy task.  Be assured, occasionally someone will make comments to you or to your pastor that seem critical and unconstructive.  Unfortunately this is part of the job!  It is impossible to please everyone all the time - you are striving to appeal to the mass of your congregation in such a manner as to assist them in entering into the presence of the Lord.  It is no easy task!  Providing criticism isn't constant or from a large demographic of your church, you will need to brush it off and keep soldiering.  There is nothing wrong with talking with your pastor when criticism comes; ask him/her to give you an unbiased opinion of your progress in your department, and ask for constructive criticism and feedback.

10.  Be secure in your position (don't use it as a weapon or manipulation, but don't sweat the small stuff - you will win loyalty in time)

11.  Discover new talent in your church

This is something that should be done continually.  Why, you ask?  Because every congregation changes here and there over time; saints come, saints go, and you will still be there doing your job.  Even if you have a very accomplished, seasoned praise team / choir / group of musicians, you should always be keeping your eyes out for new talent and interest.  When you find it, latch onto it and try to encourage the individual to pursue it.  This will require some more time on your part, but that child that loves to bang on the piano now may be a phenomenal musician in five years.  Notice I did not say it is your job to *teach* individuals with interest in your department.  If you can manage this with your time and resources, that is fine.  But I am a big promoter of people going out and obtaining their own training, whether it be musical or vocal.  Someone who really is interested in being a part of your team will attempt to learn musical/vocal basics through school bands or private instructors.  There is nothing wrong with allowing people to prove their passion for your department by expecting them to sacrifice the time and effort to learn and develop their voice or an instrument.  After all - you put forth blood, sweat, and tears to get where you are, correct?  There are no shortcuts to becoming a capable singer, director, or musician.

Tips for Developing a Music Ministry at an Established Church -- Part 1

These are some tips that may help you if you find yourself in a church that is established (not a new work) and you feel the need for further development in your department:

1.  Discover the pastor's vision

Numbers 11:16-17

"And the LORD said unto Moses, gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand with thee.  And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone."

In order to follow the God-given order of the church, you as a singer/musician/music leader must learn the heartbeat of your pastor.  This will allow you to modify your approach to assist him in achieving some of his goals and fulfill his vision as it pertains to the music department.  Your pastor needs your help!  Even if it seems that he is not interested in sharing his vision or his burden for music, it is your responsibility to make the sincere effort to develop your relationship with him.  I worked hard at this during my seven-year tenure as the Music Minister at Phoenix Revival Center in Phoenix, AZ.  The result of my labor was a very close, trusting, personal relationship with my pastor at the time.


2.  Hold up the hands of your leadership

Serve your leader(s)!  It should not matter if your leadership is musical, involved first hand in the music department, or if they do not seem to express an interest at all in your efforts (this is very diffult to accept, I know).  As a member of the ministry team, you should strive to visibly support your pastor and ministerial staff - it is crucial that your congregation see this on a continual basis.  Make your leader(s) look good!   :0)   Defend your leadership from unfounded or vicious attacks from others.  Your pastor and his wife endure untold attacks from the devil and from misguided saints alike.  They need you in their corner, backing them up.

3.  Blessing and anointing flows down from the head

Psalms 133....   The Lord commands a blessing on the head of your spiritual life - your pastor!  Your pastor is the head of your ministry, because God has given him authority over your ministry.  As such, you need to submit yourself to the head...  Where the head goes, the body follows.  I believe this also includes your pastor's wife as well.  I always try to make a concerted effort to have dialogue with my pastor's wife - she is the lady that does many behind-the-scenes things you will never know.  Shift your perception of your pastor's wife, and envision the anointing flowing down from both his and her heads.

4.  Being in submission to your authority puts you in line for a blessing!

Hebrews 13:17....   "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

In order for God to elevate you, you must always be submitted to the head.  You must also not be prideful.  Always remember, whether you are a singer/musician/director: there is always somebody just around the corner that is much better than you!   Stay humble.   :0)


5.  Have a long-term and short-term plan (where is the department at now and where do I want it to go?)

There is nothing wrong with making a three-month, six-month, and twelve-month checklist and putting it somewhere visible as a reminder.  The refrigerator is a sure-fire location!   lol

6.  Don't initiate changes too quicky (avoid offending people)

This rule may apply to you in varying degrees depending on your local congregation.  It is normal for an immature, unseasoned musician/director/singer to want to change things overnight and "fix" things that you perceive to be broken.  SLOW DOWN when you make major changes in the music department.  Remember that the item that in your opinion is "broken" has been the source of great blessings to a number of the saints!  Change is good, providing it betters the music department and benefits the majority of saints in the church.  Sudden change is usually not the greatest approach and can alienate you from a base in the congregation that you really need on your side -- the older/senior saints!   :0)    What?  That doesn't make sense, you say....    But yes it does and from more than one facet.  The Bible commands you to respect your elders....  There are immediate and long-term benefits for you if you do just that.  Also realize that the older, mature, established base of your congregation are the same ones who pay the majority of the offerings/tithes/sacrificial giving in your church.  To alienate them and to have them ringing the pastor's phone off the hook regarding YOU isn't your best recipe for success.  I have experienced this for myself - take my word for it.    :0)

<a href="http://www.hypersmash.com/hostgator/" id="ME498">HostGator promos</a>

Biblical History of Musical Praise in the Bible - Part 2 by Nathan Kesler

Israelite worship music was both vocal and instrumental; the sanctuary orchestra contributed to the celebration of Israel's covenant with the Lord. Its instruments fall into the same general classes with which we are familiar — percussion, winds (pipes) and strings. Horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps and lyres were used when the ark was brought to Mount Zion, and their continued use is reflected in their mention in the Psalms. The sanctuary instruments were not solo instruments, but sounded simultaneously to call the assembly to worship (Psa. 98:6). Strings and pipes, if used, probably played the modalities (tune elements) in the psalm being sung, with perhaps distinctive patterns of ornamentation. Horns, trumpets and cymbals added to the festive joy by creating a larger sound. The selah of the Psalms may have been an instrumental interlude, or a "lifting up" of sound by both singers and instrumentalists. Tambourines, usually played by women, are mentioned in connection with dancing at Israelite festivals (Psa. 68:25), but were not used in the sanctuary where only men served as priests and musicians.

What did the music of Israel's worship sound like? While we cannot know today exactly how it sounded, recent research has confirmed the similarity between Hebraic music and ancient forms of Christian chant. Biblical music incorporated several characteristic features:

• Monophony, the use of an unharmonized melodic line — although ornamentation and instrumental accompaniment could create a primitive form of harmony.
• Modality refers to the use of various musical motifs within a certain scale, each with its own function.
• Ornamentation, the use of enhancements suited to the skill of the performer.
• Rhythm — Semitic music does not use the regular beat of modern Western music but has a more complex pattern of time structuring.
• Scale — Semitic music follows a generally diatonic melody, but with some use of quarter-tone intervals as well as whole or half tones.
• Improvisation, the practice of composing the music in the process of performing it using skills acquired through a long period of training.
• Antiphony — In antiphonal music, groups of performers answer one another in statement and response. Examples in biblical worship may be found in the Psalms (Pss. 24, 118) and the "Holy, holy, holy" of Isaiah's seraphim (Isa. 6:3), in a vision no doubt influenced in its expression by the chanting of priestly choirs. This last feature suggests that the congregation, as well as trained musicians, may have been involved in the musical responses of the service.

Worship Music in the New Testament

The worship of the emerging Christian movement did not produce new forms of music, but shared the characteristics described above, many of which are still found in the music of historic liturgies. Clearly, the worship life of the early church included psalms and other forms of song.

The New Testament mentions worship music in several places. The gospel story begins with a hymn of praise on the lips of the heavenly host, "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14). Reading the lesson from Isaiah in the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-20), Jesus probably intoned it according to the custom of the time. The Gospels record that Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn after the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26), probably the "Great Hallel" (Psalms 113-118) of the Passover tradition. Luke records that Paul and Silas were singing hymns in prison at Philippi when an earthquake occurred (Acts 16:25). Paul urges the Christians of Ephesus and Colossae to give thanks to God in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Describing the assembly of the church of Corinth, he remarks that "everyone has a psalm" (1 Cor. 14:26) which must blend with the contributions of other worshipers in an orderly service. Perhaps "psalms" were the biblical psalms, while "hymns" could have been Christian music in praise of Christ and "spiritual songs" more spontaneous worship expressions.

Luke quotes several hymns in the beginning chapters of his Gospel. In addition to the Gloria in Excelsis mentioned above, he includes the Magnificat or Song of Mary (1:46-55), the Benedictus or Song of Zechariah (1:67-79) and the Nunc Dimittis or Song of Simeon (2:29-32). Although spoken by several figures in the story of Jesus' birth, these hymns came to be used in Christian worship at an early period. Paul quotes what may have been another song, "Awake, O sleeper," in Eph. 5:14. Scholars have suggested that other passages in Paul's letters are based on primitive Christian hymns in praise of Christ, such as Philippians 2:6-11, Colossians 1:15-20 and 1 Timothy 3:16. Such hymns may have been composed to reinforce Christian teaching about the nature of Jesus' Messiahship. The Hosanna hymn of the crowds at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:9, based on Psa. 118:26) became part of the historic Christian eucharistic celebration.

Musical expression of Christian worship reaches its New Testament climax in the hymns of the Revelation to John. In John's vision, acts of praise before God's throne accompany the dramatic unfolding of events on earth. These hymns glorify the Creator (4:11), proclaim the worth of the Lamb (5:9-10; 5:12), extol both the Father and the Son (5:13; 7:10; 7:12), celebrate God's triumph over the enemies of his people (11:16; 11:17-18; 12:10-12; 19:1-3; 19:6-8), and proclaim his justice (15:3-4; 16:5-7). Additional songs celebrate the defeat of the unfaithful city, persecutor of the saints (chapter 18). This pageant of praise is initiated by four living creatures drawn from the vision of Ezekiel, singing words derived from Isaiah's vision in the temple (Rev. 4:8). It expands to include the elders of the covenant people, the hosts of heaven, and eventually every creature. Perhaps these hymns reflect the actual worship practice of the church near the end of the first century. If so, the Revelation offers a window not only into the judgments of God in the earth but also into the development of Christian liturgy and hymnody.

The New Testament does not supply enough detail to reconstruct the exact musical content of developing Christian worship. We should avoid the temptation to project the practices of later centuries back into Bible times. One question is the degree to which Israelite musical practices, including the use of instruments, offer a clue to what was thought appropriate in the New Testament church. Since the Hebrew Scriptures were still the authority for teaching and practice (1 Tim. 3:16-17), their broad principles regarding music must have remained the norm. The young church was a community under persecution, and could not apply the full resources of biblical celebration to its worship assemblies. Nevertheless, the evidence shows that music played a vital role in the worship of the emerging Christian community.

Nathan Kesler

Biblical History of Musical Praise in the Bible - Part 1 by Nathan Kesler

So what is this thing called praise/worship/music ministry all about?  Where does it originate from and how long has it been around?

Music played an important part in the worship of biblical communities, as a way of approaching the mystery of God and of expressing the joy of his presence. This article discusses the role of music in the worship of Israel and of the early church, by way of establishing a biblical foundation for music in the Christian worship of today.

Music in Israelite Worship
Israelite prophets were musicians. During the exodus Miriam the prophetess, taking her tambourine, led the women in song and dance, celebrating the Lord's triumph over the Egyptians (Exod. 15:20-21). Saul encountered a band of sanctuary prophets who prophesied accompanied by instruments (1 Sam. 10:5). Isaiah composed songs, including one celebrating the Lord's deliverance of those who trust in him (Isa. 26:1-6). The public regarded Ezekiel as "one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument" (33:32).
David, a musician as well as a warrior, established the place of music in the worship of the Lord. Even before the sacrifices had been moved to Jerusalem, he instructed the Levitical musicians to celebrate the ark's journey to Zion (1 Chron. 15:16-24), and appointed Asaph as chief musician in charge of continual thanksgiving and praise (1 Chron. 16:1-7). The description of this activity (1 Chron. 25:1-7) suggests that these musicians led in a spontaneous and overwhelming outpouring of worship, especially at high moments like the dedication of Solomon's temple (2 Chron 5:11-14). This may be the "new song" to which the Psalms refer (33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 144:9, 149:1). Many Psalms perhaps originated in this pre-temple Davidic worship centering around the ark of the covenant.

In the temple, music functioned as a "sacrifice of praise," an offering of song to accompany the offering of sacrifice. Under the Judean rulers, the performance of music became regulated and standardized. The titles of 55 Psalms refer to the music director, with instructions for performance on various instruments or using certain tunes. This psalmody remained a feature of Israelite and Jewish worship. After the exile, Ezra recruited more than 200 Levites for service in the sanctuary (Ezra 8:18-20). First-century Jewish sources indicate that the choir of Herod's temple consisted of at least twelve adult male singers, with no upper limit. Singers served between the ages of thirty and fifty, after a five-year training period. The sources also describe the instruments in use at that time.

After the Babylonian exile, most Jews lived in the Dispersion (areas outside of Palestine) and could not participate in temple worship. Therefore the synagogue arose for prayer and the study of the Scriptures. The Psalms continued to be sung, and other portions of the Scriptures as well as prayers were chanted according to a developing system of "modes." Such Jewish music influenced the worship of the early church.

Nathan Kesler

Tune in for my continual thoughts and musings regarding music ministry - Nathan Kesler

Hello to all my friends and family!  I am looking forward to posting some of my own thoughts here in the near future regarding music ministry.  I believe some of this may be of help to my fellow music ministers, singers, musicians, and directors.  I welcome feedback and comments on everything.  Pitch in and made your comments be known as well!      - Nathan Kesler