This is an e-mail I sent our musicians and vocalists last week. I’m hoping will be useful to you and your worship team as well.

Leading people in worship—whether you are behind a kit, keyboard, guitar, violin, cello, sax or microphone—is something that should be taken seriously. Being a husband, wife or godly single is something that should be taken seriously. Being a mother or father is something that should be taken seriously. Being a Christ-follower is definitely something that should be taken seriously.

Some of us have been together for 10 years, some of us for one weekend. No matter the time period, I want to ask a difficult question: “Are we growing?”

Are we growing in godliness? (*2 Pet. 1:3-11)

Are you increasing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love (2 Pet. 1)?

The Holy Spirit not only defends against sin, but He attacks it by producing godly character in believers. Do you reflect the character of God with love? Are you joyful? Are you a person of peace? Are you patient, kind, good, faithful and gentle? Do you resist the flesh with self-control? Do you lead in humility? (So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:12) Do you love the Bible? (I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil. Ps. 119:162) Are you growing in godliness? If not, do you desire to grow in these areas?

Are we growing in preparedness?

Pre•par•ed•ness refers to the state of being prepared for specific or unpredictable events or situations. It is an important quality in achieving goals and in avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes.

It is expected that we arrive for rehearsal on Sundays prepared. This means opening Planning Center Online earlier in the week, show up on time and have our parts practiced. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of being able to play with the same band every week, which means you show up once a month with a new group of people. In a two-hour period, you are expected to not only hammer out each of the songs, but to gel with one another and actually worship—the reason we gather each Sunday anyway. I’m certainly not speaking of the weeks I get the songs out too late. I’ve done this over the years and I’m sorry. I am working on getting that list out earlier each week.

Are you growing in preparedness? If not, do you desire to grow in this area?

Are we growing in our gifting; are we improving?

We’re all presented with the challenge of how to improve our capacity for creative expression and grow in our gifting.

The key to improving is recognizing your weaknesses on your instrument, and not shying away from them; rather, face them head on. This may require a great teacher and is certainly something that any musician should be considering, regardless of ability or experience. A good teacher will point you towards areas for improvement, and give you strategies and practice techniques to move forward.

Here are just three areas to consider:

1. Ear -
   Often a musician will be more proficient at one of these and the other will lack somewhat. Listening to a song and working out the parts on your instrument is a great way to learn to play what you hear. This is a really helpful skill for playing within our team, but also writing parts for songs.
2. Timing -
   Every musician/vocalist should own and practice with a metronome. Start by singing or playing a song you already know. Break it down into small pieces—an intro riff or verse melody—and practice one of these with the click repetitively for at least 2 minutes. Work on articulation, precision and rhythmic accuracy. Change the tempo and try the same line again.
3. Creativity -
   Practice being creative. Improvisation and writing parts, making melodies on the spot is one of the great aspects of music. Like any other activity, practice improves your ability to create what you want to create. I recommend doing this with other musicians. One of you might play chords under a singer/other instrumentalist and then switch it around. Practice coming up with parts over different chords. Buy a recording device, and you can do this anytime. Enjoy the process of honing your skills and opening new possibilities for creative expression on your instruments.

Know and understand your role. You are a worship leader (musician/vocalist) standing on a stage in front of many people who will either think about you or about God. Though we can’t control the thoughts of others but we can certainly keep from being a distraction as we point others to God as we worship Him. Do you want people to think about you, or is the worship of God your desire?

Understand the big picture. Is there is a spot where you can let the song breathe a bit, or will you have to fill that hole? Less is more.

Here is some help in the area of growing in our musical gifts:

+ Vocalists, are you singing on days other than Sundays? Are you strengthening your vocal cords? Just as you lift weights to strengthen certain muscles at the gym, you should be singing often and learning to breathe well in order to strengthen your vocal cords. Check out this website for more information on voice functioning, as well as videos of what’s actually going on when you’re singing (pretty interesting).

Are you using the Vocal Coach CD, or something comparable, to warm up your voice and expand your range? If not, I would highly recommend you do so.

Resources:
Vocal Technique
Basic Vocal Techniques
Vocal Training in Dallas – 1
Vocal Training in Dallas – 2
How to Breathe When Singing
How to Sing With Your Diaphragm

Recommended Listening:
Passion (Christy Nockels), Hillsong (Jill McCloghry & Brooke Ligertwood), Joy Williams, Sara Bareilles, Natalie Grant, Regina Spektor , Kendall Payne, Christina Aguilera and Sarah McLachlan.

Listen for things like pitch (sharp/flat), rhythm, when and how they breathe, diction, crescendo (to get gradually louder), decrescendo (to get gradually softer), staccato (singing the notes in a short and detached way, usually used for fast or happy and lively songs) and legato (singing in a smooth and jointed fashion), vibrato (a rapid, slight variation in pitch) and when and how they choose to belt their voice and or soften it.

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+ Guitar players, are you working on scales, picking, strum patterns, making space, etc. Are you playing our style at The Village? Do you think about tone? Do you think creatively?

Resources Electric:
The Pursuit of Tone
Electric Guitar Amps/Pedal Boards (by Jeff Capps)
Amp Settings
Guitars, Riffs and Songwriting
Nigel playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)

Resources Bass:
Bob playing ‘Desert Song’ (Hillsong)
Ads playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)
Ads playing ‘Run’ (Hillsong)

Recommended listening:
U2 (The Edge), Hillsong United (Nigel), Chris Tomlin (Daniel), The Fray (Joe King)

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+ Drummers, are you listening to drummers that have our style? Are you practicing?

Resources:
Finding the Pocket
Exponential Motivation
Rolf playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)
Rolf playing ‘Run’ (Hillsong)

Recommended listening:
‘Absolute’ & ‘You Found Me’ by The Fray, ‘You Won’t Relent’ by Chris Quilala & Kim Walker, ‘Hosanna’ by Starfield, ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay, ‘My Love, My Enemy’ & ‘Someday, Sarah’ by Dave Barnes, ‘We The Redeemed’ and ‘You Hold Me Now’ by Hillsong, ‘God of Justice’ by Tim Hughes, ‘Love Invades’ by Robbie Seay Band and ‘Move’ & ‘Free’ by Mercy Me.

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+ Keys, are you listening to creative keys players? Are you practicing? Have you ever thought about using delay?

Resources:
Approach to Keyboard Playing
Pete’s Gear List
Listening/Musical Influences
Playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)
Playing ‘Desert Song’ (Hillsong)

Recommended Listening:
Hillsong (Great use of pads, piano, Rhodes, delay, etc), Coldplay, Tim Hughes (esp. ‘God of Justice’ it’s tough timing and ‘When I Survey’ from the “Happy Day-Live Worship” CD), The Fray, Jamie Cullum (Twentysomething), Josh Drew (Call or email him. He is an amazing teacher) and Keith Jarrett (The Koln Concert).

Are you growing in your gifting? Are you improving? If not, do you desire to grow in this area?

Are we serving for the right reasons and in the right ministry?

I know that serving in the worship ministry takes time and energy. I know it’s a sacrifice. You give up at least one night of the week of your rotation to rehearse the songs on your own, and then you show up on Sunday and give up that whole day. I know that some of you have families and other responsibilities that wait for them as soon as they get home on Sunday night and/or Monday morning. I know you can grow weary; but I also know that the Lord will provide. I know if you are serving for the right reasons, in the right ministry, God will be glorified. Are you serving for the right reasons? Pray and ask the Lord.

Let me know if serving in this ministry is too time consuming or wearisome.

Please answer these questions:

Are you growing in godliness, preparedness and gifting/creativity?

If your answer is “no,”are you willing to pursue these things?

Are you serving for the right reasons and in the right ministry?

I love you and am honored to serve alongside you at The Village making much of our great God and King!

* 2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Worship Pastor Michael Bleecker provides teaching and insight into “O God of Our Salvation.” If you would like to maximize the video to full screen for easier viewing, mouseover the video and in the bottom right corner you will see the full-screen icon. The video below is also available on The Village Church YouTube Channel.

Additional Resources
Chords & Lyrics | Audio Only
Music from The Village

Many of you have asked for the song list from the Acts 29 conference in Colorado last week. Here are the songs we sang:

• In Christ Alone
• Stronger
• When I Survey
• O God of Our Salvation | Other Village Music
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• You’re Beautiful
• Before the Throne of God Above
• Grace Greater Than Our Sin (Arrangement and Bridge by Adam Crawford) | Other Village Music
• In My Place | Other Village Music

Some have also asked about the prayer book Lauren Chandler read from before each session. It’s called “The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. “ It’s available from Amazon.

If you have any other questions, e-mail me or check out our website.

A few years ago I read a book by John Piper called Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. In this book I discovered a prayer that has encouraged and strengthened my prayer time.

I keep a copy of the prayer on my desk and backstage so I can always reference it quickly. I posted it below in hopes that it also may encourage and strengthen your prayer time as you plead for the souls of your people.

“The life-giving preacher is a man of God, whose heart is ever athirst for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God’s Spirit the flesh and the world have been crucified and his ministry is like the generous flood of a life-giving river.

“God, deliver us from the professionalizers! Deliver us from the low, managing, contriving, maneuvering temper of mind among us. God, give us tears for our sins. Forgive us for being so shallow in prayer, so thin in our grasp of holy verities (truths), so content amid perishing neighbors, so empty of passion and earnestness in all our conversation. Restore to us the childlike joy of our salvation. Frighten us with the awesome holiness and power of Him who can cast both soul and body into hell. Cause us to hold to the cross with fear and trembling as our hope-filled and offensive tree of life. Grant us nothing, absolutely nothing, the way the world views it. May Christ be all in all.

“Banish professionalism from our midst, Oh God, and in its place put passionate prayer, poverty of spirit, hunger for God, rigorous study of holy things, white-hot devotion to Jesus Christ, utter indifference to all material gain, and unremitting labor to rescue the perishing, perfect the saints, and glorify our sovereign Lord.

“Humble us, O God, under Your mighty hand, and let us rise, not as professionals, but as witnesses and partakers of the sufferings of Christ. In His awesome name. Amen.”

There have been times in my life when God has allowed me to go my own way. My move to Nashville after college was one such time. I knew my move would mean I would be walking in disobedience, but I didn’t care — my way seemed best.

Thankfully, my rebellion quickly became apparent and I moved away. I have since learned that a disregard for the Lord and His way is always wrought with pain, darkness and sin.

In one of my favorite passages of Scripture, we see another rebel recklessly throwing away all that he owned in search of his own way:

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Don’t miss that his father saw him (he must have been watching for his son), ran to meet him (running was considered to be undignified for an older person), and embraced him, which literally means, “fell on his neck.”

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Bob Kauflin says, “Good art has a way of pointing our eyes to what matters most.” Watching the art below not only pointed my eyes to the Savior, but also filled them with tears as I was again reminded of the great love with which my Father loves me.

Here are the lyrics:
You held out Your arms, I walked away
Insolent I spurned Your face
Squandering the gifts You gave to me
Holding close forbidden things
Destitute a rebel still, a fool in all my pride
The world I once enjoyed is death to me
No joy, no hope, no life

Where now are the friends, that I had bought
Gone with every penny lost
What hope could there be for such as I
Sold out to a world of lies
Oh, to see Your face again, it seems so distant now
Could it be that You would take me back
A servant in Your house

You held out Your arms, I see them still
You never left, You never will
Running to embrace me, now I know
Your cords of love will always hold
Mercy’s robe, a ring of grace
Such favor undeserved
You sing over me and celebrate
The rebel now Your child
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

Worship Pastor Michael Bleecker provides teaching and insight into “Made Us Alive.” If you would like to maximize the video to full screen for easier viewing, mouseover the video and in the bottom right corner you will see the full-screen icon. The video below is also available on The Village Church YouTube Channel.

Additional Resources
Chords & Lyrics | Audio Only
Music from The Village

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.    Romans 7:22-23

John Piper defines the law of sin as “a power or an impulse or a principle that is at work in my body to make me at war with myself and to draw me to do evil.”

The law of sin, when obeyed, rips away our desire for God and fills our hearts and minds with doubt, anger, lust, jealousy, etc. — enslaving us to our sin. It’s at work and it’s being put into practice everywhere.  

So if this law is waging war against my mind and making me captive, how do I fight back? How are we to wage war against sin? 

1. Submerge yourself in the depths of this truth: You are justified, meaning you declared righteous in the sight of God. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Our verdict:  Not guilty. All sins forgiven. All guilt removed. All punishment averted because of Christ. 
2. Understand that victory is not won by our own unaided striving. Victory is won by the work of God’s Spirit in us as we’re being sanctified: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2). The power to defeat sin and the pardon to forgive sin are “in Christ Jesus,” not any striving of our own. Yet, we fight, and we fight confidently because we are justified, not trusting in our performance, but in the righteousness found in Christ Jesus working in us.
3. Hide the Word of God in your hearts. In Matthew 4:1-11, we see Jesus warring against the devil with Scripture saying, “It is written” four times before “the devil left him.” “All Scripture,” in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “is breathed out by God and profitable for…training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

 Here are a few Scriptures to hide in your hearts: 

• 1 John, specifically 1-2:6.   
• Galatians 5 (memorize verse 24)
• Hebrews 10 (memorize verse 23)
• Psalm 51 (memorize verses 2-4)
• Psalm 79:9
• Romans 13:8-14 (memorize verse 14)
• Romans 6 (memorize verse 1-2; 6)

Informed by the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, our battles within the war turn from debilitating blows to redemptive victories. 

May we stop pretending war isn’t near — acting as though we are safe from its fiery blasts and bloody engagements. 

May we fight well in this war waging all around us. 

May we never forget our victory has already been won and our position secure as sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Worship Pastor Michael Bleecker provides teaching and insight into one of The Village’s favorite gospel worship songs, “In My Place.” If you would like to maximize the video to full screen for easier viewing, mouseover the video and in the bottom right corner you will see the full-screen icon. The video below is also available on The Village Church YouTube Channel.

Additional Resources
Chords & Lyrics | Audio Only
Songs We Sing at The Village

Worship Pastor Michael Bleecker provides teaching and insight into one of The Village’s favorite gospel worship songs, “Glorious Day.” If you would like to maximize the video to full screen for easier viewing, mouseover the video and in the bottom right corner you will see the full-screen icon. The video below is also available on The Village Church YouTube Channel.

Watching the video again, I realized I communicated the chords too casually. Here are the actual chords being played:

“A” is “Asus4″
“D” is “Dsus2″
“D/F#” is “Dsus2/F#”
I forgot to add the “Em7″ as well. It’s played during “Rising He justified…”.

Additional Resources
Chords & Lyrics | Audio Only
Songs We Sing at The Village

The Plan:
Read a study Bible plus the notes in a year. I love the ESV Study Bible. Use these bookmarks developed from Discipleship Journal that segments the entire Bible into 300 daily readings.

Just because Jan. 1 is behind you, it doesn’t mean you can’t start today and end a year from that date.

The Why:
I could write about countless battles won, a deeper joy, and a greater understanding of the goodness of God because of the Scriptures, but I’ll let the Scriptures tell you “The Why.”

Scripture is to be understood correctly

2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 – Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for the man of God

2 Timothy 3:14-16 – But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Scripture provides nourishment that bread cannot

Matthew 4:4 – Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Job 23:12 – I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

Scripture will set you free from guilt and the enslaving power of sinful patterns of conduct

John 8:32 – “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Bob Kauflin, The Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries and worship pastor of Covenant Life Church, read the ESV Study Bible last year and wrote down some thoughts on it that I found helpful

May our lives be saturated with the Word; our thoughts, our songs, our prayers. Let me know if you’re up for the challenge. It’s worth it.