Reflections on WorshipGod24: One with Christ

From July 24-27, over 1300 people gathered in Louisville, KY, to participate in WorshipGod24. Our theme this year was One with Christ: How our Union with Christ Affects Everything.

Going into a WorshipGod conference I never know in what specific ways God is going to meet us. I just know that he always does. And WorshipGod24 was no exception.

We sang. We laughed and learned. We cried tears of joy and repentance. We ate. We fellowshipped. We marveled and reflected. We grew – in our relationship with God and each other.

Before the conference even started, around 250 people attended Master Classes on Wednesday afternoon for pianists, bass players and drummers, guitarists, vocalists, and a general class on Habits of Grace taught by David Mathis. The Master Classes give us the opportunity to focus on technical skills for musicians, who make up the majority of WorshipGod attendees.

During the actual conference we hone in on the theology and heart of corporate worship, which “worship” conferences can sometimes assume. But it’s only when we understand the why of what we’re doing and Who it is we’re seeking to worship, that we can work out the how of arranging, singing, lyric projection, speaking, leading, lighting, and everything else that contributes to our Sunday gatherings.

The Messages

The six main sessions focused on different aspects of our union with Christ. John Piper set the tone for the entire conference by showing us how the promises of God, all of which are YES in Christ Jesus, confirm and strengthen our union with Christ. He reminded us that,

Union with Christ connects the most ordinary things in life with the glorious things of the gospel of Christ.

HB Charles, Jr., senior pastor of Shiloh Church Metropolitan Baptist Church, used Galatians 2:20 to show how our union with Christ means we are saved by the death of Christ, changed by the life of Christ, and freed by the work of Christ. And all this took place because Jesus loves us. The takeaway quote for me was,

Jesus didn’t give us things. He gave Himself for us.

Josh Blount, a Sovereign Grace pastor from Franklin, WV, explored from Colossians 3:1-4 how our most foundational identity is Christ. That means we won’t find who we are by simply looking inside ourselves. He reminded us:

Our sins have an expiration date. Our life in Christ does not.

Devon, my son and senior pastor of a Sovereign Grace Church in Urbana, MD, spoke from Hebrews 8:1-6 on how our union with Christ should affect our gatherings on Sundays. All we do each week has purpose and meaning only as it’s connected to Christ, which takes the pressure off us to perform or put on a production. As Devon put it,

Jesus is the source, subject, means, place, and object of our worship.

Our good friend Mike Bullmore followed up Devon’s message by helping us understand from various verses in Psalm 119 how our union with Christ turns mere devotion into precious, personal communion with God. He encouraged us not to drive a wedge between our Bible and God, pointing out that

Romans 8 doesn’t say nothing can separate us from the ‘justifying work of God in Jesus Christ.’ It says nothing can separate from ‘his love.’

Finally, Jared Mellinger, senior pastor of a Sovereign Grace church near Philadelphia, helped us see the part the Holy Spirit plays in our union with Christ. Because of the Spirit’s work, we can truly experience the presence, power, and peace of Christ in our hearts and lives. What a reason to rejoice!

The whole anthem of the Christian life is, ‘Christ he lives!’

The Music

The singing at WorshipGod conferences is loud. Really loud. We experienced passion, joy, reverence, celebration, tears, and more as we lifted our voices. Even when we sang in another language as Jonathan & Sarah Jerez and Fabrizio Rodulfo led us in a bi-lingual session!

On Thursday night we sang through the 13 songs from our new Knowing God album. It was fantastic. But we ended with a nearly a cappella version of “Crown Him with Many Crowns.” A number of people referenced that as one of the conference highlights.

We featured some musical friends this year who shared their Songs and Stories with us. Caroline Cobb sang some of her songs from the Psalms. My son, Jordan, shared 3 songs he’s written with other writers from Getty Music. For the last one, “Come Unto Jesus,” he invited 4 of his 5 siblings to join him. Definitely one of my highlights. Skye Peterson and Ben Shive introduced us to a few songs they’ve written together. Colin Buchanan, co-writer of Jesus, Strong and Kind, brought his at times hilarious and always theologically sharp songs for kids. Adam Wright of The Corner Room was back again singing his finely crafted, beautifully performed Scripture memory songs. And our own David Zimmer and Nathan Stiff shared three songs that aren’t on an album yet, but a number of people thought they should be! We’ll be working on that.

The Miscellaneous

This year we included some short FOCUS talks on different aspects of Sundays. I spoke on lyric projection: why we use it, how to use it, and the dangers of using it. Bottom line,

We use lyric projection to enable people to see, understand, and sing truth-filled lyrics together in an undistracting, engaging, faith-filled way.

Colin Buchanan did a brilliant job sharing thoughts on “Big Truths for Little Hearts.” He emphasized the importance of distilling, rather than diluting, theological truths, and reminded us that,

Being humbled before big truths is foundational to teaching big truths.

We offered seven seminars aimed at leaders, musicians, and a more general audience. We went with fewer breakouts this year due to space limitations. But it also reminded us that while we each have unique parts to play on a Sunday morning, we can all benefit from the same big ideas.

We gave away a ton of stuff including a copy of Ask Pastor John to every household (you should read it!), almost 30 books to individuals, a Musicman bass guitar, a Taylor mini-acoustic guitar, a $750 Sweetwater gift certificate, a Roland RD-88, a drum bundle, 3 SE V7 mics and stands, guitar strings, pedals, in-ear monitors, headphones, and newly minted SG Music travel mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies. Not to mention a record player and some Christmas vinyls.

The Musings

After every WorshipGod conference we send out a survey to the attendees. People had some great ideas this year for what they appreciated and what we could do better. But two things stood out to me in the the 300+ surveys we received.

First, while people said the conference was great, they couldn’t wait to get back to their church. And to that I say a loud, “Amen!” As we were wrapping things up on Saturday morning, I pointed out that Jesus didn’t come to build conferences. He came to build his Church. And every WorshipGod event is meant to encourage and equip those who plan, lead, and participate in the gatherings of their local congregations.

That value is reflected in the way the conference comes together. WorshipGod is the result of the Sovereign Grace Music staff working tirelessly before, during, and afterwards to serve those who come. But it would be much less fruitful without the 50+ volunteers and part time staff from my home church. And I love that.

Second, I was struck by the number of attendees who left the conference more in awe of Christ. One person summed it up like this:

I came away thinking the biggest thing I need to work on as a Christian, as a worship leader, and as an artist, is forgetting about myself and recentering on Christ and His work. I was amazed at the leaders’ continual demonstration that it’s not about the music; it’s about Christ, even at a conference that is so much about music.

Nothing could be more encouraging. Or more important. Yes, we want to equip people in the skills of planning, leading, projecting, amplifying, and writing songs for congregational worship. But it all has a point. Everything we do only has value only as it moves people to greater affection for the mercy, love, and grace God has shown us in giving his Son, who is not only our Savior, but our life.

So if you came to the conference this year, I pray you returned home filled with fresh faith for how being united with Christ in his perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection changes everything.

And if you weren’t able to make it, you can start planning for WorshipGod26, July 28-31. We’d love to see you there!