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Announcing the Winners of the Free NEXT Registration

By on May 15, 2010 in —Contests, —Next/New Attitude

I was going to do this at noon but was in the middle of teaching a seminar on parenting 19-22 year olds… We had some great entries for this contest and I wish I could give away a free NEXT registration to everyone who participated. THANKS for being so enthusiastic about the conference! But the three individuals who have won a free pass to this year’s NEXT conference are: Bertrhude Albert Kathy Hudgins Sarah Danaher Someone will be contacting you with information about how to register for free. And to inspire you, here’s some of the things Bertrhude Albert (the lady on the left in the picture above) did to spread the word about …

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NEXT is Coming Soon – Win a Free Registration

By on May 12, 2010 in —Next/New Attitude

At the end of the month, I’ll have the joy of leading the music at NEXT in Baltimore, MD, along with three bands: the NA Band, Zelos, and Generation Letter. Last year we recorded the music and produced an album that you can download for 5 bucks. NEXT is a conference designed for college students, young singles, and young married couples, but open to anyone who’d like to come. This year at Next we’ll be studying some of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. We’ll ask, “What difference should these things make in the way we live?” As we consider who God is, what Jesus accomplished, how the Bible should guide us, how we grow …

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The Prodigal

By on May 6, 2010 in —Sovereign Grace Music, Videos

I came across this video recently on YouTube. It uses a song from our Sons & Daughters album, The Prodigal, written by the brother/sister team of Ryan and Meghan Baird. When I first watched it, I was unexpectedly moved by the way the animation communicated the meaning of the lyrics. I quickly forgot that I was watching a video and was drawn into the reality of the Father’s intimate, forgiving, personal love for those he has made his own in Jesus Christ. Good art has a way of pointing our eyes to what matters most. Here are the lyrics: You held out Your arms, I walked away Insolent I spurned Your face Squandering the gifts …

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Dementia, Miscommunication, and Extraneous Sounds – Another Normal Sunday

By on May 5, 2010 in —Choosing Songs, —Leading a Congregation

This past Sunday I had the privilege (an overused word, yes, but always true) of leading the singing at my home church, Covenant Life. I’ve had requests to post more on what we do on Sundays, so here it is, my rundown of another normal Sunday. We’re in a series called “Living Hope” as we preach through the book of 1 Peter. Two Sundays ago we heard about the prophets who were faithful to prophesy about the grace that was to be ours and “searched and inquired carefully” (1 Pet. 1:10). So this week seemed like a great Sunday to teach the Getty/Townend song, By Faith. The song includes the verse: By faith the prophets saw a day When the longed-for …

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Songs from Together for the Gospel 2010

By on April 30, 2010 in —Choosing Songs, —Hymns, —Together for the Gospel

Here’s a list of the songs we sang at Together for the Gospel this year. You can download the four part arrangement we included in the T4G booklet by clicking on the title. Due to copyright restrictions, we can’t give away songs that aren’t public domain or are owned by someone other than Sovereign Grace Ministries. Tuesday Afternoon Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing And Can it Be There is a Fountain Speak, O Lord Tuesday Evening Before the Throne I Hear the Words of Love In Christ Alone Wednesday Morning How Firm a Foundation I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow My Song is Love Unknown How Deep the Father’s Love Wednesday …

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Reflections on Leading at Together for the Gospel 2010

By on April 29, 2010 in —Hymns, —Together for the Gospel

Not too long ago I had the privilege and joy of leading the singing as 7000 people, mostly pastors, gathered in Louisville, KY for the Together for the Gospel conference. I’ve posted on why we picked the music we did and how I had a few more limitations this year. One limitation I didn’t expect was finding out four days before the conference that I had had strep throat for two weeks. Didn’t seem to affect my voice too much (not sure anyone would have noticed the difference anyway), but I was definitely operating at less than full capacity. All the messages were excellent, but I particularly appreciated Mark Dever’s (The Church is the Gospel …

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Learning to Live With Limitations, Pt. 2

By on April 19, 2010 in Videos

Last week I posted on Leading with Limitations at Together for the Gospel. When I saw the video below (via Michael Hyatt), I repented of even thinking I was limited. Ever. I’m not sure of where this family is spiritually, but they certainly model making the most of your limitations. One of my favorite Patrick Henry Hughes quotes: “God made me blind and unable to walk. Big deal. He gave me the musical gifts I have and and the great opportunity I have to meet new people.” Patrick’s example of gratefulness and faithfulness isn’t the only example worth emulating here. His dad shows a selfless commitment to his son that is simply remarkable, …

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Help Us Choose the Cover for our Next Kids’ Album

By on April 12, 2010 in —Children, —Sovereign Grace Music

Over on Facebook, we asked our Sovereign Grace Music fans to help us pick the idea for our next kids’ album, Walking with Wise. The technology didn’t quite work the way we hoped, so we thought we’d try again on WorshipMatters. First, a little info. As the title suggests, this album will be 13 songs based on the book of Proverbs, with titles like Lazy Bones, A Cheerful Heart, To Tell the Truth, and Trust in the Lord. We try to aim our kids’ albums at  a 6-10 year old audience, although we’ve been told that older and younger children, and even parents, enjoy them, too. Since we’re aware that not every 6-10 year old who will be singing these …

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Learning to Live with Limitations at Together for the Gospel

By on April 9, 2010 in —Musicians & Vocalists, —Together for the Gospel, —Worship and the Pastor

The Rolling Stones, not generally known for wise words of instruction, reminded us of the truth that, “You can’t always get what you want.” Next week I have the joy and privilege of leading 7000+ Together for the Gospel conference attendees in singing the praises of our great Savior. Typically I lead with a full band, and enjoy the variety that can be achieved by adding various acoustic instruments, synths, percussion, and vocalists to the mix. But you can’t always get what you want. So at Together for the Gospel this year, it will just be me and a piano. Just like 2006 and 2008. Will I be limited? Yes. Will I praise God any less passionately? …

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What Do You Say When You Lead Worship? Part 3

By on March 26, 2010 in —Leading a Congregation

I’m aware that for many people reading the question posed in the title of this post, their immediate and firm answer is, “Nothing!” I, too, have been the victim (and the perpetrator) of comments during corporate worship that are more distracting than helpful. That’s why I want to list ten practical aspects today that hopefully will keep a well-intentioned, zealous leader from misinterpreting what I’ve been saying. 1. Recognize that God’s words outlast ours. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions …

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What Do You Say When You Lead Worship? Part 2

By on March 25, 2010 in —Leading a Congregation

Yesterday I described eight worship leader stereotypes who aren’t quite sure what to say when they’re standing in front of a group of people. Today I wanted to give four reasons why we should say anything. 1. Magnify When we’re leading corporate worship, our first responsibility is to magnify the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. We’re saying with David, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Ps. 34:3) When I use the word “magnify” I’m not referring to the way a microscope magnifies something very small, but to the way a telescope magnifies something very big that only …

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What Do You Say When You Lead Worship? Part 1

By on March 24, 2010 in —Leading a Congregation, —WorshipGod Conferences

Last year at the WorshipGod conference I had the opportunity to teach a seminar called, “What Are You Talking About? What to Say When You’re Not Singing.” I wanted to address the age-old question of what to say, if anything, when you’re leading people in congregational worship. What words can inspire people to worship God as we sing, and what words might hinder them? I began by sharing that our first focus isn’t what we say in public, but what we pursue in private. Saying the right things without having the right heart leads to hypocrisy. We shouldn’t expect the church to be affected by truths that we ourselves haven’t been affected by. I …

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Getting Ready for Together for the Gospel

By on March 9, 2010 in —Hymns, —Together for the Gospel

In the midst of other activities, I’ve been preparing to lead the singing for a group of 7000 mostly pastors at Together for the Gospel, to be held Apr. 13-15, 2010 in Louisville, KY. The conference emerged out of a friendship between four men – Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, and CJ Mahaney – who hail from different  backgrounds (Baptist, Presbyterian, charismatic) but who have found a profound unity in their passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This year, they’ll be joined by John Piper, John MacArthur, Thabiti Anyabwile, and R.C. Sproul. Matt Chandler has recently agreed to speak as part of CJ’s session. In addition, there will …

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I’m Writing Another Book

By on March 2, 2010 in —My Second Book

One of my first commitments after finishing my first book, Worship Matters, was never to write another book. As most authors I’ve spoken to will acknowledge, writing is anything but fun. It takes long hours, a commitment over a lengthy period of time, patience, and a lot of looking at what you’ve just written and saying to yourself, “I wouldn’t even read this.” But God has a way of changing desires… About six weeks ago I was talking to Justin Taylor, who works for my publisher, Crossway. Justin has been a most supportive friend, and told me that my first book has been doing well. So…he wondered if I might be interested in writing …

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Spurgeon on the Inexhaustibility of Jesus

By on March 1, 2010 in —Leading a Congregation, —Worship and Christ, —Worship and Music

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) has few peers when it comes to stirring up biblically informed passion for Jesus Christ. My wife made me aware of one of his quotes today from The Daily Spurgeon. It’s from a sermon called “The Fulness Of Jesus, The Treasury Of Saints,” that Spurgeon delivered February 28, 1869. Spurgeon describes how both preaching and music grow dull if they don’t magnify the greatness of the Savior in people’s minds and hearts. His words are just as relevant today as they were 140 years ago. “Brethren, there is an abiding fullness of truth in Christ; after you have heard it for fifty years, you see more of its fullness …

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