Check-up

I am watching my car get lifted up in an automotive shop. I had this funny image in my head of my car smiling and being so excited to finally get an oil change, a fill up on liquids and an overall check-up. Then I started thinking how rarely I allow myself to receive a spiritual check-up and much I don’t enjoy spiritual check-ups. It's almost as bad as going to the dentist. I guess I never want to hear that I'm not doing as well as I should be. How about you? How would your spiritual check up go? After an inspection, what changes would you need to make? If you can think of anything, what’s stopping you from making those changes?

What would be on your spiritual check-up list?

Anointed Worship Leaders

I find that the most anointed and gifted worship leaders do some very similar things. None of these things have to do with a style, form or skill level. So go down the list no matter what type of music you are playing and see if these apply to you. If not, pray about finding a way to implement some of these characteristics.

1. They are incredible humble

2. They sing songs that have good doctrine/theology

3. They study and know the word of God

4. They have consistent personal devotions

5. They encourage and create opportunity for participation

6. They “get out of the way” – not filling every empty space

7. They are relevant to their church and culture

virtual church?

I was listening to a friend of mine who had just returned from a church conference. The local pastor was boasting that they have about 400 active members in church for any given service and another 2-3,000 online. He said that online was the future of their church. How scary is that?

Church cannot be experienced through a computer screen. Church is not a service it is people. The concept of a virtual church eclipses the very reason for the creation of the church. Jesus did not send a virtual version of himself. It was He, in the flesh. Col 1 tells us in verse 15 that  “¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Jesus didn’t cop out. Neither should you.

A virtual church eliminates all the benefits of the local church yet scratches the right itch. Church is about community, accountability, friendship, teaching, preaching, corporate worship, interaction and love realized. It’s easy enough to hide behind our own epidermis, how much easier is it to hide behind a computer screen.

Psalm 92:12-15

 ¹²The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³ They are planted in thhouse of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴ They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, ¹⁵ to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Excellence

Someone asked my wife a great question the other day. They asked, “What is excellence?” At first I was like “du-uh. Isn’t it obvious?” And then I realized that it is not as clear-cut as I first thought.

Webster’s defines excellence as

1. The quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue.

2. An excellent or valuable quality; that by which any one excels or is eminent; a virtue.

In what areas do you display excellence? In what areas do you wish you displayed excellence? Now, what is keeping you from pursuing excellence in all that you do?

For TFH Worship, we pursue excellence in these areas:
1. Dedication to personal, spiritual growth. (i.e. continued focus on our relationship with Jesus)
2. Musicianship
3. Presentation
4. Commitment to the local church

How does your worship team fit into these 4 areas?

How do you, on a personal level fit into these 4 areas? Maybe you need to switch out “musicianship” for whatever it is you do. Possibly “craftsmanship” or “communication” would be a better fit for you.

Whatever you do, realizing that it is for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, do it with excellence. Refuse the status quo and go above and beyond the standard.

For who He is

2 Cor 12:9 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Don’t let what’s wrong with you prevent you from worshiping what’s right with God. We all have our mistakes, sins, inadequacies, temptations, guilt, regret and failures. However, none of those disqualify God from being praised. That is why it is vital that we worship God for who He is. We don’t worship solely because of how He makes us feel. If that were the case we could cease praise because “we’re into it” or “I don’t feel God today” or “The worship leader just isn’t anointed.”

Pursue God and worship with a vigor that bypasses personal disposition. Jesus is worthy no matter what.

2 Tim 2:1 “( your name here ) be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.”