Congregational Songs - New Songs for Corporate Worship

New Music Tuesday: “Adopted”

Jeff — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:37:08 +0000

This week, I pull out one of my earliest-written congregational songs. I wrote “Adopted” when I was working for Smarte Carte at the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport during the winter break of ’96 (I was a junior at Belmont University at the time). As I was pulling carts around from place to place, the rhythm of my feet got my mind rolling on a tune and some lyrics, and I just kept singing it all day long so I wouldn’t forget it. I introduced it when I led worship for Centrifuge in Panama City during the summer of ’97, and the producers of the Centrifuge CD that came out the following year included it on an album they released the following summer (produced by my good buddy, Dave Hunt). A few months before that, a worship leader named Daniel Hoover decided to record it on his album, making it my first actual “cut.” Then, during the summer of 1998, a friend of mine traveled with Mercy Me and introduced the song to them. They played it all summer and put it on their “Traces of Rain, Vol. II” album, which, if you hit that link, you’ll see you can only get used for $60 a pop! Makes me want to sell mine! This was obviously before they were heard nationwide with “I Can Only Imagine.”

So, I’m thankful that God took this song all over the place. I played it for the first time in years to make this video, and I still really like it. It’s based on Galatians 4:3-7 where Paul is describing the process by which we were taken from being slaves of the principles of the world to being sons and heirs of God.

Hallelujah! God has spoken, and I know this changes everything / “Hallelujah! Praise Him only,” sing the slaves adopted by the King / Glory be to my Father who reigns, for I met Him and cannot be the same / When in bondage to Jesus I came, He took my place and He changed my name / Hallelujah (women echo) / God has spoken (women echo) / Hallelujah (women echo) / Chains are broken

You can find the chart and lead sheet here.

Myths about Leading: It’s All Up to Me

Jeff — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:26:53 +0000

So, I’ve repented of my pride in dealing with how I feel before God, so I step up on stage with the understanding that it’s only by grace that I am ready. But very soon after the set begins, the next temptation arises. I notice someone in the third row still talking to their friend about something obviously having nothing to do with Jesus. I spot a yawn in the left-back of the room. And another near the middle. During the song that I surely thought would cause people to fully engage and sing at the top of their lungs, it seems like the whole congregation is barely moving their mouths with blank stares on their faces.

I feel a surge in my chest. What’s wrong? I think to myself, “Maybe I just need to sing a little more from my heart.” So I close my eyes and try to sing the words with more meaning. ”Maybe I’m closing my eyes too much.” So I open my eyes and look around, trying to make eye contact as I sing. ”Maybe the sound is off today.” So I imagine a conversation I’ll try to have with a trusted techie friend after the service about how it sounded….you get the picture.

All of these thoughts have one thing in common: they are based on fear. I fear that I might receive criticism after the service. I’m afraid that if worship is not “effective” enough, I might lose my reputation as a good worship leader with the congregation. I anxiously think about whether my team will stop respecting my leadership if the arrangements aren’t good enough to evoke people to praise well.

What do I do with these thoughts? Repent? Well, yes – definitely. And to help me turn away from fear and toward grace, there are some specific truths I can go to in this situation. Here are some clarifying questions I can ask myself when my mind starts meandering this way:

Q: Who is responsible for worship? Is it me?

A: WOW, that’s a lot of pressure. And I just described how it feels above. This follows along the same lines as last week’s post. What if I was responsible for other people worshiping God? I sure would feel terrible if I could tell people weren’t worshiping. On the flipside, I’d feel awfully proud if I could tell they were. Neither of these is a good place to be. And believe me as someone who’s experienced both extremes – you don’t want to ride that roller coaster.

Q: If I’m not responsible for their worship, are they?

A: Yes, in a way. People are responsible for doing the same thing I talked about last week. It is their responsibility to come before the Lord. Not with a list of good things they’ve done to deserve to be in His presence, and not with a despairing heart (though both of these attitudes can certainly be changed within the context of a worship service), but with the understanding that they are a part of this singing congregation only because of the gracious blood of Christ Jesus that was shed for their sins. But I would go so far as to say that the true answer is beyond even the individuals in the congregation.

Q: If it’s not the people’s responsibility, then whose is it?

A: The Holy Spirit’s. I believe that we all need God to open our eyes to His holiness, His beauty, His love, and His forgiveness for us to respond with the kind of worship we were created to offer (Psalm 146:8, Psalm 119:18-19, Philippians 2:12-13). Without God’s work to awaken us, we would all just be trying really hard to make something happen for ourselves, and that would undoubtedly end in some pretty fleshly results. God is the one who does the work of regenerating our hearts when we believe in Christ, and He is the one who continues to make us more like Christ every day. Our only job is to yield to His work.

Q: So, as a worship leader, what is my part?

A: 1) Pray for your congregation. Pray that God will graciously work in their minds and hearts to reveal Himself to them. Pray that they will respond in faith and be changed as they sing, listen, and pray. 2) Do everything you can to not be a distraction. Possible distractions could be:

- not practicing enough, so the congregation is awkwardly waiting for the next mistake

- performing, or trying to do something musically to impress people

- saying too much between songs (or in the middle of songs)

- dressing inappropriately

All of these are things to avoid so that people are not tempted to focus on you or anyone else on stage, and so that they are able to sing wholeheartedly if they want to without being worried about distractions. The inverse of these things are what I would urge any leader to work toward (practicing enough without wearing out your volunteers, working out excellent arrangements that support singing, being sure of what you will say if you decide to say something, dressing appropriately).

God gives us the gifts that we have so that we can “administer grace” to others (I Peter 4:10-11). He loves to use us to pour out his grace to his people. So we can rest assured that it is his responsibility to draw praise from those he has redeemed. Our job is to simply be the vessel. And that fact is a far better motivator for us to lead well than any other.

Myths about Leading: My Heart Is Not Right

Jeff — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:38:20 +0000

It’s a Sunday morning, 10 minutes before the first corporate worship service, and I’m an anxious, or perhaps prideful, or maybe even totally apathetic worship leader. What do I do? I don’t have the choice to just label myself “not currently qualified” and go home. I’m going to have to get up there and at least not be distracting for those who have come. So what’s the plan?

Before I go into what I think God calls me to in that moment, I want to attack a couple of the mindsets I just mentioned. For instance, It’s very easy to think “I’m not qualified to lead today, because my heart’s not right.” Really? So, if my heart WAS right, I would be more qualified? And what exactly does having a “right” heart mean? Does it mean I feel good about myself and my walk with the Lord? Does it mean that I’m not thinking anything sinful at the moment and so that makes me okay to get up there and lead? Well, let’s shoot that down right now by pointing out the fact that thinking I’m qualified to lead because I feel a little more spiritual than usual is quite prideful!

When I’m honest with myself, I know that I could never be spiritually qualified to lead a group of believers in singing songs without God’s merciful redemption of my soul. And in that moment when I am not feeling like I’m good enough to stand up there and do my job, God calls me to do the same thing I would have to do if I felt GREAT about myself before a worship service: REPENT. The humility of heart that comes with turning away from my own ideas of spiritual preparedness and turning to God is the one thing that can qualify me for leading His people. Knowing that I am not worthy of the task with which I am entrusted – that rather I must lead in obedience to Christ and can lead because He has graciously cleansed me from all sin – is the “broken and contrite heart” that King David says God will not despise.

Now, every leader should be honest with those who oversee them about any mastering, habitual sins in their life. Such sins may disqualify someone for leadership for a time as the church leaders surround them with accountability, support and prayer to work through them. And prayerfully, that leader would soon be restored to leadership with greater faith, humility, and power to lead.

But the next time you are having a hard time wanting to lead because you “don’t feel right with God,” ask yourself whose guidelines you’re following in order to be ready to lead – yours or God’s?

“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
- Psalm 51:16-17

New Music Tuesday: “You Are There”

Jeff — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:41:05 +0000

One of my favorite chapters of the Bible for many years has been Psalm 139. It’s a very intimate song – but not in the way you would think or the way we would naturally write a worship song today. Rather than emphasizing how intimate we want to be with God or what we will do to worship Him and be close to Him, it speaks of how intimately God knows us. “You Are There” focuses on Psalm 139:7-12.

I wrote this in my office at church with Mathew Linton, a friend of mine and one of the most innovative melody writers I know. To listen to more of his stuff (along with Laurianne Cates, the other half of the duo “Boot Hill & the Paramount Ship”), click here.

If I go to the heavens, / or make my bed in the depths, / if I rise on the dawn’s wings, / or make my home on the ocean shore, / You are there, You are there, / You are there. / Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, / Living God, You are there.

If I say, “The dark will hide me / and the light be like the night,” / even darkness will shine like daylight, / for the dark is like light to You. (chorus)

I can pray because You bought me, / and your Spirit dwells within, / and on that mountain, You made a promise / that no matter where I am, (chorus)

You can find the chart and lead sheet here.

New Music Tuesday: “We Will Arise”

Jeff — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:30:08 +0000

The universal principle of cause and effect is no different in our spiritual lives than it is anywhere else. In the realm of our souls, God’s work is the cause of the effects of life, growth, and change.

James Tealy and I set out to write a song that reflects this reality in the corporate life of the church. The word “arise” is taken from Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” God continues to speak in this chapter through Isaiah to the people of Israel saying that His glory will be revealed, and it will change everything. God’s glory was revealed in Christ, and His work gives us hope for the glorious picture that we see in verse 19 and on: ”The LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.” The hope of God’s glory in the end gives us cause to arise. This is the song that we pray will remind the church of these truths.

Because of His matchless love / because of His healing touch / His glory displayed in His perfect ways / we will arise / because of His Son, the Christ / because of His sacrifice / because He’s erased our guilt with His grace / we will arise / Chorus: So arise all you children of God / lift your eyes and humble your hearts / He alone is deserving, worthy of praise / so arise, O saints, arise / Because of that promised day / when we finally see His face / and bow at His throne, because of that hope / we will arise (chorus)

Get the chart and lead sheet here.

New Music Tuesday – “Jesus Shall Reign”

Jeff — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:55:03 +0000

Isaac Watts penned the words to “Jesus Shall Reign” in 1719. I just paused for a moment and realized that these lyrics have been around before the USA was the USA. To still be singing them is both a privilege (that they’ve been preserved) and an encouragement (that this man walked humbly with God 300 years ago, and our church is being built up today because he meditated on Psalm 72).

I decided to write a new melody for it a few years ago, and it has been a joyful addition to many of our corporate worship services since.

To see my post, read the lyrics, and download a free mp3, chart and lead sheet, go to this page at reformedpraise.org. Reformed Praise is a site that I came across 6 or 7 years ago. David Ward developed this site as a place for music and worship leaders to find new melodies to songs with great lyrical content from ages past. We share a vision for these kinds of hymns, so I’m thankful that David has welcomed me to call Reformed Praise my home for the re-worked hymns that I compose. All of his content is free, and you can find many great, theologically rich songs to use there.

Be looking for a post here soon about the new CD that Reformed Praise is now in the process of making.

New Music Tuesday – “Have Mercy”

Jeff — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:03:02 +0000

This is one of those songs that quickly reminds me of my rightful place before our holy God – on my knees, begging for mercy. I think it’s one of my favorites because when I sing it, I feel that mournfulness over wrong choices, and the cry of David’s heart for forgiveness so many centuries ago resonates with me. What a sad, passionate, broken song he wrote in Psalm 51.

James Tealy invited me to come write one afternoon with some brothers (spiritually, and literally – they were siblings) who were spending some time in Nashville. We finished another song they were working on before I got there, and then started and finished this one. I’m thankful we did.

From my mother’s womb I was a sinner / Against You alone I have done evil / Surely you desire truth and wisdom / But I turned away, I hid my face / Purge me and I will be clean / Wash me and I will be whiter than snow

(Chorus) Have mercy on me, oh God / According to Your love / According Your faithful love / Have mercy on me, oh God / Wash my transgressions / Cleanse me from all my sin

I am so ashamed my rebellion / Don’t cast me away, away from Your presence / Restore to me the joy of Your salvation / Open my mouth and I’ll sing your praises / Here is my offering to You / I bring the song of a broken heart (chorus)

Find the chart and lead sheet here.

New Music Tuesday – “Hold On to You”

Jeff — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:26:25 +0000

This song is inspired by a friend of mine and his family who are walking through the dark valley of cancer (read their story at teamemmett.com). Suffering is an inevitable part of the human experience, and its mystery lies in its ability to give us a greater understanding of ourselves, of one another, and of our need for God’s mercy. I’ve never walked where my friend has, and my experience with pain thus far in my life pales in comparison. But I pray that this song will give words to anyone that is going through such a time. And may God’s mercy and healing be with you if that’s where you are.

If it looks like I’m looking just off the camera, I am – I still needed the words for this one.

When thunder is rumbling and black clouds blanket the sun / When the storm winds are blowing and pain like a hurricane comes. / When all that I cling to is shaking, and the ground where I’m standing gives way / I will fall, fall to my knees / And You will hold on to me / Help me hold on to You. / You hold the thunder, Your hands give shape to the clouds / I know You are Sovereign, and You know I need You right now.

You can find the chart, lead sheet, and a better recording here.

Addendum…

Jeff — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:10:05 +0000

“My Cry Ascends” is also available at iTunes. For some reason, I couldn’t find the album link, but if you search for “my cry ascends” in iTunes, it will be the only result.

Album Worth Having

Jeff — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:30:16 +0000

I don’t buy much worship music. When I do buy, it’s usually singles off iTunes for the purpose of learning the song and helping others learn it. But this album is worth having even if it were just for listening (which it’s not – these songs are meant to be sung in corporate worship).

Ligonier Ministries, RC Sproul’s ministry, commissioned this album by Gregory Wilbur entitled “My Cry Ascends.” Greg is the Director of Worship for Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN. We recorded his song “Come Ye Souls” on Grace Community’s second release “Waves of Grace.” His specialty is finding old texts and putting beautiful melodies to them. Both Michael Card and Wes King lent their talents to various tracks, and the album was recorded at Card’s place, Mole End Studios.

Musically, Wilbur sprinkles the tracks with Celtic flavoring, weaves psalter texts and centuries-old hymns into lilting melodies, and gives the listener the encouragement of the psalmist in a way I would imagine King David himself would appreciate. My favorites are the opening track “Now Unto Jehovah (Psalm 29),” “Mighty Lord, Extend Your Kingdom” – a rousing hymn with a world missions emphasis – “Call Jehovah Your Salvation (Psalm 91),” and “Come Ye Disconsolate.”

You can download “Now Unto Jehovah” free, listen to samples, and purchase the album here. You can also read a series of posts about the songs and download lead sheets at Greg’s site, greyfriarspress.com.