WORSHIP TEAM APPLICATION
INTRODUCTION
Thanks for your interest in becoming a leader of worship in song at Menomonie Alliance Church (MAC).
Whether you are running sound, clicking slides, facilitating livestream, singing, or playing an instrument,
we see your position as vital for leading our church family in times of gathered worship through music.
Our desire as a team is to lead
(not just musically)
but with lives that draw people’s attention
to the one and only true God
who alone is worthy of our worship.
With that end in mind....
we believe that in order to lead worship well
it is important that all team members know
(and agree upon)
some of what we understand worship to be Biblically.
All that said...please some time to do the following ...
SLOWLY
&
PRAYERFULLY
...take in the following words.
Think of this as more of an experience rather than an application.
A cup of tea of coffee might be a welcome companion as you take your time to consider
some aspects of worship that we are leaning in to as a body of Christ followers.
If you prefer to listen rather than read, you can do so with the following link.
After reading or listening click the link at the bottom of this page to fill out the application form.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to process some of this information!
Whether you are running sound, clicking slides, facilitating livestream, singing, or playing an instrument,
we see your position as vital for leading our church family in times of gathered worship through music.
Our desire as a team is to lead
(not just musically)
but with lives that draw people’s attention
to the one and only true God
who alone is worthy of our worship.
With that end in mind....
we believe that in order to lead worship well
it is important that all team members know
(and agree upon)
some of what we understand worship to be Biblically.
All that said...please some time to do the following ...
SLOWLY
&
PRAYERFULLY
...take in the following words.
Think of this as more of an experience rather than an application.
A cup of tea of coffee might be a welcome companion as you take your time to consider
some aspects of worship that we are leaning in to as a body of Christ followers.
If you prefer to listen rather than read, you can do so with the following link.
After reading or listening click the link at the bottom of this page to fill out the application form.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to process some of this information!
Understanding The Word "Worship"
Question for Reflection:
What is the first thing that comes into your
mind when you hear the word “worship?”
We live in a unique moment in time.
We live in a unique age.
We as 21st century followers of Jesus live in a
culture that has waged war on the definitions of words.
Things that have been understood as one thing for millennia
without question are now being re-crafted with new definitions
that fit the modern mold.
Now....without getting off on a side tangent right at the start...yes...this is a
worship team application....and you probably already guessed what we are getting at here.
Believe it or not...the word "worship" is one of those words
that has lost its original meaning in our day.
So...when you answered the previous question:
"What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word "worship?"
What did you think of?
Maybe you thought of....
music, singing, raised hands, worship bands,
worship playlists on Spotify anyone?
For many of us in the 21st century the word worship has come to mean something
related to music that is directed toward God.
However...
when we dig into the original meaning of the word in English
and in the original languages of the Bible...
We will find that the word worship
carries a meaning
that goes
deeper
than
the
songs
we
SING.
However, if we give ourselves to understand some
aspects of the word worship...our songs and
our singing...will become more meaningful...
So...let's dive in...
“WORSHIP” in ENGLISH
In English, our word “worship” comes from an old English word “worthship”
which means “to ascribe worth” unto something.
(For more see: How to Worship A King by Zach Neese)
Throughout the Bible and throughout history we can trace the natural inclination of humans to
“ascribe worth” to something (or someone) greater than themselves.
One of the great truths of reality is that God has revealed Himself
as the ultimate object of worth in the entire universe.
Thus all worship (I.E. “ascribing worth”)
is due His Name alone
(Isaiah 42:8; Phil. 2:10)
“WORSHIP” in the BIBLE
In the Old Testament and the New Testament,
the most commonly used words translated to our English word “worship”
are the Hebrew words “shachah” (שָׁחָה)
and the Greek word “proskyneo” (προσκυνέω).
Interestingly, both of these words have meanings that have nothing to do with music.
Both words carry similar definitions in their original languages
of bowing down or prostrating oneself before a superior.
Even kissing the ground before them.
THE IMAGERY of BOWING & WORSHIP
Admittedly, the connection between worship and bowing down
can seem strange in our modern church culture.
Typically, when we think of someone bowing,
we may picture an actress bowing at the end of a play before their audience.
However, the Biblical term is more akin to a peasant coming into the presence of a King.
The peasant bows down in their King’s presence, knowing full well their place before their superior.
This peasant-King metaphor can help us better understand the nature of Biblical worship.
Just as a peasant would respond in the presence of their King by bowing before him,
so are we called to orient all of our lives in a posture of bowing all that we are before the King of Kings…
JESUS.
One author puts it for us plainly in saying,
“This is what worship is:
day-in-day-out living for Christ,
the knees and heart perpetually bent
in devotion and service.”
“This is what worship is:
day-in-day-out living for Christ,
the knees and heart perpetually bent
in devotion and service.”
- R. Kent Hughes,
"Worship by the Book," ed. D.A. Carson (Zondervan, 2002), 140.
"Worship by the Book," ed. D.A. Carson (Zondervan, 2002), 140.
In this vein, everything in our lives as Christians is meant to be lived as worship.
Our thoughts, attitudes, actions and affections are all to be lived
as a response to what God has revealed about Himself.
All of life lived as a worship response echoes the words of the apostle Paul when he says:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.”
- Romans 12:1
It also echoes the words of Jesus
in the greatest commandment:
And you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.’
- Mark 12:30
Our thoughts, attitudes, actions and affections are all to be lived
as a response to what God has revealed about Himself.
All of life lived as a worship response echoes the words of the apostle Paul when he says:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.”
- Romans 12:1
It also echoes the words of Jesus
in the greatest commandment:
And you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.’
- Mark 12:30
BIBLICAL PATTERNS of WORSHIP
REVELATION & RESPONSE
An inescapable truth about the nature of worship
is that worship is always a response to what the LORD has revealed about Himself.
This pattern is evident and repeated within the Scriptures
and gives us much to meditate on as worship leaders.
Here are but a few examples,
note in each example the elements of:
GOD’s
REVELATION
&
the RESPONSE
of
worship
is that worship is always a response to what the LORD has revealed about Himself.
This pattern is evident and repeated within the Scriptures
and gives us much to meditate on as worship leaders.
Here are but a few examples,
note in each example the elements of:
GOD’s
REVELATION
&
the RESPONSE
of
worship
The Magi Worshiped Christ
In Matthew, the Magi knew that Christ was born the King of the Jews,
and in response to that revelation,
they travelled an immense distance to see Him,
bringing their gifts and bowing down before Him in worship
(Matthew 2:11).
In Matthew, the Magi knew that Christ was born the King of the Jews,
and in response to that revelation,
they travelled an immense distance to see Him,
bringing their gifts and bowing down before Him in worship
(Matthew 2:11).
The Disciples Worshiped Christ
When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water,
they were first terrified, and upon Him entering their boat
they worshiped him, saying,
“Truly you are the Son of God.”
(Matthew 14:33).
When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water,
they were first terrified, and upon Him entering their boat
they worshiped him, saying,
“Truly you are the Son of God.”
(Matthew 14:33).
The Marys’ Worshiped Christ
When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
saw the resurrected Christ (thus revealing His power over death),
they, “came to Him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.”
(Matthew 28:1-9)
When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
saw the resurrected Christ (thus revealing His power over death),
they, “came to Him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.”
(Matthew 28:1-9)
These are but a few examples
in a fascinating study
of God’s revelation
and the response of worship
in the Scriptures.
It with this Biblical principle in mind,
that Theologian John Witvliet defines worship as,
“the celebrative response
to what God has done,
is doing,
and promises to do.”
in a fascinating study
of God’s revelation
and the response of worship
in the Scriptures.
It with this Biblical principle in mind,
that Theologian John Witvliet defines worship as,
“the celebrative response
to what God has done,
is doing,
and promises to do.”
Now at this point...
it is very important for us to note that this "celebrative response"
may occur through the gift of song,
BUT...
it may also occur outside of music...
and you see these examples in the Bible in
acts of obedience,
sacrifice,
giving,
the way we treat others,
etc.
If we give ourselves to study this out,
we will begin to see Biblical worship as an all-encompassing,
all of life reality (Rom. 12:1).
it is very important for us to note that this "celebrative response"
may occur through the gift of song,
BUT...
it may also occur outside of music...
and you see these examples in the Bible in
acts of obedience,
sacrifice,
giving,
the way we treat others,
etc.
If we give ourselves to study this out,
we will begin to see Biblical worship as an all-encompassing,
all of life reality (Rom. 12:1).
GATHERED & SCATTERED
Another pattern of worship in the Scriptures
is that it holds an element that is gathered (or communal) in nature,
and an element that is an all-of-life scattered reality.
The book of Psalms displays both rhythms for us plainly.
is that it holds an element that is gathered (or communal) in nature,
and an element that is an all-of-life scattered reality.
The book of Psalms displays both rhythms for us plainly.
When the Psalmist says...
"Come let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker"
- Psalm 95:6
...we clearly see that there is a gathered element to worship.
Worship contains an "us."
A people gathered to respond together
to what God has revealed about Himself.
Interestingly, many of the Psalms were explicitly written for the intent of gathered worship.
We can see this evident in Psalm subtitles with inscriptions like “to the choirmaster”
(See Psalm 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, etc.)
"Come let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker"
- Psalm 95:6
...we clearly see that there is a gathered element to worship.
Worship contains an "us."
A people gathered to respond together
to what God has revealed about Himself.
Interestingly, many of the Psalms were explicitly written for the intent of gathered worship.
We can see this evident in Psalm subtitles with inscriptions like “to the choirmaster”
(See Psalm 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, etc.)
We also see the gathered nature of worship evident in
the festivals of Israel (I.E. Exodus 5:1; 23:17, Deuteronomy 16:16),
within the early church, (1 Cor. 14:26 | Colossians 3:16 | Romans 15:6 | Hebrew 10:25)
and even in the age to come (Revelation 7:9-10).
the festivals of Israel (I.E. Exodus 5:1; 23:17, Deuteronomy 16:16),
within the early church, (1 Cor. 14:26 | Colossians 3:16 | Romans 15:6 | Hebrew 10:25)
and even in the age to come (Revelation 7:9-10).
However, worship is not simply a gathered activity divorced from everyday life
as if it were a religious experience that we attend once a week.
To the contrary, gathered worship is fueled by the overflow of a worshipping life
where Christ is enthroned as King over every part of us.
This is the nature of scattered (all of life) worship.
(Mark 12:30-31 | Romans 12:1 | 2 Corinthians 10:5 | James 4:7)
Take the great commandment for example (Mark 12:30-31). If God is to be loved
with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength...that means that
He is desiring an all-encompassing...all of life kind of love.
This doesn't mean that we don't fall short...but it also doesn't let us off the hook from His expectancy
of our love for Him to reach every corner of our lives.
This idea of scattered - all of life worship is very apparent in the Scriptures.
Let's take a look at a few examples...
Note in each one the situation in which the worshipper draws near to God.
as if it were a religious experience that we attend once a week.
To the contrary, gathered worship is fueled by the overflow of a worshipping life
where Christ is enthroned as King over every part of us.
This is the nature of scattered (all of life) worship.
(Mark 12:30-31 | Romans 12:1 | 2 Corinthians 10:5 | James 4:7)
Take the great commandment for example (Mark 12:30-31). If God is to be loved
with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength...that means that
He is desiring an all-encompassing...all of life kind of love.
This doesn't mean that we don't fall short...but it also doesn't let us off the hook from His expectancy
of our love for Him to reach every corner of our lives.
This idea of scattered - all of life worship is very apparent in the Scriptures.
Let's take a look at a few examples...
Note in each one the situation in which the worshipper draws near to God.
Scattered Worship in the PSALMS
PSALM 3
In Psalm 3 David seeks the LORD
while fleeing from his son Absalom
(see subtitle to Psalm 3).
Think about the all-of-life reality
of this for a moment.
David pens a Psalm and
draws near to God
when someone is seeking his life.
In Psalm 3 David seeks the LORD
while fleeing from his son Absalom
(see subtitle to Psalm 3).
Think about the all-of-life reality
of this for a moment.
David pens a Psalm and
draws near to God
when someone is seeking his life.
PSALM 34
David penned this Psalm amid an encounter with a priest named Ahimelech.
In this Psalm David clearly conveys the reality that our hearts should always be toward the Lord when he boldly proclaims,
"I will bless the Lord at all times,
His praise shall continually
be in my mouth..."
(Psalm 34:1)
David penned this Psalm amid an encounter with a priest named Ahimelech.
In this Psalm David clearly conveys the reality that our hearts should always be toward the Lord when he boldly proclaims,
"I will bless the Lord at all times,
His praise shall continually
be in my mouth..."
(Psalm 34:1)
PSALM 137
Here, we see scattered all-of-life worship
in a time of deep sorrow.
The Psalmist draws near to God
during their time in exile in Babylon.
"By the waters of Babylon
there we sat down and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
We hung up our lyres.
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
Psalm 137:1-2
Here, we see scattered all-of-life worship
in a time of deep sorrow.
The Psalmist draws near to God
during their time in exile in Babylon.
"By the waters of Babylon
there we sat down and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
We hung up our lyres.
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
Psalm 137:1-2
The examples above model for us the reality that God is worthy of worshipful responses in moments that occur throughout our every-day lives.
Indeed there is no part of our lives that He is not worthy of our attention.
As we seek to worship Him in all of life, the Psalms show us that our worship will include both joy as well as the deep sorrow of lament.
Indeed there is no part of our lives that He is not worthy of our attention.
As we seek to worship Him in all of life, the Psalms show us that our worship will include both joy as well as the deep sorrow of lament.
The Scattered Worship of ABRAHAM
One more example just to help this concept sink in...
Meditate on an account from the life of Abraham. This one is interesting because it is the first time that the word "worship" occurs in the Bible.
When Abraham was told by the LORD to sacrifice his only son Isaac,
he told his servants:
When Abraham was told by the LORD to sacrifice his only son Isaac,
he told his servants:
“Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.
We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
-Genesis 22:5
We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
-Genesis 22:5
It is interesting to note what is present in this example of worship
Abraham was living out in the wilds of God’s creation...
and was about to worship the Lord,
not through music,
but through an act of obedience.
Let that sink in...
worship happened
not with music...
but with an act of obedience.
worship happened
not with music...
but with an act of obedience.
SPIRIT & TRUTH
Up until this point we have discussed two major rhythms of worship in the Bible (Revelation & Response | Gathered & Scattered). However, these patterns alone don't tell the full story regarding worship. For many of us...when we think about worship we think about externals. Jesus once talked with a woman in John chapter 4 who was in this very place. She was wondering where the external place of worship was...but when Jesus responded to her he revealed to her (and to us) the internal reality of worship that truly changes everything.
Let's take a look at the conversation from John 4:19-24:
Let's take a look at the conversation from John 4:19-24:
“Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,
but you say that in Jerusalem is the place
where people ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her,
“Woman, believe me,
the hour is coming when neither on this mountain
nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
You worship what you do not know;
we worship what we know,
for salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming,
and is now here,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father
in spirit and truth,
for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in spirit and truth.”
- John 4:19-24
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,
but you say that in Jerusalem is the place
where people ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her,
“Woman, believe me,
the hour is coming when neither on this mountain
nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
You worship what you do not know;
we worship what we know,
for salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming,
and is now here,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father
in spirit and truth,
for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in spirit and truth.”
- John 4:19-24
It is good to note that there has been much written about these verses (much more than we will talk about here),
and it is of utmost importance that we understand them.
After all, Jesus tells us that the Father is actually seeking people
who will worship Him in spirit and truth.
He also tells us that we must worship in spirit and truth.
If we must worship in spirit and truth...
then we had better know what Jesus meant.
and it is of utmost importance that we understand them.
After all, Jesus tells us that the Father is actually seeking people
who will worship Him in spirit and truth.
He also tells us that we must worship in spirit and truth.
If we must worship in spirit and truth...
then we had better know what Jesus meant.
The meaning of Spirit & Truth
Worship in SPIRIT
In John 3 Jesus had a conversation with Nicodemus that helps us understand what He meant in John 4
by saying that worship must be in "spirit."
Amid his conversation with Nicodemus Jesus said...
“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
(John 3:5-7)
Ponder Jesus' words here and think about their implications for us. Although we are born with a fleshly body...we are also born with in inner part of us...a hidden part...(our spirit) that is dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3) and needs to be reborn through Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5).
When we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus death and resurrection for us, He does what we cannot do. He makes us alive spiritually! And it is from this place of spiritual rebirth that true worship
can happen "in spirit."
_________________________
"For we are the circumcision,
who worship by the Spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus
and put no confidence in the flesh"
- Philippians 3:3
In John 3 Jesus had a conversation with Nicodemus that helps us understand what He meant in John 4
by saying that worship must be in "spirit."
Amid his conversation with Nicodemus Jesus said...
“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
(John 3:5-7)
Ponder Jesus' words here and think about their implications for us. Although we are born with a fleshly body...we are also born with in inner part of us...a hidden part...(our spirit) that is dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3) and needs to be reborn through Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5).
When we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus death and resurrection for us, He does what we cannot do. He makes us alive spiritually! And it is from this place of spiritual rebirth that true worship
can happen "in spirit."
_________________________
"For we are the circumcision,
who worship by the Spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus
and put no confidence in the flesh"
- Philippians 3:3
Worship in TRUTH
In John 14:6 Jesus made a bold statement when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." Now...if we can't come to the Father except through Jesus...then our worship must come to Him through Jesus who is "the truth". Author and Theologian D.A. Carson states: “in spirit and in truth is a way of saying that we must worship God by means of Christ, […] In him the reality has dawned and the shadows are being swept away.”
Christ being the center of our worship should be evident in the songs we sing. Indeed, we cannot draw near to God but through Christ...and this isn't just a truth that we move on from. It is a great gospel truth that should always inform our worship and our songs.
This may be why the apostle Paul told
the church at Colossae:
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness
in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16
In John 14:6 Jesus made a bold statement when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." Now...if we can't come to the Father except through Jesus...then our worship must come to Him through Jesus who is "the truth". Author and Theologian D.A. Carson states: “in spirit and in truth is a way of saying that we must worship God by means of Christ, […] In him the reality has dawned and the shadows are being swept away.”
Christ being the center of our worship should be evident in the songs we sing. Indeed, we cannot draw near to God but through Christ...and this isn't just a truth that we move on from. It is a great gospel truth that should always inform our worship and our songs.
This may be why the apostle Paul told
the church at Colossae:
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness
in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16
BRINGING it all TOGETHER
So you might be thinking,
'What does all this have to do with running slides or playing a musical instrument?'
After all...the externals of worship do matter (I.E: songs, instruments, places we gather etc.)
but they are not of first importance.
Remember the woman at the well in John 4?
She was asking Jesus about the external place of worship.
Do you remember how Jesus responded to her?
Jesus told her that true worshippers will worship the Father
but in the internal place of Spirit and truth.
When we start here...
understanding that we must be "born again" by God's Spirit (John 3:3)
and we must come to God the Father through Jesus (John 14:6)
it changes everything about us...
We see worship as less of an activity
and more as an all-of-life reality.
A posture of bowing all that we are
before King Jesus...
because of Who He is...
what He has done
and what He will do.
If we start here...
It will change everything about our songs...
'What does all this have to do with running slides or playing a musical instrument?'
After all...the externals of worship do matter (I.E: songs, instruments, places we gather etc.)
but they are not of first importance.
Remember the woman at the well in John 4?
She was asking Jesus about the external place of worship.
Do you remember how Jesus responded to her?
Jesus told her that true worshippers will worship the Father
but in the internal place of Spirit and truth.
When we start here...
understanding that we must be "born again" by God's Spirit (John 3:3)
and we must come to God the Father through Jesus (John 14:6)
it changes everything about us...
We see worship as less of an activity
and more as an all-of-life reality.
A posture of bowing all that we are
before King Jesus...
because of Who He is...
what He has done
and what He will do.
If we start here...
It will change everything about our songs...
WHAT - WE - ARE - PURSUING
GATHERED WORSHIP for GOD'S GLORY
Of first importance in gathered worship is that we as leaders
have a longing to bring glory to God (Eph. 3:20-21 | Romans 11:36 | Hebrews 13:15 | Phil. 3:3).
To make much of Him.
To be enthralled with who He is, what He has done, is doing, and will do.
To long in our hearts to give Him the glory that is due His name alone.
“I am the LORD, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.” - Isaiah 42:8
As worship leaders, music is a tool (a form of art that is a gift from God)
that we use to help people glorify Christ.
However, we realize our flesh has a natural tendency to make art for our own glory.
Musicians can be tempted to do this all the time…
and Christian musicians are not exempt from this temptation.
We know of this inclination because Jesus warned his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount
about doing God-honoring things in order to be seen by people (see Matthew 6).
This is something we must admit we have the danger of falling in to
and it is something that we must all guard against and musicians.
That is why, as a worship team, we are committed to the following values as a team.
Please give these values a read and see if this resonates with your heart before God.
Of first importance in gathered worship is that we as leaders
have a longing to bring glory to God (Eph. 3:20-21 | Romans 11:36 | Hebrews 13:15 | Phil. 3:3).
To make much of Him.
To be enthralled with who He is, what He has done, is doing, and will do.
To long in our hearts to give Him the glory that is due His name alone.
“I am the LORD, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.” - Isaiah 42:8
As worship leaders, music is a tool (a form of art that is a gift from God)
that we use to help people glorify Christ.
However, we realize our flesh has a natural tendency to make art for our own glory.
Musicians can be tempted to do this all the time…
and Christian musicians are not exempt from this temptation.
We know of this inclination because Jesus warned his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount
about doing God-honoring things in order to be seen by people (see Matthew 6).
This is something we must admit we have the danger of falling in to
and it is something that we must all guard against and musicians.
That is why, as a worship team, we are committed to the following values as a team.
Please give these values a read and see if this resonates with your heart before God.
VALUES
WE WILL WORSHIP with our LIVES,
not JUST OUR SONGS
(Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Cor. 6:19-20 | Mark 12:30 | Matthew 6:1-18)
not JUST OUR SONGS
- We see all of life as the place of worship and are committed to leading corporately, what we first practice personally.
(Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Cor. 6:19-20 | Mark 12:30 | Matthew 6:1-18)
WE WILL pursue ACTIVE PARTICIPATION, NOT PASSIVE OBSERVATION
- We are committed to pursuing a gathering of believers that worships with "one voice" (Romans 15:6)
- We will resist the urge to make gathered worship an individualistic, mono generational experience, rather, we will uphold the sacredness of the gathered church (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
WE WILL pursue the MIND of CHRIST AS SERVANTS, NOT STARS
(Phil. 2:5-9)
- We are committed to growing in and leading from a place of drawing attention to Christ and not ourselves, leading from a place of humility with Christ as our great example.
(Phil. 2:5-9)
WE WILL pursue UNDISTRACTING EXCELLENCE to the LORD
- We are committed to being open as a team to loving critique in order to grow in musical skill for God's glory (Proverbs 27:6)
- We are committed to prayerfully placing team members in areas where they can operate within their gifting (1 Peter 4:10-11)
WE WILL seek TO LEAD WORSHIP in SPIRIT and TRUTH
- We will seek to grow in the newness of life we have in Christ, leading from a place of humble dependence upon the Spirit, while glorying in the truth of Jesus (Phil. 3:3| John 4:23 | Col. 3:16 | Eph. 5:18)
- We recognize that truth matters, and thus the words that we sing matter. As leaders, we will first consider the words that we put into the mouths of our people before we consider the aesthetics of the music itself (Col. 3:16)
Thank you for taking the time to read
where we believe God is leading our body of believers
when it comes to worship through song.
If you are in agreement with everything we’ve stated thus far,
please fill out the application on the following page (see link below) and we will set up a time to meet in person for an audition.
Thanks again for taking the time to
prayerfully read this document.