thedavidprojectblog

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
The David Project
The David Project
- Our good friend and client, Lone Star Cowboy Church lost one of their own on the worship team. Wayne “General... fb.me/DJc8vour 3 weeks ago
- NEW SONG: from our good friend and alumni Josh Masters facebook.com/josh.masters.9…... fb.me/1WPAEJPsL 4 months ago
- Good friend & graduate, Josh Masters ( facebook.com/josh.masters.9…), is previewing an original... fb.me/vzwsZF7f 4 months ago
- Happy New Year everyone! Our hope for you is to experience God’s presence and love in the New Year in powerful... fb.me/1PTuZ4Wbl 4 months ago
- WORSHIP LEADERS: Avoid "awkward first date" dialogue from stage. BLOG: HUH? wp.me/s2fjBH-huh via @thedavidproj 7 months ago
Follow @thedavidproj
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
- RSS - Posts
- RSS - Comments
Meta
The David Project

New Music Review: Bethel Live

November 2, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

As consultants, we are often called on to help churches define their worship culture. The typical defining “buzz words” today are traditional, contemporary, and now, modern. And, as modern goes, Bethel Church, which also spawned Jesus Culture, has become a prominent face of modern worship in the U.S., Their new project, For The Sake of the World, does not disappoint. They have managed to differentiate themselves in a market once dominated by Hillsong’s seemingly once a week live offerings. There is a great overall guitar-driven rock vibe to the album, with emotional, rootsy vocals from Brian and Jenn Johnson and Jeremy Riddle. Like every project, there are keepers and forgettable tracks. Here are some of the keepers:

To Our God: a great call to worship. It begins pretty chill, but, as my friend John Sherrill says, “wait for it…” It builds throughout, and you will get lost in worship during the declarative bridge, “Make his praise glorious, glorious, glorious…” Another friend has been using this song at his church for several months. It’s a keeper – very corporate.

This Is Amazing Grace: An extremely corporate, gospel-centered song. The first time I heard it, I felt like I already knew it. “This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love. That you would take my place, that you would bear my cross. You would lay down your life, that I would be set free. Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me.” I bet you just sang it as you read the lyrics and don’t even realize it!

In Your Light: Ok, this one is a bit of a wild card, but it could work in the right context. It’s a little campy, with a dose of Hillsong stadium “WHOAS”, but it is catchy. “You’ve turned my tears and sadness into such joy and gladness. My heart can’t keep it in – I’m shouting, shouting!” I recommended it to one of our clients, Lone Star Cowboy Church, who could give it a great rockabilly flair.

For the Sake of the World: This title track should be an anthem for the church-at-large, to let the fire of God propel us to have passion for the world to know Jesus. “For the sake of the world, burn like a fire in me. Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see. For the sake of the world, burn like a fire in me.” I connect to it because it is externally focused. There are not enough songs like this out there, in my opinion.

This new project from Bethel is great for personal worship, but also has a few corporate gems that the church needs to be singing. Give it a listen, give the songs a try and let us know your thoughts.

For more information on The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

HUH?

October 25, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

I was recently in a worship service where the worship leader was praying between songs. Normally, I would be praying, or at least agreeing in prayer with him, but for whatever reason, I was really listening intently to his words, and they made no sense whatsoever. His prayer was ripe with spiritual references chained together to create a tapestry of nonsense, like, “Creator God, we thank you for the reconciliation of the Spirit and the repentance of those who have gone before us to make a way for you in Jesus.” HUH? Or, “Father, we pray that everyone who has come here in this place to experience all of us and the one who made us in the image of the Father, we fall before you today and pray that we will be glorified because of the goodness you have given in Jesus.” HUH? I’ve also heard worship leaders tell stories that I’m sure had a point during inception, but got lost in translation, like, “This song talks about being consumed from the inside out, and it reminds me of the other day when my wife got frustrated with me because every time I take off my socks, I put them in the hamper inside out, and she hates to have to handle my dirty socks…” So, dirty socks are equivalent to a dirty soul…HUH? Yeah, I could do this all day, but here is the point: If you are going to be in front of people, you have a responsibility to BE PREPARED and HAVE SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE TO SAY.

Effective communication begins with preparation. If you are a worship leader, then you are keenly aware Sunday happens every seven days. That means once a week you will have the chance to lead people through an experience with both musical and verbal communication. This is where I believe is a pretty big disconnect. I see a trend where much value is placed on music and artistry, and little value is placed on what happens between each song. As a result, worship leaders tend to spend a majority of time planning and executing musical proficiency (song selection, arrangements, musicianship) and little time thinking about transitions and communication (what happens when the music stops). A large part of your role as a worship leader is facilitating a dialogue between the people in the seats and their Creator. You can either make it “awkward first date” dialogue – uncomfortable silence or nervous rambling – or comfortable and seamless, creating an environment conducive to connection with God. So, give the same priority to planning what you will say as you do what you will play. Two thoughts on this: Script it and rehearse it.

SCRIPT IT

Putting your transitions on paper will help organize your thoughts. So, script, edit and memorize. This flies in the face of spontaneity, which most prefer, but the very reason to script is because shooting from the hip rarely ends well unless you are an exceptional communicator. Remember, these are still your words, you just thought about them ahead of time – and the Spirit can speak to you on Tuesday as you prepare as well as he can on Sunday in the moment.

REHEARSE IT

Rehearsing those thoughts in context will help you feel the transitions real time. From a time perspective, keep your thoughts to 90 seconds or less. As a rule, if you can’t say it in that time frame, it’s probably best not to say it at all. Of course, there are always exceptions, but don’t let your “inner preacher” take over and milk a concept for 5 minutes, especially if you didn’t prepare in advance. That is a recipe for rambling, and may provide someone the opportunity to “exit” the worship experience.

Talent will carry you while music is playing, but when the music stops, your true heart will be on display. Realistically, what you say, or pray, tells a much bigger story than what you sing. What and how you sing reveals your talent, what you say reveals your heart. So, take time to prepare your thoughts. It could be the very thing that connects someone to God.

For more information about The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

AWESOME

October 18, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

AWESOME adjective\ˈô-səm\ something inspiring awe.

AWE noun\ˈô\ the feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.

By Greg Johnson

The word AWESOME has emerged as an accepted adjective for all things good. I use it liberally. For instance, there is a burger place in our city called The Counter. Have you ever had one of their hamburgers? Are they AWESOME? Litmus test: Do I have “reverential respect” for them? The new Taken movie – Is it AWESOME? It certainly inspires fear, but mixed with reverence? Did you hear the new Mumford and Sons album? AWESOME? Well, it inspires wonder, as in I wonder why so many people like them. Sorry, just keeping it real.

Unfortunately, because the word has become so commonplace, its meaning is diminished. In fact, Jesus probably falls into that category. First of all, He tends to fall in a list of things from a good hamburger to a great new song. Second, we have culturally created a perception of Jesus as our friend, buddy, homeboy, in an effort to make him relevant and attractive to the world around us. News flash: He doesn’t need your help to make him seem relevant– in fact, if you look up AWESOME in the dictionary, his picture is right there! As leaders, we have a responsibility to help our people understand the real nature of Jesus. Here are a few AWESOME attributes to help stoke the fire.

1. JESUS IS GOD. He is not simply God’s son. He is God. Colossians 1:15 says that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” That means that Jesus is the full embodiment of God himself. In fact, Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the “exact representation of the Father.” Jesus himself said over and over that if you see him, you see the Father. Contrast that with other world religions. Mohammed – just a man. Buddha – just a man. Confucius – just a man. Jesus – fully man, but fully GOD. Here is the point: Jesus is not our homeboy, worthy of friendship – He is our God and worthy of worship. That’s magnificent, wondrous, astonishing – AWESOME!

2. JESUS IS CREATOR. Again, in Colossians 1, Paul states, “By Him (Jesus) all things were created…” Let that sink in for a sec. If Jesus created it all, then Genesis takes on a whole new meaning to me. Who said, “Let there be light?” Jesus. Who said, “Let us make man in our image?” Jesus. Who walked with Adam in the garden? Jesus. That’s mind-blowing, staggering, amazing – AWESOME!

3. JESUS IS LORD. Paul goes on to say that Jesus is over all things, “…whether power or rulers or authorities…” Translated: Jesus has no equal. Period. A common misunderstanding pits Jesus against Satan. You know, Jesus is on the right (a blonde hair, blue-eyed republican) while Satan is on the left, in an epic battle for supremacy of the universe. (It’s a joke people! Keep reading.) Biblically speaking, however, the enemies of Jesus are his “footstool.” (Mt. 22:43-44). Jesus has complete and utter supremacy of the universe. He is Lord! We can wrangle over political positions on Facebook for the next few weeks until we are blue, or red, in the face, but Jesus is still Lord over it all. That’s formidable, imposing, overwhelming – AWESOME!

So, this weekend, as we convene in our houses of worship, let’s seek to re-capture the true nature of AWESOME-ness as we focus on JESUS, our God, Creator and Lord. And, for the record, The Counter does have REALLY GOOD burgers.

For more information about The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

IT’S FUNNY ‘CUZ IT’S TRUE

September 18, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

by Greg Johnson

I found out this week that I’m 5’ 4”. I have been telling people that I’m 5’ 5” for years, but my wife lovingly told me to check my driver’s license the other day. Turns out I’ve been lying about my height more than most women lie about their age. And my weight as it turns out. I see 150 occasionally, but it’s more of a goal than a fact. I think my license needs a computerized changeable readout, because my weight fluctuates more than a political campaign promise. I have a definite plan for weight loss; the execution, however, could use a bit of work. In an effort to explain the method to my madness, here is my weekly eating routine:

MONDAY: Start new diet. Weight Watchers, Atkins, Advocare, tree-hugger cleanse, name it. Doesn’t matter, I’ll try it! Go for run. Stop at half mile wheezing like a chain smoker. Surely it will get easier.

TUESDAY: Dull headache from weaning off of Diet Coke (I think it’s linked to Altzheimer’s … I forget), and sugar. Very tired and somewhat irritable, but totally worth it. Down 1 pound. Motivated to go for a run. Tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY: Severe headache. Low energy. Barely functional. What’s one Diet Coke going to hurt? Anything to get rid of the headache. And a single Hot Tamale. Or two. Man, these things are addicting…and hot! I need another Diet Coke to cool my mouth off.

THURSDAY: Guilt ridden. Comfort food.12 pack of Diet Coke. Google liposuction.

FRIDAY: Movie with the Misses. Large drink for a quarter more? Yes I think I will! Free refill on a bucket of popcorn? What a deal! Avoid eye contact with disappointed wife. Eat most of two buckets on my own. Goes great with the Milk Duds. You know, sweet and salty. Justify that popcorn is a vegetable… No getting around the Milk Duds, though. I will go for a run in the morning.

SATURDAY: Sleep as late as possible to take my mind off food. At home most of the day. Constant grazing. Keep going to the fridge, but nothing looks good, except that package of those slice and bake cookie squares. Why bake them? They are just fine like this. Sneak two an hour for the next 5 hours. Beginning to understand why that Pillsbury guy looks like he does. I can actually feel myself getting fatter… Need to go for a run, but Rocky IV is on. Lay on couch. Cue sugar coma.

SUNDAY: Look in mirror with disgust. I need to go on a diet. Thank God for Monday: New Diet Day. Eat until I’m dizzy, cuz tomorrow is a new beginning. I will definitely go for a run tomorrow…

This falls in the category of, “It’s funny cuz it’s true.”

For more information on The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

IT’S LIKE SALT . . .

September 13, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

by Greg Johnson

“Any strength taken to its extreme is a weakness.” ~ Author Unknown

I love to compete. In everything. All the time. Everything is a game – a puzzle to be solved, a time to beat, a riddle to be solved. I don’t need you in order to compete. I do fine all by myself. How long did it take me to get ready this morning? What is the fastest route to and from the office? Do I weigh less today than I did yesterday? Do I remember Tony Romo’s stats from last Wednesday night? (22 of 29 for 307 yards and 3 TDs, 1 INT, in case you were wondering). Now, I’m not the angry competitor, always agitated, but everything is a game with a win/lose proposition. Here is a question: Is my competitiveness, playful or otherwise, a strength or a weakness? And the answer is…YES.

Most of us don’t immediately think of strength and weakness as related. We often think of our weaknesses as things that cause us the greatest challenges in life. However, when overused, your greatest strength will likely cause the most friction between you and others. Think of it like salt. You know, too much of a good thing…

As leaders, we must see that overuse of our greatest skill can hurt the organization. Here are some examples (And for all you insecure leaders, I wasn’t thinking of your name specifically… as far as you know):

The results-oriented leader who pushes people so hard toward results, and everyone around him gets burned because he is never satisfied, always frustrated.
The empathetic leader who consistently misses deadlines because he is too busy counseling others.
The intelligent leader that can come across rude, arrogant and aloof.
The visionary leader that spends all of his time casting vision and none of his time developing a plan to actually accomplish it.
The creative leader that is so abstract that he can never be nailed down on detail or deadline.
The analytical leader that spends so much time looking at a problem from every angle that he can’t make a decision.

All of these strengths are characteristics that are widely considered important in a great leader. But, look at the weakness in every situation and its effect on the people you are leading when taken to its extreme:

STRENGTH RESULT EFFECT ON TEAM

Results-oriented -> never satisfied -> low morale

Intellectual pontificating -> arrogant & aloof -> intimidated, no input

All vision, all the time -> no action plan -> confused, frustrated

Creative, creative, creative -> abstract, no detail -> disorganized, low functioning

Analytical -> indecisiveness -> insecurity

Empathetic -> no boundaries -> dramatic, low functioning

Identify your strengths. It is paramount every leader identify his greatest strengths. There is something refreshing about a leader who is self-aware. To that end, here are two ways to clarify what your strengths are. First, there are several tests out there to help you in that process, and they tend to be pretty accurate as long as you are honest in your responses. Don’t go into the test with a certain outcome in mind, as it may skew the way you take the test. Second, ask those you trust to help you in the process of understanding your strengths. Again, be open to the idea that what you perceive to be your greatest strength may not be what others see.

Evaluate how your strengths are being used. Again, you can’t do this alone. You likely have a blind spot where you are using your strength in excess. Just get this concept in your head – you are not the perfect leader. You still have growing to do. We ALL do. Let the people that work with you the most speak into your life. This is where most leaders fall short. Openness, teachability and humility will be required in this process. And, defensiveness, minimization or excuses will surely subvert the process of getting to the real you.

Develop complimentary strengths. This is just another way of looking at it. You don’t want to minimize where you excel, but build in some other skills that you can complement your strengths. For instance, if you tend to be results-oriented, make sure you are developing the skill of affirmation. Learning to affirm and celebrate (yes, celebrate) every win with your team can help temper your drive for results. If you are intellectual, develop the skill of listening. You’ll be surprised at how valued people feel when they feel that their opinion matters. And who knows? You could actually learn something in the process.

Practice makes perfect. Look for opportunities to practice your complimentary strengths. If you are more people skill oriented (listening, empowering, compassion, affirmation), practice complimentary power skills (results orientation, decisiveness, authoritative accountability), and vice versa. Combining these skills over time will help you become a high-capacity leader.

Finally, but foundationally, remember the words of the apostle Paul:

God said to me, “My graceis sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

At the end of the day, Jesus has to be at the center of it all. He will shore up your weaknesses and temper your strengths through a rich daily, committed relationship with him. He made you the way you are for one reason: to join HIM in HIS plan for the world. So, let’s be the best leaders we can be, for the glory of the one who made us!

And, I guessed I could write this in 1000 words or less… 965! Winner!

For more information on The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

FOLLOWING

September 4, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

Leadership expert John Maxwell says leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less. I believe that to be true. As leaders, the ultimate test of leadership is followership. Social media has capitalized on this concept by giving us the opportunity to broadcast our every thought to all those within the sound of our voice, figuratively speaking. Twitter even uses the term – followers. Well, this morning, God asked me a question I was not prepared for – “Who are you following?”

I know I am constantly given the opportunity to exert influence on others. As a consultant, people pay me to have an opinion. The challenge in this is the more I believe my opinion matters, the more I desire to give it. Even as I write this blog, I am questioning my motives. How am I supposed to know when to speak and when to be silent? I know part of leadership means there are “God” appointed moments that are fashioned for me to share my thoughts, but I also know don’t live in an episode of Growing Pains, where the soft music starts playing behind me as my cue to tell you the moral of the story. (Watch an episode – it happens around the 23-minute mark in every show.) That would actually be a solution – my own “it’s time to give my opinion” theme music. But who cues that music – me or God? I am a mess.

Let me get to the point: I need to be less concerned about INFLUENCING and more concerned about being INFLUENCED. I am learning that as a Godly leader, my influence should only be pass-through, whether by word or example, which means my level of Godly influence is directly proportionate to my ability to yield to the voice of the Spirit in all things all the time. In fact, if I am not completely connected to the voice of the Spirit, my “wise” counsel to others could actually be diverting them from what God may actually want because it is my thought and not His. That is dangerous territory with heavy responsibility. So, here are some steps I am taking to be a better follower.

Stay connected. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually.” The thought behind this is to be in a constant attitude of prayer, ready to be interrupted on a moment’s notice by the voice of God. When Yvonne and I were dating, we would spend hours on the phone, sometimes falling asleep with the phone to our ear. I need to think of my prayer life as a phone call that never ends – a constant connection with the Creator. In Psalm 1, David says he meditates on the law of the Lord “day and night.” There was not a specific time he met with God. It was a constant connection. If I am constantly connected through prayer and the Word, I cannot help being influenced and transformed by God.

Talk Less. Listen more. James 1:19 says I should be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” I am realizing both are equally important, and the undergirding value in both is HUMILITY. I have to train myself in this concept: My opinion doesn’t matter. Let that sink in for a second. For a leader, that is hard to choke down, but it’s true. I have NOTHING of value to offer the world outside of God’s influence in my life. In fact, as I think about it, real wisdom is often displayed through restraint. As Proverbs 10:19 states, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” My translation: The more I talk, the odds are I will say something stupid or inappropriate. So, it is imperative I listen intently to the voice of the Spirit (which, by the way, is only discernible by practicing #1), listen to what is going on in the lives of those around me, and see if there is some sort of connection between the two. But the goal can’t be to seek that connection for the sake of giving good advice (cue the theme music). God may want me to be silent on an issue because He is dealing with the person directly in a way I can’t see. I don’t make that call. I just listen. And I can’t listen if I am talking.

Leaders can be difficult to lead. But I am learning the Godliest leaders are the most faithful followers. If I am not willing and determined to follow hard after God, listen for His voice and refrain from spouting off my opinion, I am putting a serious ceiling on my ability to lead. So, today I will seek to stay connected, talk less and listen more. What are your thoughts? Do you find this the norm or the exception in leaders today? I am now listening…

For more information about The David Project, please visit our web site at http://thedavidproject.com.

CHECKLIST

August 30, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

The Boy Scout motto is, “Be Prepared.” As musicians, there are many things we could learn from our green-shorted friends: How to tie a knot, make a camp fire, set up a tent, wear an awesome uniform, sell cookies (wait, that’s the girl version)… But, at the top of the list should be preparation. Maybe a checklist would do the trick.

A couple of years ago, we were loading a trailer and heading out to lead worship for a camp. The bass player showed up, began unloading his car, stopped and exclaimed, “DANG! I’ll be right back…” With that he jumped in his car and sped off. I had to call him and ask where he went. “I forgot my bass.”

Things needed to play BASS at a youth camp:

BASS GUITAR. CHECK.

I was playing at an event and having a conversation with a young artist who had gotten pretty far in a national singing competition. He was telling me, in a not so humble way, about all of the important gigs he was now doing and who in the music industry was pursuing him. He mentioned in the conversation how good it felt to be a “professional” musician. Then, almost on cue, he asked, “Hey, do have a guitar cable and a pick I can borrow? I forgot mine.”

Things needed to be taken seriously as a PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN:

GUITAR PICK. CHECK.

GUITAR CABLE. CHECK.

On a Sunday morning, a young guitarist showed up late to play for a service. We scrambled to help him load in and get set up. He was almost ready to go, when he suddenly began to dig around frantically in his bag. He then looked up and sheepishly asked, “Hey, do you have an extra guitar strap I can borrow?” The cool, hip guitarist played sitting on a stool that morning.

Things needed to play ELECTRIC GUITAR at church on a Sunday morning:

SET ALARM (clock, iPhone or other 4G device). CHECK.

GUITAR STRAP (or stool). CHECK.

I was leading the song Stronger on a Sunday morning recently. I decided to start with the bridge. We were coming out of a song in 4/4 going into Stronger in 3/4; I planned for the band to drop out and let me make the transition on my own, then they would come back in. At the moment I began to sing, I managed to forget both the melody and the meter of the lyric. The band tried to come in and rescue me, but I looked out to see everyone in the congregation staring blankly at me…Awkward!

Things to know when LEADING A SONG:

MELODY. CHECK.

LYRICS. CHECK.

I was in rehearsal with a band, and something just sounded off. I stopped and said, “Everybody check your tuning. Something is out of whack.” The acoustic player turned and said to me, “I think it’s me… can I borrow your tuner?”

Things to bring/buy if you want to be taken seriously as a musician:

TUNER. CHECK.

I was back stage during a service one Sunday morning after leading worship while the pastor was speaking. About 15 minutes into his message, he began to pray. I had not been paying attention, so I panicked and rushed the band onto stage and we began to play behind him. When he finished praying, he said, “Amen. Ok, point #3…” Not knowing what to do, we continued to play lightly. And, after about 30 seconds, he turned to me and asked, out loud in front of the congregation, “Am I done?” Not knowing what to say, I said, “Apparently not. Let’s go boys…” and scurried off stage. Laughter ensued (at my expense).

Things to do to be PREPARED FOR TRANSITION in a service:

COMMUNICATE WITH THE PASTOR IN ADVANCE. CHECK.

SIT IN THE SERVICE. CHECK.

PAY ATTENTION. CHECK.

KEEP RESUME POLISHED UP. CHECK.

Sound familiar? So, what’s on your checklist? Go.

For more information on The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

CALLING

August 28, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

by Greg Johnson

CALLING. This is a word tossed around in the church world frequently today. You hear it a lot in the phrase, “I feel called to…” The problem is, it has replaced the phrase “I want to…” for spiritual effect. I can actually hear Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride proclaiming, “You keep using that word … I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Let me clarify – when I speak of calling, I am talking about the spiritual urging by God toward a specific purpose. This is not to be confused by the “callings” of our culture, pursuing a purpose that looks like a spiritual calling, but really only serves the flesh, which is actually a “wanting.” I have had several conversations recently with young worship leaders that feel “called” to a traveling worship ministry, and the fame and notoriety that goes with it. One worship leader actually responded to my question about their call to ministry with, “You know, I feel called to a ministry like Tomlin and Crowder.” My thought was, “Who wouldn’t feel called to that?” Looking back on my ministry career, I totally get the draw toward the road, but I’m not sure that it is a “calling” as much as a “wanting.” Added to that, there is also a huge trend toward embracing the culture as worship leaders, meaning our speech and conduct tend to mirror our culture more than mirroring the way of Jesus. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, and I’m not sure that it’s what God called us to be as leaders or people. So, here a few questions to help qualify a Godly calling in your life.

1. Who is doing the calling? It’s pretty simple. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) If you are not in daily, transforming relationship with Jesus, spending unhurried time with him, don’t kid yourself. God will not call you to do something for Him if you are not intimate with Him. Because modern worship has become so popular today, our culture has set the criteria for the calling: musical gifting, killer hair, quirky charisma and swag apparel. That is a calling … to ROCK STARDOM. The X factor in worship leading is Jesus. So, if you aren’t going to spend daily time with Jesus, get out now and save yourself heartache and/or embarrassment when you are exposed. Trust me, I’ve been there, and I don’t recommend it. Look at it this way; somewhere, there’s a cover band looking for a vocalist with your mad skills…

2. Who will benefit from this calling? Simply put, it’s not about you. Humility is the number one trait of a worship leader called by God, which means less you, more Jesus. If your “calling” is all wrapped up in furthering your career, getting your name out there, then God may use you for a season, but it will only be to serve His purposes, and it will likely be short-lived. Maximus, in the movie Gladiator, says it well to Commodus: “The time for honoring yourself will soon come to an end.” Here’s one way to test the calling: Is the spiritual call so strong that you have to pursue it, regardless of financial gain or wide exposure? If so, this means there is no opportunity, or gig, beneath you. In fact, if you feel called to be a worship leader or player, yet you never give of yourself sacrificially (unpaid), then you are likely living out a “wanting.” I hear the verse, “A man is worthy of his hire” (1 Timothy 5:18) used as the standard for compensation. That’s true, but being paid as a worship leader or player should be viewed as a privilege, not an expectation. If God wants you to be paid, He will open those doors – He doesn’t need your help to make that happen. Can worship leading be a career? Of course, but that is completely up to God, not you. Faithfully serve whenever and wherever the opportunity arises, with a servant’s heart, and God will honor it. Unfortunately, that attitude is fairly uncommon in the worship world today, but very attractive and refreshing, so you’ll likely be busier living out your calling than you ever dreamed. Remember, God is no respecter of geography – He is at work in the church of 200 and the church of 2000, and there are a ton more of the former than the latter. He is at work in the grass hut and the convention center. If the Godly calling is there, it may or may not involve an arena filled with worship-crazed young people.

3. What will this calling cost me? Again, in the words of Jesus, “If anyone is going to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) A call to follow Jesus is a call to die. In every way. It is a call to personal holiness. A call away from compromise. We are ALL called to personal holiness, but ESPECIALLY those who call themselves leaders. This is where I missed the mark for a very long time. A couple of years ago, I had few boundaries with regard to my speech (off-color jokes, cussing), my eyes (what I watched or looked at) and my ears (what I listened to), all of which affected my heart. I routinely justified it all in the name of relevance. However, Jesus didn’t call me to be relevant, he called me to be like him. Please don’t check out here. This is not about legalism – it is about authenticity and leadership. If your personal life doesn’t mirror your stage persona, then it is falsehood and people know it. If your relationship with Christ is not moving you toward a life of personal holiness, it is powerless and ineffective. Am I saying that living out a Godly calling means you can’t get your “slur” on, tell dirty jokes and go see The Campaign this weekend? Yes, that is what I’m saying. It is the price of being a Godly leader. A Godly calling will likely fly in the face of cultural relevance and force you to make some decisions about who you are going to be. The way of Jesus is the narrow path; the road less traveled. Here’s the deal: you can do whatever you want – you just can’t do it and follow Jesus. It’s the difference between living out a cultural calling versus a Godly calling.

Those are just a few thoughts on the subject of calling. I need to underscore that I share from the standpoint of one who lived out “cultural calling” for many years. God has only captured my heart on this subject over the last year or so. There’s a lot more to say, but I’ll stop here and let you join the discussion. How does this track with you? How do you define Godly calling, and how are you living it out?

For more information about The David Project, visit our website at http://thedavidproject.com.

WORSHIP FATIGUE

May 9, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

If you are a worship leader or play in a worship band, you have likely played “How Great Is Our God” ad nauseam. In fact, I’m sure you cringe when it appears on a set list, along with “Revelation Song,” “Here I Am To Worship,” “Forever Reign” and many other standards from days gone by. It’s interesting how quickly we tire of songs than the congregations we lead. I call it “worship fatigue.” The problem with this is we abandon songs way before a congregation gets comfortable with them, either because we are tired of them, or we want to be on the leading edge of worship. If our goal as leaders is congregational engagement – not for engagement’s sake, but intimacy with God – then we need to suppress our desire to move on from great songs. If not, we are putting our personal agenda ahead of the needs of the body, and there is a word for that: CONCERT. So, here are some thoughts on the issue at hand.

Your “fatigue” rate is much more rapid than the average church member. Think about it: you probably play/lead a song on average three to four times as much as the average person hears it. You may listen to it a few times before selecting it, you play through it in rehearsal once or twice, and if you do multiple services, you lead it more than once. You tire of the song WAY faster than the person who showed up on a Sunday for one service. So, abandoning a song people love and engage with because YOU are tired of it seems self-serving.
Familiarity breeds engagement. If you wonder why your congregation stares at you on Sunday morning, they are likely waiting in anticipation for something familiar to latch onto. We want our congregation to be leaning forward, not back. There’s a reason certain songs are popular – because people connect with and love to sing them. The more familiar with a song a person is, the more likely he is to close his eyes and get lost is the experience versus reading lyrics off a screen and trying to track with an unfamiliar melody. In general, fill your set list with more familiar songs rather than less songs. Try it, and watch your congregation’s engagement increase.
Choose leadership over artistry. This is a tough one, because, as musicians, we have a God-given artist’s itch longing to be scratched. While it is important to express artistry, leadership over the congregation should always trump your desire for artistry. If you are a worship leader committed to breaking in the newest Jesus Culture, Hillsong or Passion song the week it is released, or you introduce originals the week you write them, be sure you are surrounding it with very familiar songs. Remember, the goal is engagement; so lead well. I was talking to a pastor recently who had a guest worship leader in for the weekend; he let the worship leader choose his own set, and, to his surprise, the worship leader not only chose an unfamiliar song, to open the service. The pastor said, “it really set the pace for the morning, which was really flat. I felt like the worship leader was trying to take my congregation where HE wanted to go, not where we currently are.” Choosing your needs is, again, self-serving and does not exhibit leadership.
A great song in May is still a great song in October. When you hear a song that you think will resonate with the church, catalog it. Set a standard of how many new songs you will introduce over a period of time (monthly, quarterly, annually). If you are introducing more than two to three new songs a month, you are likely in “fatigue” mode, wearing your congregation out with new songs and killing a culture of worship engagement. Great songs stand the test of time, so if it can’t wait, it’s probably not a great song to introduce anyway. Trial and error is certainly ok, but if you find yourself doing a lot of songs once and abandoning them, something is not working, and it’s likely you.

Our role in the church is to create an atmosphere that moves people toward engaging with God. While there are many factors in creating atmosphere, the songs we sing are at the top of the list. Don’t stop leading certain songs just because you feel the need to be on the cutting edge of worship. Honor your congregation by setting your personal needs aside and prayerfully selecting songs that will allow them to close their eyes and abandon themselves to their Creator.

For more information on The David Project, visit our website at: http://thedavidproject.com.

ACCEPTABLE ADDICTION

May 8, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

I am a sports addict. Hardcore. There is not much that I am not aware of in the sports world because I check on it liberally throughout the day. ESPN is the home page on my computer and I check on the Dallas Cowboys a few times a day as well. It’s the off-season, but it doesn’t matter. Somebody’s still reporting something, and I need to be “in the know.” I also have several sports apps on my phone, so I can stay in touch anywhere, anytime. This spring, I have gotten interested in baseball, so I have been following games on my phone, pitch by pitch. I listened to Mavs basketball games to and from Dallas over the last two weeks. I know it seems extreme, but it’s not like I’m an alcoholic or strung out on cocaine. It’s an acceptable addiction…or is it?

I have come to the realization that my addiction, or obsession, is really nothing new or uncommon. In fact, most of us have similar addictions that we call acceptable and can explain away because it is not porn or substance abuse. It could be working out, dieting, work, social media – even marriage and family can become an unhealthy pursuit. In short, addictions are symptomatic of a bigger problem. When I have an addiction problem, I have a worship problem. Why? Because worship is assigning value or worth to something I hold in the highest esteem, meaning that there is something competing with God for my attention and affection. In the Bible, they are called IDOLS. In the book of Habakkuk, I came across an incredibly convicting passage on the value of idols.

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies?  For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.” (v 18-19)

When I read this, a couple of things come to mind. First, what itch is my addiction scratching? Why do I need sports in my life? It obviously goes beyond a hobby. There is a need in my life I am seeking to fulfill through sports. And it is taking focus a passion away from the one that can truly bring fulfillment. It is a lifeless pursuit – “there is no breath in it.” Second, what would my life be like without it? Could I live without sports in my life? Right now, it has such a hold on me that I couldn’t imagine life without it.

I know this sounds extreme, but I am in need of re-calibration. There is really no acceptable addiction. So, no sports for the next 40 days. I am fasting from sports in all forms. The goal is to allow God to reclaim my heart, to have priority in my life. This redirection is for a season, but hopefully will have long-term impact. What about you? Are there acceptable addictions in your life?

For more information about the The David Project, visit our website at thedavidproject.com.

JUST SAY, “I CAN’T HELP YOU…”

April 20, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

photo credit anamation guild

By Greg Johnson

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything of significance, other than to get it off my chest, mind and heart. So, here goes …

All major corporations should do away with the term “Customer Service” because they do everything but service the customer – unless the definition of “service” is: to provide escalating levels of frustration to the point of anger with no meaningful results.

I had a frustrating experience today with a major appliance company over a service request/warranty issue. The most frustrating part is of the 25 minutes I spent on the phone, 15 of them was telling my story to three different people, and two of the three told me they were not able to help me. The second conversation went something like this:

Me: “I have an issue I need resolved.”

CSR (Customer Service Representative): “How may I assist you?”

Me: (Insert a second detailed account of story)

CSR: “Oh, we don’t handle that here. Let me give you the number of our warranty department.”

Me: “I thought this was the warranty department.”

CSR: “We just sell the warranties. You’ll have to talk to our warranty service department. You called the wrong department.”

Me: “I DIDN’T CALL YOU, I GOT TRANSFERRED TO YOU!” (Yes, I was yelling.)

CSR: “Well, then you got transferred to the wrong department. I’m sorry, sir, you’ll have to call warranty services. If you would like to purchase a new warranty, I can help you with that.”

Me: “Purchase a new a NEW warranty? Yes, I’d love to do that, because I’m very satisfied with the one I currently have.” (sarcasm intended but not caught)

CSR: “We have a variety of new warranty options for you to choose from…”

Me: “Yeah, I was joking.”

CSR: “Oh…Is there anything else I can help you with today?”

Ok, so here are a few things every customer service department should institute immediately to ensure customer satisfaction:

Say something like this up front: “Hi, my name is Lisa. Before you tell me your long, detailed story, please know I likely can’t help you and will end up transferring you to another person, so if you can tell me the nature of your problem in five words or less, it will save us both a lot of time.” While it sounds a little rude, I’d rather hear that earlier than later.
Either give your CSR the ability to make decisions or just go ahead and get a manager on the phone, because if I called you, I only called because I needed a problem solved. So, now the conversation goes more like this: “Hi, my name is Lisa. My manager’s name is Steve. If this isn’t an address change request, you will need to talk to him.”
Stop mirroring our federal government with all their “specialists.” Hire generalists and actually spend a few minutes on their training so they can handle more than one thing. It will cut costs and maybe cause you to restructure a few jobs. However, the people you employ will actually be able to handle a variety of issues with a single phone call. It’s a win-win; you get efficiency, which enables you to handle more calls and sell more warranty policies, and we get a conversation resembling something everyone wants to hear: “ Hi, my name is Lisa. Yes, I can handle that for you.”

I’m not asking for the customer to always be right, although I’m open to it. I am asking you to save my time and frustration and your employee’s time by eliminating the part where you educate me on your helpful processes, which are not my concern anyway, and educate your CRs enough on your core business, policies and procedures to be able to help me with my problem. This may sound angry, it’s not: I’m just trying to help us all along the way a little. Wouldn’t it be great to hear at the end of every conversation “All set Mr. Johnson, is there anything else I can help you with? No? Ok, have a great day.” One can dream.

For more information on The David Project, visit our website at thedavidproject.com.

The “Throw Away” Song: Setting Worship Culture From The Downbeat

April 12, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Guest Writer, Daniel Pratt

Last week, I had a discussion with a great friend and worship leader who I meet with regularly. We were discussing another conversation I had been having with worship leaders about the importance of the opening song in a worship service.

I’ve heard, on many occasions from various musicians and worship leaders, that their first song is considered a “throw away song” or an “opening song.” Their logic is pretty simple: why waste a great song when people won’t be there on time for service or aren’t yet ready to fully engage in worship right from the start? Here are a couple of thoughts in response:

1. Where is my heart? As a worship leader, this is probably the most important question. Am I so caught up in the approval and participation from people that I am willing to sacrifice precious time in the presence of God? I find myself fighting this battle constantly. What I need to remind myself of is the truth: From the moment I wake up that morning, and every morning for that matter, I should be giddy with excitement over the chance to usher people into the presence of God. I should be excited because I’ve been in the presence of God throughout the week, and now I want desperately for my church family to experience it as well. I truly believe our time together in His presence is life altering, and I want to give people the opportunity to engage from beginning to end. The Bible is clear that meeting together as a group to worship and study the Word is vitally important to our understanding of the Gospel of Jesus. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” And then there is Matthew 18:19, which states, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” I believe that if we, as leaders, truly understood this, we would look at our time together on Sundays a bit differently, and with much more purpose.

2. We set the culture. I recently read this quote: “People who walk into church late on a continuous basis clearly don’t believe Jesus is present.” This is probably a bit more of a challenge for our leadership than we would like to admit. If the culture of our church is consistently late, and not ready to engage with Jesus from the very start of the worship time, whose fault is that? The people? The parking? Of course not! It’s OURS. Here is a part of worship that we, as the music/worship leaders, can control and affect for the good of our people. If we consistently start late, our people will consistently arrive late. If we view the first song as a “throw away,” our people will see the first song in the same light. We set the tone from beat one of a worship service. And if we aren’t excited and engaged in our first song, we have wasted precious time in the presence of Jesus, and we allow a culture of consumer-driven worshippers to set the pace in our worship services, not vice-versa. Think about your typical worship service: Is the first song you choose engaging for people? Is it singable? Is it a call to worship Jesus? Or are you using it as a band warm up, to show off some of the talent on stage because many are still in the lobby? Is it upbeat just for the sake of being upbeat? Are you using the beginning of every service as a teachable moment for people to come ready to engage in worship to God?

Not easy questions to answer. And not many of us are really willing to take a good hard look at the worship culture in our church and realize that our congregation is a direct reflection of the pace we set.

This is a challenge to us all, myself included: Don’t waste precious limited time in a service with a “throw away” song mindset. Instead, prepare your heart to make every moment matter. Be intentional in understanding that how you approach every second in your service affects the people you lead. With that mindset, there is simply no such thing as a “throw away” song.

Daniel is Worship Pastor at Church Project in The Woodlands, Texas. He is also a good friend of The David Project and an occasional songwriting coach for our classes and workshops.

If you are interested in being a guest writer for The David Project blog, visit our website and fill out the guest writer application.

For more information about The David Project, visit our website at thedavidproject.com.

HIDING OR HIDDEN

April 10, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

By Greg Johnson

I used to play hide and seek with my girls. And they weren’t very good at it. I mean, give a 4 year-old 30 seconds to hide, and they will generally find the nearest lamp to hide behind, and the only reason the game lasts is because I pretend not to see them. The most success they would have, however, was when I would choose a hiding place for them. As long as they would sit still and be quiet, the game could go on forever, because it was the perfect place to hide and the sisters would eventually give up. Unfortunately, as grown ups we tend to play a spiritual game of hide and seek with the same success rate. We live secret lives, holding our breath and hoping not to be “found out” by the world around us. Unfortunately, the “lamp” we are hiding behind has left us very exposed and easy to find. We need help with a hiding place in order to be safe. It begs the question: Are you HIDING or HIDDEN?

At times, we all find ourselves hiding. We all have had secrets. And, for some of us, if those secrets were exposed, we would be undone. Seriously undone. Recently, I had several “professional” Christians (senior pastors, worship pastors, student pastors) confide in me their secrets – porn addictions, bouts with alcohol, past unconfessed sin, etc. Several have confessed, “I never pray,” or “I don’t spend time in God’s Word regularly.” In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us to

“…live a life worthy of the calling you received.”(v2)

Unfortunately, for many of us, the “life” Paul talks about here includes our secret life, not just the part on public display. And let me take this to another level: If you are a person of influence in the Christian world – a pastor, worship leader, etc. – this goes double for you. Not only are you responsible for your own walk, but also responsible to protect what you lead. If you have people on your stage or your staff are hiding, it is your spiritual responsibility to deal with it (in love, of course) and bring it to light.

I’m familiar with this story because I was that guy – a pastor who didn’t live up to the calling. And, secrets in my life were symptomatic of a deeply rooted problem: a lack of intimacy with Jesus. Secrets drive us into hiding – hiding from Jesus, hiding from others, living in darkness. It is a scary place to be, there is a duality when we try to justify, minimize or rationalize that light and darkness can co-exist, but deep inside our souls, the Spirit of God is crying out to expose the dark things to the light so they can be expelled. John is very clear that light and darkness cannot live together:

“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” (1 John 1:6)

And, this is not just what we consider the “worst” sins. This includes gossip, unforgiveness, apathy, selfishness, fill in the blank. The worst part of trying to live in a perpetual state of hiding is that we are like a 4-year-old hiding behind a lamp: we are already found out, we just don’t know it yet.

No More Hiding. In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Paul states,

“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

There are secrets God wants to entrust to me as a servant of Christ. But first, there has to be room in my life to store these secrets. So, here’s the big question today – are my secrets attributed to me or to God? Are there beautiful, light-filled secrets God has planted in me that reveal his character, his nature, his will, or is there no room in my life for those because my life is crowded by my own secrets that I am refusing to expose to the light? I think we all hope God could trust us, but if we want to be trusted with the “secret things of God”, then we must first submit ourselves to the introspection of the light of the Holy Spirit, who calls out sin and helps us rid ourselves of it. Only then are we candidates to be called a servant of Christ. And until then, we are simply posers, playing out a counterfeit Christianity, hiding and hoping no one finds us out. If we want to be effective leaders, we HAVE to be trustworthy servants first. So if you plan to continue hiding, choose another profession, because God will not tolerate it forever.

Hidden With Christ. The process of exposing ourselves to the light, though painful at times, brings complete freedom. There is no greater feeling than knowing I am no longer bound by darkness, but free to hold and share the “secret things of God” he has entrusted to me. And, by the way, I have a new hiding place, given to me by Jesus:

“For you died, and your life is now HIDDEN with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

As long as I am hidden here, and am still and quiet, darkness can’t find me. So, if I am hidden with Christ, I am projecting Jesus, because when people look at me, the “secrets of God”- the Fruit of the Spirit – are coming to life and being lived out. And, I am also protected by Jesus and the enemy can’t touch me. That is good stuff! For me, the choice is clear. How about you?

Here are some questions for you to consider today: Are your secrets attributed to you or God? Are you HIDING or HIDDEN? Are you taking responsibility not only for yourself, but those you lead?

For more information about The David Project, visit our website at thedavidproject.com.

CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOT: Dealing With Criticism

April 5, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

by Greg Johnson

One of the greatest strengths in a worship leader is passion. Passion for Jesus, passion for music and passion for communication and leadership is crucial to be effective as a worship leader. However, part of passion is emotion, and high emotion can sometimes get the best of us and cause us to be overly sensitive. In short, worship leaders, and all creative-types for that matter, seem to have a hard time with criticism. We are so intense about our craft, that we often feel as though we are being attacked when someone comes to us with feedback that is less than positive. And our tendency toward defensiveness can be a roadblock to the progress that criticism can bring.

I know that I sometimes have a hard time hearing criticism, constructive or otherwise. Hearing criticism over set lists, song selection, stylistic preference, volume, attire, hair styles (I once read a comment card that my hair was impeding someone’s ability to worship!), you name it…it’s just hard to handle at times, especially if I feel that I poured my heart into something. Some of it is just ridiculous and needs to be ignored. However, some of it is valid and needs to be addressed and worked on. How do I know the difference? Well, here are a few things to consider when dealing with criticism.

1. Consider the source. This is a great place to start. There are two types of people in your life: Those that have credibility and those who don’t. When someone decides to give you feedback, here are some qualifying questions for you to consider.

Is this person someone I respect?
Is this person credible?
Is this person “for” me?

Here is a caveat: Just because someone has something difficult to say to you doesn’t mean he/she isn’t “for” you. People generally earn to right to say hard things out of relationship, so determine the track record of the person bringing the criticism. If he/she tends to take pride in calling others out, that could be considered a “yellow flag.” Just remember, qualifying respectability isn’t immediate grounds for dismissal.

2. Listen and ask questions. You know, God used a donkey to speak truth, so anything is possible. (No, really! 2 Peter 2:16). Whether you think this person is credible or not, it never hurts to listen. And, listening requires a closed mouth. Generally, a big mistake in hearing criticism is defensiveness. When I feel attacked, my first impulse is to fight back. However, in the book of James, he states that we should be “…quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.”(1:19) Once you have listened, it is certainly within your rights to ask a few clarifying questions. Not like, “Are you drunk??!!”, but questions that might clarify the issue a little more. This is usually where the slope gets slippery. Don’t let your questioning become defensive. Keeping your emotions in check, as difficult as that may be, will usually yield a more positive result.

3. Is it True? Once you have listened to the criticism, it’s time for an honest moment with yourself – and, trust me, self-assessment is probably where most criticism gets lost. This is why keeping as much emotion as possible in check is crucial to a good outcome, and the quicker the better. Take the emotional sting out of the equation and ask the question, “Is there truth to what he/she is saying?” And, don’t allow yourself any wiggle room by saying, “It is true, but…” The “but” represents an excuse, and most often, it is that excuse is blocking you from the truth. At this point, bring the issue to a person you trust and respect, and ask them if it rings true to them. Again, this can be a slipping point – straight into gossip and/or case building. Don’t go to anyone who will listen and tell your story from your point-of-view in order to gain support for your view. Instead, exercise humility and allow yourself room to grow. There is always a chance that this person’s assessment of the situation is dead-on, which means that you have a growth opportunity and, by the way, you have just discovered that there is at least one person in this world that loves you enough to say the “hard thing” to you.

4. Determine course of action. The final step is the “Now What?” step. If the feedback is accurate, you have one of two choices: bury it or deal with it. Of course, depending on the issue, it could range from a minor “blind spot” to a major character flaw. Chances are, if it is of the major variety, you have likely heard it before and just haven’t wanted to deal with it. The time is now! First, take it to God. Ask Him to heal or repair whatever may be broken in you. Next, get with someone you trust, evaluate the problem, come up with a plan to correct it and ask for accountability. Failure to deal with criticism in your life can lead to self-deception and likely never ends well.

Dealing with criticism is a part of being an “up front” personality. If you want to be on stage, just realize that not everyone will like you, and many will have opinions about what you could do to be more effective. The keys are twofold: Find your worth in God, not men. And, find a friend or mentor that is not particularly impressed with you that you trust will always speak truth to you and hold you accountable in your growth areas.

For more information about The David Project, visit our web site at thedavidproject.com.

BE YOU

April 3, 2012 · thedavidprojectblog

LAST MINUTE THOUGHTS FOR EASTER AND BEYOND

by Greg Johnson

It’s that time of year again. We are T-minus 5 days from Easter, and all the “professional Christians” are working at a frenetic pace to prepare dynamic Easter services for all the weekend attenders. Facebook is blowing up with so much church chatter that Zuckerburg is scrambling to create a filter for it (at your cost, or course). Tweets and re-tweets of Easter quotes, set lists and church marketing…the church world has come to life for this weekend’s BIG EVENT! I’m joking…sort of. But it does beg the question: How much more planning is going into this weekend than the other 51 weekends this year – and why?

While attendance will increase and possibly more non-believers will attend houses of worship this weekend, why are we working harder to impress or impact them than we normally would? Don’t get me wrong – I spent the majority of my ministry career doing that very thing. But all the meetings, plans, preparation and stress that takes place for this Sunday seems really out of proportion with the rest of the year. I just wonder if we should do one of two things: Work harder all year long, or not misrepresent ourselves for one or two weekends out of the year. Come to think of it, I think a little of both are in order.

1. Work harder. Ok, so some of you really spiritual peeps are already arguing with me in your mind, thinking, “I don’t want to be works-oriented. I want to be Spirit-led.” Think of it this way: On a scale of one to a hundred, how much effort do you put into the weekly rigors of your job? This is not a question of works, but a question of good ‘ole fashioned work. In Colossians 3, Paul talks about our efforts in light of God’s glory. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”(v23) Remember, this is the guy who “ran the race to win” and beat his body into submission. When it came to the cause of Christ, he left nothing on the table. I know that I can be prone to go into “auto-pilot” in planning weekly worship services, especially if I am constantly planning from behind. (You know, “It’s Thursday, do you have your set list yet?”) In that scenario, the question moves from “What will really be impactful” to “What can we pull off?” Let’s call it what it is: MEDIOCRITY. If we treated every Sunday like Easter and worked with all our hearts to plan impactful services, I wonder if the C&E (Christmas and Easter) church-goers might be more inclined to show up more often? Just a thought.

2. Don’t misrepresent. As far as this goes, it’s sort of like dating. When I was dating my wife, I generally gave the impression that I always had fresh breath, never farted, was a clean freak…a house of cards that all came crashing down after a couple of weeks of marriage. Here’s the point: BE WHO YOU ARE. If you are a worshiping church, don’t go “seeker” for the weekend and do less worship. If you are a teaching church with a 40 minute message, don’t go 20 minutes this weekend. If, as a church, this weekend you find that you are markedly more creative, more prepared or more friendly than you normally are, or plan to be next week, then there is an issue. Nothing will turn people off more than coming back to your church next week and experiencing a different version of you. It lacks authenticity, and will do more harm than good, both to your church and the church universal.

So, this is a twofold call: Be better at what you do ALL the time – for God’s glory, not your own – AND, relax and be yourself this weekend. BOTH of these honor God. And, by the way, when you get together to evaluate Easter next week, use your results as the benchmark for every weekend service, not just next Easter weekend.

For more information on The David Project, visit our web site at thedavidproject.com.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next »

Follow “thedavidprojectblog”