10 Blessings of Following God

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Mark Cole

In a world filled with uncertainties, following God provides a steadfast anchor, bringing blessings that enrich our lives in profound ways. As a Christian and follower of Jesus, the journey of faith is marked by numerous blessings that extend beyond the tangible and reach into the depths of our souls. Let’s explore 10 blessings of following God.

  1. Peace Beyond Understanding (Philippians 4:7):
    The peace that comes from following God surpasses all understanding. In the midst of life’s storms, God’s peace guards our hearts and minds, providing a serene refuge that transcends earthly troubles.
  2. Guidance in Every Step (Proverbs 3:5-6):
    Trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our understanding opens the door to divine guidance. God directs our paths, leading us with wisdom and clarity through life’s intricate journey.
  3. Unconditional Love (Romans 8:38-39):
    The love of God knows no bounds. Following Him assures us of an unwavering, unconditional love that transcends our flaws and shortcomings, fostering a sense of security and belonging.
  4. Strength in Weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9):
    Acknowledging our weaknesses becomes a gateway for God’s strength to manifest. In times of struggle, His grace sustains us, empowering us to overcome challenges that may seem insurmountable.
  5. Purpose and Fulfillment (Jeremiah 29:11):
    Following God unveils a divine purpose for our lives. His plans are to prosper and not to harm, offering a future filled with hope and fulfillment as we align our lives with His greater design.
  6. Godly Joy (1 Peter 1:8):
    The joy that comes from following God goes beyond mere happiness; it is a deep-seated, enduring joy that persists even in the face of adversity. It is a joy rooted in the assurance of God’s eternal promises.
  7. Forgiveness and Redemption (Ephesians 1:7):
    Through following God, we experience the transformative power of forgiveness and redemption. His grace abounds, washing away our sins and granting us a fresh start in our journey of faith.
  8. Community and Fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25):
    Following God connects us with a community of believers, fostering fellowship and support. Together, we encourage one another to love and good deeds, creating a strong foundation for spiritual growth.
  9. Abundant Provision (Philippians 4:19):
    God’s promise to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory assures us of His abundant provision. Following Him with trust opens the floodgates of divine supply in every aspect of our lives.
  10. Eternal Life (John 3:16):
    The ultimate blessing of following God is the assurance of eternal life. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the gift of salvation, securing a place in God’s eternal kingdom.

Following God is a journey marked by abundant blessings that encompass every aspect of our lives. As we immerse ourselves in the richness of His love, guidance, and promises, we discover a profound sense of purpose and joy that transcends the temporal challenges of this world. May these blessings be a source of encouragement and inspiration as we continue to walk in faith, following God with our whole hearts.

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The 10 Commandments of Great Worship Team Members

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Mark Cole

Sometimes I lead the worship band and sometimes I play in the band. Both are important roles and have specific responsibilities to do them well. As both a leader and a player/singer, here are my ten most important rules as a team member:

10 commandments

1. I will be available at least twice per month and answer worship department emails/texts within 24 hours 

  • I find that players need to play a minimum of twice per month to stay in the flow of the worship and maintain good relationships with the leader(s) and team members.
  • As someone who has scheduled worship teams for years, prompt replies by the team members is greatly appreciated. Also, it is a good habit to be prompt in all your communication. It is a form of discipline and respect.

2. I will listen to, practise and memorize the songs for Sunday

  • Most musicians learn by listening. I always spend the .99 cents to $1.29 to download the songs on iTunes and make a playlist to listen in my house and car. Listening will teach you things that charts never will. I also use the PlanningCenter.com app and media player for my phone
  • I will take time to practice the new songs for the team and briefly review the older songs. I want to be excellent in my service to the Lord. Wether I get paid or not, I’m playing for the ‘King of kings’. God rewards faithfulness and excellence.
  • I will play according to the style of the music that is driven by the church’s vision/mission instead of simply imposing my personal tastes into the music. 
  • I will memorize the music. Memorizing songs allows me to get past the music and worship God freely. Most worship songs are not hard to memorize. Here is my post on helping you to memorize.

3. I will show up prepared and on time for rehearsal

  • Leaders and other team members really appreciate when all the team has done their homework. When the drummer and bass player know the grooves, tempos and breaks, it makes the rehearsal go so much smoother. When the lead guitar and keyboard players have learned the introductions and lead lines, it saves so much time for the rest of the group.
  • I will bring a pencil to highlight problem parts, changes and incorrect charts.
  • When team members all show up on time, it shows respect and value for the whole team. It promotes unity and makes the rehearsals go much smoother.

4. I will show respect and love for my fellow team members and leader

  • The second greatest commandment is to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. When team members show love and respect for each other, rehearsals, worship and life in general is much better.
  • If team members get direction that they don’t like. It’s important that they don’t take it personally, agree to disagree and submit – just like professionals do in the studio.
  • Being a leader can be tough. When you give respect and are patient with your leader, God sees and rewards that attitude and heart.

5. I will not noodle on my instrument when the leader is speaking

  • Having great rehearsal habits is important. The time to practise your individual part is when you are on your own.
  • You show respect for the leader and the rest of the team when you learn to listen at the appropriate times.

6. I will worship as I play my instrument and endeavour to be a great worshipper on and off the stage

  • The purpose of a worship band is to worship God and lead the congregation to do the same. If you are just playing or singing then you are not fulfilling your responsibilities. Get past the music and worship God and lead by example.
  • A sign that you are an authentic worshipper is that you are the same on and off the stage. People see you on and off the stage. Be authentic!

7. I will attend church and give whether I am playing or not

  • Great team worship team members know the importance of regular church attendance. We all need to be great congregational members before we can become great worship team members.
  • Supporting your local church means more than playing your instrument and/or singing. Giving of your time and finances really shows where your heart is.

8. I will practice my singing and/or instrument regularly

  • Great worship team members are better this year then they were last year.
  • Great team members work on growing by practicing regularly, taking lessons and watching and learning from great worship videos.

9. I will wear the appropriate clothes for the dress code

  • I never want my clothes to be a distraction to our worship times.
  • My general advice is to develop a dress code that is modest and culturally relevant to your congregation.

10. I will grow in my love for the Lord and live a godly lifestyle

  • This is the last commandment but it is the most important. Loving God with your whole heart and life is the core of worship.
  • Living a life that is pleasing to God opens up the door for God’s blessing on your life. Don’t allow sin to ruin that. Repent and get back on track!
  • Great worship team members are more than volunteers. They are serving in worship ministry because of the calling and gifting of God in their lives.

Question: What points have I missed? Are you a great worship team member? What areas can you improve on?

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

This blog is part of my vision to train over 100,000 worship leaders around the world. If you would like to support this vision you can help by giving any amount through this account on PayPal.

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10 Practical Goals For All Worship Leaders

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Mark Cole

As a worship leader, are you wondering about some good, practical goals to make as we go into this next season. Here are 10 great goals as adapted from Brad from Worship Links.

My Goals

1) Read the entire Bible

There is nothing better for your spiritual health than spending time in God’s Word, so make this a priority. There are tons of reading plans that make it easy to get into the Word on a daily basis and through the entire Bible in a year.

2) Learn a new song every month

Seek out songs from artists you’re not familiar with or styles you don’t play well and learn some of those songs. Memorize it. Stretching yourself with different styles is good for you musically, plus you just might find an awesome song to share with your congregation.

3) Make physical fitness a priority

Honor God with your body by taking care of it. As a bonus, getting fit will make you a better musician. This isn’t about vanity or putting on a better show – it’s about being healthy and taking care of God’s temple.

4) Write a worship song

It doesn’t have to be awesome. It doesn’t have to be something you share with your church. But write a song to God from your heart and see what happens. Maybe you’ll unleash some creativity you never knew you had.

5) Start raising up your replacement

You should always be raising up and investing in your replacement. If you look around and there’s no one who can step up to take your place, it’s up to you to find that person.

6) Take each member of your team to lunch or coffee

You can’t effectively lead a worship team without knowing them as people. Spend time getting to your team members and learning what makes each of them tick.

7) Build bridges between generations

This might mean doing some music you don’t like – and that’s okay, because it’s not about you anyway. Learn some great old hymns to reach out to the senior saints in your congregation. If you’re older, dig in and learn some new worship music to build a bridge to the younger generation. Be inclusive. Worship should never divide what the gospel unites.

8) Learn a new instrument

Learning a new instrument can help you look at music in a whole new way. This year, I’m planning to work on learning the ukulele and electric guitar.

9) Take a vacation

As worship leaders, we rarely get a break. When the Sunday service is over, it’s time to start planning the next one. Make sure you take a break and take some time away from ministry to rest. It may be for a week, or it may be just a weekend, but God built us to need rest, so honor that.

10) Pray regularly for your pastor, your elders, and your team

If you’re not praying for your pastor, your church leaders, and your team, then you’re not loving them as well as you should. Get to know them and pray for their needs. As an added bonus, when tensions run high (and they will), it’s hard to be angry with someone you’re fervently praying for.

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8 Keys To ‘Next Level’ Sunday Worship

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Mark Cole

I love leading God’s people in worship. I have been blessed to have led church worship teams at home and around the world for over thirty years. Here are a few things that I have learned along the way.

sundaymorningworship

1. For Next Level Worship, Pick Great Songs

Picking great songs for your congregation and worship band is one of the most important tasks of a worship leader. Great songs have a sense of God’s Spirit on them. Great worship songs make you want to sing them again and again. Great songs cause your spirit to rise in worship to the Lord. (see my Top Songs List)

Check out my blog on “12 Keys To Picking Great Songs For Worship“. Here are the main points from that blog:

    • Learn to pick great songs not just doable songs.
    • One of the tests of a great song is that you catch yourself singing it by yourself.
    • Great songs have the Spirit of God resting on them.
    • Pick great songs from around the world… not just your favourite band.
    • CCLI Top 200 SongSelect List is an invaluable list to choose from.
    • Find out who the top writers are and listen and learn from them.
    • Keep a balanced repertoire: You need fast, medium and slow tunes.
    • Repeat the new songs: I always do new songs three times in the first month.
    • Should you do your original song? Is your song a good-to-great song?
    • Does the song work with just a simple acoustic guitar or piano?
  • Generally speaking, it’s not a good idea to start or end with a new song.

2. For Next Level Worship, Put Great Songs in a Great Order

I have found that congregation’s often rush to church, just trying to get there on time and are often unfocused on God. One of my jobs is to pick great songs that help get them focused on God as soon as possible. That usually works best by finding an uptempo worship tune that is easy to sing and gets them engaged as soon as possible.

I usually have 20 minutes to do worship on a Sunday morning service, so for my team, that means 4 songs. My general rule of thumb is to do two uptempo songs.. often more praise orientated… and often the second song is slightly faster than the first one. Then I do a strong median tempo transition song and then end with a powerful worship song that is sung directly to God.

This general guideline helps the congregation go from focusing and singing about God to worshipping God directly. It is not meant to be a formula but an overriding time proven way, to help achieve the goal of getting the congregation to focus their hearts and worship on God.

3. For Next Level Worship, Have Great Rehearsals

I give the musicians and singers detailed charts and recordings (through Planning Center or Dropbox) and ask them to come prepared to the mid-week rehearsal. The goal is to get so proficient at doing the music that you do not have to think about the music during the live worship time. You need to get past just performing music to focusing on and worshipping God!

My normal practise is to have a strong, 1:15 to 2 hour midweek rehearsal (Thursday night is my favourite) and then a 30-45 minute rehearsal on Sunday morning. These rehearsal times gives everyone time to learn the music properly, memorize it, and work out any problem areas. (Check out my blog: 10 Tips On Improving Your Worship Band Rehearsal)

4. For Next Level Worship, Work on Great Sound & Media

A good soundman can make or break you! There is no use having great songs and rehearsals if the sound mix is not working for the congregation. I have learned that putting the drums in a full cage generally helps gets the best overall mix. Also, putting baffles around guitar amps (or better ~ putting the amps offstage in sound-proof rooms) and putting the band on in-ear-monitors really helps the soundman. I also try to take a Sunday off the stage to listen to the front-of-house mix.

In the same way, having a media person who is on top of the projected lyrics is huge. I work on putting the lyrics in the exact order that we will sing them. Also…beside having the lyric screen(s) up front for the congregation, I also have a large screen at the back of the auditorium for the singers to see the lyrics… Right now I’m working on automating the lyrics with the Multitracks app ‘Playback’.

If you can have the soundman giving you a great mix and the media operator giving the lyrics at the right time. You have a strong sound and visual foundation on which to work off!

5. For Next Level Worship, Put God First

Worshipping God is a daily lifestyle. If you are just worshipping God on Sunday morning, you are living a sub par Christian lifestyle. Sunday mornings should just be the tip of the iceberg! If you honour God daily by reading His word, praying, worshipping and spending time with Him; He will honour you by showing up Sunday morning in your corporate worship times! (see: The Secret…)

We can work hard and with God’s help, put together a group of musicians and a set list . But only God can take it to the next level and touch people’s hearts and heal their bodies and minds! Put God first in your daily life and He will show up in powerful ways in your Sunday morning corporate worship! (Check out: Three Ways To Put God First In Your Life)

Also, put God first in your actual worship time. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the music, transitions and the mechanics of leading and playing that we don’t focus on the main thing: God! God is why we come together, God is why we sing great songs and worship. God is the reason. Don’t allow the distractions of live music get in the way of worshipping God with all your heart and leading your congregation to do the same! (check out: Leading Worship: ‘Where Is Your Brain On Sunday Morning?‘)

6. For Next Level Worship, Memorize Your Music

There are few things worse than seeing a worship leader and team whose eyes are glued to the music. When you memorize the music, you can communicate better with the congregation and with God! To get past the music, you need to memorize it and know it so well that you do not have to think about it! Great teams and leaders memorize the music so that they can worship freely!

(Check out my blog: ‘9 Keys To Memorizing Music For Worship‘)

7. For Next Level Worship, Worship God With All Your Heart

The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. This includes worshipping God with your actions. The actions of Biblical worship include singing, clapping, raising our hands, dancing, bowing and shouting. We serve an awesome God who created every good thing that we enjoy. He is worthy of passionate worship.

Never let yourself just go through the motions of just singing a song. Be a passionate worshipper who loves and worships God with all you have. Learn to incorporate all the actions of worship into your personal and corporate worship!

8. For Next Level Worship, Be A Great Example To Your Congregation

I have found that congregations tend to mirror the passion of the worship team. If the people up front are full of passion and energy for worshipping God, the congregation tends to lift their worship to a higher level.

We have the opportunity to be passionate examples of worshippers to our congregation. If they see you and the team worshipping God with your whole heart soul, mind and strength on a weekly basis, they will grow in their passion for worship.

If you lead, they will follow. It sometimes does not happen immediately, but that is what worship leadership is about. A big part of leadership is helping people grow in their passion and worship of God. Learn to be a passionate worshipper of God, on and off the stage. Be authentic and do not lose your passion for loving and worshiping God with all your heart! (for more on this, check out my blogs: “Actions Speak So Loud” & “Attitude Is Everything“)

Question: What things have you done that have helped your congregation grow in your corporate worship times?

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

This blog is part of my vision to train over 100,000 worship leaders around the world. If you would like to support this vision you can help by giving any amount via PayPal.

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Seven Blessings of Giving

Posted on February 3, 2024 by Mark Cole

In a world often characterized by self-preservation and accumulation, the act of giving stands out as a powerful and transformative practice. Let’s spend a few moments to look into seven blessings of giving that extend beyond the material realm.

1. Joy and Fulfillment (Acts 20:35):

   The Bible declares, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Embracing a generous spirit brings a profound sense of joy and fulfillment. Giving allows us to participate in something greater than ourselves, fostering a sense of purpose and satisfaction that material possessions alone cannot provide.

2. Prosperity (Proverbs 11:25):

   Proverbs 11:25 tells us that a generous person will prosper. While this prosperity extends beyond financial gain, there’s a beautiful reciprocity that happens when we give with a genuine heart. Blessings often flow back to those who give freely, whether in relationships, opportunities, or unexpected moments of grace.

3. Spiritual Growth (2 Corinthians 9:6-7):

   The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, encourages cheerful giving, emphasizing that God loves a cheerful giver. Giving not only benefits the receiver but also fosters spiritual growth in the giver. It nurtures qualities like compassion, empathy, and humility, creating a deeper connection with the Creator of the Universe.

4. Protection and Provision (Malachi 3:10):

   Malachi 3:10 speaks of the principle of tithing, where God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings when we bring our tithes and offerings. This includes protection and provision in various aspects of our lives. Trusting in God’s provision through giving strengthens our faith and reliance on Him.

5. Multiplication of Blessings (Luke 6:38):

   In Luke 6:38, Jesus teaches about the principle of giving and receiving. He says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” The act of giving sets in motion a cycle of blessings, where the more we give, the more we receive in abundance.

6. Eternal Rewards (Matthew 6:19-21):

   Matthew 6:19-21 encourages believers to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The act of giving with an eternal perspective leads to rewards beyond the temporal. Investing in the well-being of others and furthering God’s kingdom carries eternal significance and lasting impact.

7. Heart Transformation (Mark 12:41-44):

   In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus commends the widow who gave all she had. This narrative highlights the transformative power of sacrificial giving. When we give from the heart, even in our perceived inadequacy, it leads to a profound transformation within us, shaping our character to reflect the love and generosity of Christ.

The act of giving brings about a myriad of blessings that go beyond material wealth. From joy and fulfillment to spiritual growth and eternal rewards, embracing a generous spirit aligns us with the God’s divine purpose of love and selflessness. As we navigate the journey of life, may the blessings of giving guide us toward a more meaningful and purpose-driven existence.

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7 Benefits of Being Filled With The Holy Spirit

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Mark Cole

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? A simple definition is this: ‘A follower of Jesus empowered to live the life God intended for them by submitting to the presence, power and purpose of the Holy Spirit in their lives.’ Let’s explore seven blessings that come from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

1. Spiritual Empowerment:

Being filled with the Holy Spirit empowers us to live out our faith boldly. The Spirit provides strength and courage to face life’s challenges, enabling us to navigate the complexities of this world with confidence grounded in our trust in God.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

2. Transformation of Character:

One of the beautiful outcomes of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling is the transformation of our character. As we yield to the Spirit’s work, we witness the emergence of the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities reflect the character of Christ within us.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

3. Spiritual Gifts:

The Holy Spirit gives each believer unique spiritual gifts. These gifts equip us to serve one another and contribute to the growth of our Christian community. Whether it be wisdom, healing, prophecy, faith, miracles, word of knowledge, tongues, administration, leadership, teaching, service, encouragement or other manifestations of the Spirit, these gifts play a vital role in building up the body of Christ.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all… A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. (I Corinthians 12:4,7 NLT)

4. Guidance and Direction:

In our walk with God, the Holy Spirit serves as our guide. Through prayer and seeking God’s will, we gain insights and direction for our lives. The Spirit’s gentle nudges and promptings help us align our paths with God’s purpose for us.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

5. Communion with God:

Being filled with the Holy Spirit fosters a deep and personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through prayer, worship, and meditation on God’s Word, we draw closer to Him. The Spirit serves as the bridge that connects our hearts to the heart of God.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26 NIV)

6. Boldness in Witnessing:

The Holy Spirit helps us to share the life changing power of God’s love with others. As vessels of the Spirit, we become courageous witnesses, testifying to the grace and mercy that have touched our lives.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

7. Abiding Joy and Peace:

Ultimately, being filled with the Holy Spirit brings about a profound sense of joy and peace. In the midst of life’s storms, the Spirit provides an unshakable assurance of God’s presence, leading to a joy that transcends circumstances and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… (Galatians 5:22)

For more insight into ‘being filled with the Holy Spirit’ take a few moments to read the accounts of Jesus’ disciples encounter with the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts:

1. Acts 2:1-4 (ESV):

   When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

2. Acts 4:31 (ESV): After Peter and John were released from custody and reported back to their fellow believers:

   And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

3. Acts 9:17 (ESV): The conversion of Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) by Ananias:

   So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’

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50 Bible Verses on Praise & Worship

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Mark Cole

The Bible mentions praise and worship over 400 times. Jesus said that God is looking for worshippers. May these Bible verses deepen your personal worship of God and give you a foundation to seek after Him.

Psalm 66:4
“All the earth will worship You,
And will sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name.”

Psalm 63:4
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.

John 4:24
“God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Psalm 86:12
I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.

Psalm 95:6
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Psalm 71:8
My mouth is filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all day long.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalm 145:2
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

Psalm 86:9
All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.

Psalm 146:2
I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 99:5
Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.

Psalm 47:7
For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm.

Psalm 148:3
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!

I Chronicles 16:29
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 96:9
Worship the Lord in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Psalm 30:12
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalm 115:17
The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor do any who go down into silence;

Hebrews 2:12
“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

Psalm 92:1
It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

Psalm 34:3
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 59:16
But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.

Psalm 119:164
Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.

Luke 4:8
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 33:2
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

Psalm 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Ephesians 5:19
… speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Psalm 29:2
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in holy array.

Psalm 149:3
Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.

Psalm 99:9
Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His holy hill,
For holy is the Lord our God.

Psalm 147:1
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Psalm 52:9
I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it,
And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.

Psalm 22:23
You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

1 Corinthians 14:15
What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

Psalm 100:4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

Psalm 145:1
I will extol You, my God, O King,
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Revelation 7:9-10
I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

Psalm 22:3
Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Psalm 134:1
Behold, bless the Lord, all servants of the Lord,
Who serve by night in the house of the Lord!

Psalm 103:1
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Nehemiah 8:6
Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Psalm 99:3
Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.

Psalm 150:3
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.

Romans 15:6
… so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 132:7
Let us go into His dwelling place;
Let us worship at His footstool.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

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Guidelines For A Strong Worship Team

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Mark Cole

In any quality organization there are codes of conduct and concrete expectations. A number of years ago I attended a worship conference at Gateway Church in Dallas and was totally impressed by their worship team. Based on Gateway’s code of conduct and my own experience, here are the standards and guidelines for the worship teams that I work with.

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GUIDELINES FOR WORSHIP MINISTRY

  • Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is consistent and growing through prayer, Bible reading and church fellowship.
  • Be a committed attendee and giver at our church, including regular attendance at Sunday Services.
  • Demonstrate technical competence as either a singer, musician or audio/media technician.
  • Singers and musicians must be comfortable on stage and expressive in their praise and worship before God.
  • Maintain a faithful attendance record.
  • Be committed to practicing an hour or more per week on their Sunday songs at home.

COMMITMENT TO A GODLY LIFESTYLE 

  • Worship team members are expected to live a lifestyle that is above reproach, avoiding even the appearance of evil. (I Tim 3). Being a minister, who is up front, adds extra responsibilities because people see us as examples of what a Christian should be like. Therefore, it is imperative that we consider the way we treat each other and carefully guard our hearts from impurities and pride.
  • It is God’s desire and our desire to see our worship team members living a victorious Christian life, free from bondage. If there are any addictions or issues with which you struggle, please let us know – we are here to help you, not to judge you.

The following issues should be dealt with before any public ministry position is taken:

  •  Alcohol and drug abuse. Sexual immorality
  •  Prideful attitude. Anger and rage problems,
  •  Inability to submit to leadership, gossiping and stirring up strife
  •  An unbiblical lifestyle

DRESS CODE (special note: Dress codes vary widely with the size and type of church. An informal church of 100 people who meet by the beach might be significantly different from the mega-church with a televised service… this is what works in my situation.. your situation might be totally different)

General Dress Code: Modesty & dressy (not sloppy), culturally relevant style are key.

  • No overly tight clothing. Woman: No short skirts or short dresses. No low-cut dresses.
  • No sleeveless tops (without a covering).
  • No revealing clothing (i.e. see-thru material without undershirt)
  • Proper footwear: polished shoes or dress running shoes.
  • No gaudy/over-sized jewelry (anything that might be a distraction)

Sunday Morning Attire: 

  • Men: Nice shirt & pants: optional jackets, sweaters & vests.
  • Ladies: Nice top & pants, skirt or dress (knee-length). No pants, leggings or jeggings that are tight all the way to the ankle unless you wear a long top that goes mid-thigh.
  • All: Nice dark dress jeans are also acceptable. Old & baggy jeans are not acceptable. No rips in jeans. No hats.
  • Colors: Stick to neutral tones: Black & all grey tones, browns and all it’s tones, light/dark blue, dark purple, white and off-white. No loud prints.

SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Typically each band member and singer will be scheduled once or twice per month based on their availability and monthly service schedules.
  • Arriving on time and ready for music practice is essential for each member! In order to present worship music that is both excellent in quality and anointed, a strong rehearsal is necessary. The more we practice, the freer we are to worship and lead others in worship! (Check out: The 10 Commandments of Great Worship Team Members)
  • Learn your instrumental and vocal parts before you come to the mid-week rehearsal.
  • Thursday Night Rehearsals: 7-9 pm *only mandatory for those on that week.
  • Sunday 8:15 AM Rehearsal, 9 AM Prayer, 9:30 AM service, 11:15 AM service.

TIPS FOR BETTER PLATFORM PRESENCE:

  • Look in the mirror and watch what you look like – jump, clap, bow, dance, raise your hands, be engaging. If something appears awkward, adjust it to make sure you are communicating what you want to communicate.
  • Do not let the congregation determine your level of expression. Sometimes they will not be engaged in worship. As leaders, we always need to be engaged. Show them an example of how to express worship. Most of the time, they simply need to see worship in order to learn how to express it on their own.
  • Be sincere. Worship from your heart. Give a warm smile from within. We are leading people from all different circumstances, so remember that a warm smile ministers more than you realize.
  • Musicians – Be sure to stay engaged in worship. Practice ahead of time and memorize your music so you don’t have to focus on your instrument the whole time. Sing while you play. Seeing a musician singing from their heart can really help people worship. Move around your area. Use your space to the fullest. When there is no movement, the platform can look stagnant. (check out: Where Is Your Brain On Sunday Morning?)
  • Singers and musicians: Work on developing eye contact with the congregation. One of our jobs is to help bring the congregation with us in worship and closing our eyes all the time can leave them feeling disconnected.
  • Do you want to know what the best worship teams do? They worship God and lead others to do the same.

Question: What do you agree or disagree with in these guidelines? What is working for your team? 

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

If this blog has been a blessing to you, would you consider a small financial gift to cover the costs (via this  PayPal account)

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How Do We Know the Bible Is True?

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Mark Cole

By R.C. Sproul

That’s an excellent question because so much is at stake in the Christian faith in terms of the truthfulness of Scripture. The Bible is our primary source of information about Jesus and about all of those things we embrace as elements of our faith. Of course, if the Bible isn’t true, then professing Christians are in serious trouble.

I believe the Bible is true. I believe it is the Word of God. As Jesus Himself declared of the Scripture, “Your word is truth.” But why am I persuaded that the Bible is the truth?

We need to ask a broader question first. How do we know that anything is true? We’re asking a technical question in epistemology. How do we test claims of truth? There is a certain kind of truth that we test through observation, experimentation, eyewitness, examination, and scientific evidence.

As far as the history of Jesus is concerned, as far as we know any history, we want to check the stories of Scripture using those means by which historical evidence can be tested—through archaeology, for example. There are certain elements of the Scripture, such as historical claims, that are to be measured by the common standards of historiography. I invite people to do that—to check it out.

Second, we want to test the claims of truth through the test of rationality. Is it logically consistent, or does it speak with a “forked tongue”? We examine the content of Scripture to see if it is coherent. That’s another test of truth.

One of the most astonishing things, of course, is that the Bible has literally thousands of testable historical prophecies, cases in which events were clearly foretold, and both the foretelling and the fulfillment are a matter of historical record. The very dimension of the sheer fulfillment of prophecy of the Old Testament Scriptures should be enough to convince anyone that we are dealing with a supernatural piece of literature.

Of course, some theologians have said that with all of the evidence there is that Scripture is true, we can truly embrace it only with the Holy Spirit working in us to overcome our biases and prejudices against Scripture, against God. In theology, this is called the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit.

I want to stress at this point that when the Holy Spirit helps me to see the truth of Scripture and to embrace the truth of Scripture, it’s not because the Holy Spirit is giving me some special insight that he doesn’t give to somebody else or is giving me special information that nobody else can have. All the Holy Spirit does is change my heart, change my disposition toward the evidence that is already there. I think that God Himself has planted within the Scriptures an internal consistency that bears witness that this is His Word.

This excerpt is adapted from Now, That’s a Good Question! by R.C. Sproul.

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The Five Most Important Facts About Worship

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Mark Cole

Years ago, I realized that I often had only one shot at communicating with an audience in some of the countries that I would visit. So, I asked myself, if I could only speak once to an audience, what were the most important things on worship that I could share?

01-Heart-of-Worship-660x371

Here are my top five most important facts about worship:

1. God wants you to worship Him

Jesus said,  “The hour is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.” (John 4:23-25)

God wants us to worship Him, He wants you to worship Him. God is happy when we live good lives but He wants more than that, He is looking for worshippers. He is looking for people who are in love with Him. In fact, they are so in love with Him that they long to be in His presence and worship Him.

2. Worship is one of the most important ways of loving God

The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all you have. Jesus said, “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)

Worship is a natural outflow of my love for God. Let me give you an example from my marriage. I love my wife, so I try to do things that she likes. Once a week I take her out for breakfast or dinner because she loves to go out. (Even though I prefer her cooking at home).

I buy her flowers because she loves them. (even though they can be expensive and last less than  week). I buy her perfume (OK… this is a win-win. I love it when she smells great). I try to help her around the house without being asked (I am not always successful at this). I tell her daily that I love her (I am successful at this, although she sometimes forgets that I do it).

When you love someone, you try to do the things that please them. It is a natural outflow of my love for my wife, Anna. I try to do those things with my whole heart. If I grumble and complain when I do them, then they really don’t count in my wife’s books.

The same principle applies to our worship and love for God, God is looking for worshippers who will willingly worship Him with their whole heart. He is looking for people who are passionate in their love for Him. God is not that interested in lukewarm love. He does not want 50% or 75%. God wants you to love Him with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength. 

3. God wants you to worship Him according to His Word

To stay with the marriage analogy, if I did things totally my own way, our lives would look quite different. For fun we would go bike riding and play tennis (my wife does not like bike riding or tennis). We would eat at home 99% of the time. She is a gourmet cook! (my wife likes to go out once or twice a week). I would pass on helping around the house (I’m a guy.. what can I say!?)

When you get to know God and His word, you discover that He likes things done His way. And frankly, His way is always the best way!

Jesus said: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

a) What does it mean to worship God ‘in spirit’?

God made us with three separate parts to our being….body, soul & spirit. We can best communicate with God on a spirit level since “God is Spirit”. 

When my spirit connects with God’s spirit, that’s worship. It is a bit difficult to describe but let me explain how it works for me. When I am leading worship or I am just in a worship service, I can just sing the worship songs and go through the motions of worship. Or, I can really focus my heart on God. When I sing the words and mean them from the depths of my being. That is when true worship begins. My spirit begins to connect with God’s Spirit.

b) What does it mean to worship God ‘in truth’?

In John 17:17, Jesus said: “God’s Word is truth.” I believe that to worship God according to ‘truth’, is to worship Him according to the patterns in His Word. “God’s word is truth.” In the Bible it talks about worshipping God by singing, playing instruments, lifting hands, clapping, shouting, dancing, bowing down, standing and giving.

The Bible also talks about the attitudes you should have when you come to worship. It talks about being thankful, honest, reverent, with faith, humble, with joy and with our whole heart.

I recently wrote two blogs on what the Bible says about ‘the actions of worship’ and ‘the attitudes of worship’. They will give you a great overview of the basics of worshipping God ‘in truth’.

4. Singing and worshipping God on Sunday morning is just one facet of worship.

  • God wants our love for Him to include more than just Sunday mornings. He wants us to live out our love for Him on a daily basis. 
  • God wants us to live daily with thankful hearts (I Thessalonians 5:18). 
  • God wants us to do good works and share with the people He brings into our lives (Hebrews 13:16) 
  • God wants us to pray regularly (Ephesians 6:18). 
  • God wants us to give a portion of our finances regularly (Malachi 3:10). 
  • God wants us to love our neighbours as ourselves. (Mark 12:31)

Worshipping God should be a daily part of our lives. One way that we worship God is to love the people He has sent into our lives. As we pray for them, help them and share our lives with them, we are pleasing God. When we live a life that is pleasing to God, He sees it as worship.

5. The heart of worship is surrendering your life to God.

The Apostle Paul said, “Give yourselves to God…surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes.” (Romans 6:13) 

And then later on in the book of Romans, Paul wrote: “So then my friends, in view of God’s great mercy to us, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing Him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” (Romans 12:1)

True worship comes from a surrendered life. There have been many times when God has asked me to totally surrender my life to Him. 

A number of years back, I was at a major crossroads in my life. I had just left church ministry and started to write music full-time for praisecharts.com.  But I was feeling uneasy and unsatisfied. God was working in my heart. He was asking me if I was willing to go wherever He wanted. He was asking me if I was willing to do whatever He asked of me.

I have learned that when God starts asking those questions, something unusual is about to happen. I have also learned that God can do a better job with my life then I can. So once again, I surrendered my whole life to God. A life without reservations, no holds barred, to follow whatever He wanted me to go and do whatever He wanted me to do.

To make a long story short, within weeks I was leading worship in Copenhagen and experienced the greatest week of ministry of my life. This lead to almost seven years travelling around the world and seeing thousands of people healed and coming to know Jesus. (for the rest of that story see: Can God Touch A Nation?) I have learned that totally surrendering to God is the most powerful way to live my life.

One of the great Christian leaders of the 20th century was Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade For Christ. Through his staff around the world, the Four Spiritual Laws tract and the Jesus film (seen by over 4 billion), more than 150 million people have come to Christ and will spend eternity in heaven because of Bill’s ministry.

Bill was once asked, “Why did God use and bless your life so much?” He said, “When I was a young man, I made a contract with God. I literally wrote it out and signed my name at the bottom. It said, ‘From this day forward, I am a slave of Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever made a contract like that with God? Or are you still arguing and struggling with God over His right to do with your life as He pleases? If God is speaking to you, I urge you to surrender to Him. Trust me, it is the best decision that you will ever make!

Question: What area of your life do you need to still surrender to God? Are you willing to give God complete control of your life?

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

This blog is part of my vision to train over 100,000 worship leaders around the world. If you would like to support this vision you can help by giving any amount through this PayPal account.

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