Category: vision

The Next Worship Leaders

On By adamdolhanykIn church culture, leadership, thoughts, Uncategorized, vision, worship, YouthLeave a comment

Editor’s Note: This post while written by me, originally appeared over at the Worship Links blog, so check them out.

Eight thoughts on bringing the next generation into your worship community.

1. IT’S NOT AN OPTION

The church has two main callings: 1. To preach the gospel 2. To make disciples. The discipleship process isn’t all spiritual, it’s also practical. Paul, Peter, Barnabas, and other major players in the early church always travelled with young men, letting them learn in a practical, hands on setting how to fulfill the ministry that was given to them (1 Timothy 4:14). The same is true for those of us who minister in music. I’m always looking for my replacement. Who’s the young man or woman that God is raising up in my church? Discipleship is not optional for the christian, neither is making disciples. As worship leaders, music directors, and worship pastors, we need to have our eyes, ears, and hearts open to see who will lead the next generation in praise and worship of our King.

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When Is It Time For A Song To Die?

On By adamdolhanykIn Arrangment, band practice, blog, church band, church culture, leadership, thoughts, vision, worship3 Comments

I’ve heard and read a lot lately on how to introduce a new song, but the Worship Links blog posted a link to Jon Nicol’s thoughts on the Lifecyle of a song, or better yet, how to put a song out of our misery.

RECOGNIZE THAT SEASONS EXIST

“To everything there is a season” the Bible tells us. This is also true for worship songs, although not everyone seems to have read Ecclesiastes 3:1.

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem. If you don’t recognize that every song has a season, then you won’t be aware and watching for when that season has it’s end. This doesn’t mean that every song you’d played last Sunday is out of date. But out of the songs you did lead, some where at the start of their life cycle, some where in an undefined middle, and some were quite possibly past their prime.

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Playing For The Prodigal

On By adamdolhanykIn blog, church culture, culture, leadership, thoughts, vision, worshipLeave a comment

I’m not sure how helpful this post will be. It’s not even something that I do intentionally anymore. But maybe, somewhere out there, this will help someone out.

Every church has prodigals; people who once professed Christ and dwelled with us in community but who are now wandering, rebellious, and living wild in the world. Several years ago I was leading worship at a church where I did not have a long history, but almost weekly I would hear someone mention a prodigal son or daughter of the church who had “popped in” out of nowhere. Some of them stayed, some of them did not. After a while I realized two things. First, for whatever reason, in that season of the church’s life there was a returning generation of those who had wandered. I didn’t know why or how long it had been happening or it would last, only that it was going on. The second thing I realized is that not every prodigal was being recognized. If this many were being noticed (and hopefully embraced and ministered to) how many more were slipping in and out (it was a fairly large church).

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Q&A

On By adamdolhanykIn Arrangment, band practice, blog, church band, church culture, electric guitar, leadership, thoughts, vision, worship3 Comments

Every so often I like to look over the Google searches that bring people to this blog. It’s interesting what people look for, and what brings them my way. There are a few great questions, and a few ridiculous questions. What questions are people who stumble upon this blog asking? Let’s find out.

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Personal Vs. Corporate Worship Pt. 1: The Church As A Whole

On By adamdolhanykIn blog, church culture, culture, leadership, thoughts, vision, worship2 Comments

A while back, I had a conversation with a lady from another church. When she found out I was a worship leader, she asked what worship music I listen to during the week? It’s kind of a tricky question to answer. I find the hip-hop of artists like Lecrae and Thi’sl to be very worshipful. I find that I worship Jesus to heavy metal bands like August Burns Red and War of Ages. But I really doubt that this very nice older lady would find any of these artists helpful for her. I also doubt that the heavy metal or rap worship would go over well at my church.

Why? Because the question of what worship music I listen to is a question of personal worship. This is the music that I listen to on my own that helps me to worship Jesus and turn my heart and mind towards God. What about when it’s not just me, but a whole church full of people? What music and expression should we use towards the same ends. The problem we come to is when confuse personal worship with corporate worship.

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What Is Worship?

On By adamdolhanykIn blog, church band, church culture, leadership, thoughts, vision, worshipLeave a comment

A few weeks back I watched an episode of the Exchange, a webcast that Lifeway puts out each Tuesday, where Mike Cosper from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky talked about worship. What is it? What does it look like? Why do we sing? As well as other topics.

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Secular Music In Church?

On By adamdolhanykIn blog, blogs, church culture, culture, leadership, thoughts, vision, worship18 Comments

I saw an article on the Worship Links blog about the legalities of secular music in the church. I thought it was a worthwhile topic and since they only talked about the legalities, I’ll try to cover the broader issue. More and more churches are playing “secular music” in their services. It’s happening both with the live band on stage, and in the background music. What was once unthinkable to many is now a common place in churches all across the Western World. What’s going on? Why is this happening? Should we be worried or is it no big deal?

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This Was Fun

On By adamdolhanykIn blog, blogs, church band, leadership, thoughts, vision, worshipLeave a comment

Here’s a video of worship at my church a few weeks back. We had to change things up because it was VBS week, so the stage was totally stripped from it’s normal set up and we had a lot less room than we normally do. It was not a normal Sunday.

There’s a few reasons that I’m posting this:

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Comparisons and Dirty Little Secrets

On By adamdolhanykIn church culture, leadership, thoughts, vision, worshipLeave a comment

Are you trying to keep up with the Jones? The Jones that go to the “cool church” on the other side of the city. The Jones who go to the “artsy church” in the nearest urban center or college town? The Jones who go to the big, well known church in your tribe or denomination?

Well… Stop it. Stop it right now. Stop it right now, and here’s why…

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The 5 Point Band

On By adamdolhanykIn Arrangment, band practice, blog, church band, electric guitar, leadership, thoughts, vision, worship1 Comment

Let’s be honest about two things:

1. Church bands tend to “overplay” and step over each other on a regular  basis

2. Church bands are often a hodge podge of who’s available instead of who is needed.

What I’m going to suggest will hopefully unmuddy the waters sonically speaking and give structure to arranging and picking your church’s band for a worship service.

When I put a band together for a Sunday or Wednesday I first look at who is available. It’s all well and good to want a thick analog synth sound on a song but if all your keyboard players are on vacation, you’ll need to rethink your plans. Once I know who is available, I start to fill roles based on my “5 point band”. I admit that I don’t always do it consciously, because I’m so used to doing it. But it’s always there in the background of my mind. So here are the 5 points that I look for to put a band together. I’m going to write them in order of importance.

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