A networking resource for all worship leaders and worship team members, serving as a catalyst to facilitate better worship in the local church
One of the great things about following Worship Ministry Catalyst is that you get free stuff from time to time. This happens to be one of those times. What is the NAB Show you may ask…Here’s a little info from http://www.nabshow.com
For more than 80 years, there’s been only one global event for people passionate about content.
A place that fosters the convergence of industries the world turns to for information and entertainment.
An essential destination that is synonymous with next-generation technology, education and insight.
A gathering so powerful that it earns the respect of more than 80,000 digital media professionals every year.
From broadcasting to broader-casting®, the NAB Show™ has evolved over the last eight decades to continually lead this ever-changing industry. And while the solutions at your fingertips have changed to keep pace with consumer habits and technologies, your aspirations to produce and deliver memorable content have remained constant. From conception through distribution, the NAB Show proudly serves as the incubator for excellence – helping to breathe life into content everywhere.
The Technologies for Worship Pavilion offers comprehensive training for house of worship staff and technical volunteers and is the focal point for all things related to worship technology at the NAB Show. In addition, you may be interested in Destination Broadband – the newest broadband-centric exhibit at the 2010 NAB Show. It will be featuring technologies like online video platforms, streaming video, mobile video distribution, and much more.
To get more info about the NAB Show, click here.
More than 85,000 audio, video and film content professionals
157 countries represented
$30 billion in purchasing power
500+ conference and training sessions
1,500+ exhibiting companies and 800,000+ net square feet of exhibit space
1,300+ members of the press
82 years of industry leadership
This week I was flying solo. I rolled out the piano, got it tuned and it was just me, a few old hymns and the congregation. People seem to like it when I do that. I would have thought it would be just the opposite, but that’s just not the case. People like it when it’s simple. I took the opportunity to do some hymns that we don’t get to do very often – which was fun do.
Here was my set:
For communion, I tied in the triumphal entry with what was happening during the rest of this week for Jesus. Here’s what I did:
All who are in a trusting relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ are invited to take communion with us today.
Jesus had just told a parable…
28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Before we take communion, let’s pause for a moment and pray for those we will be inviting next week. Those whom Jesus has wept over. Those for whom Jesus longs to be the giver of peace, and those whose eyes are hidden from the real answer they seek.
As Jesus entered the city, the people threw theirs cloaks on the road for the young colt to walk on. And as Jesus was riding this colt which no one else had ever ridden, the same people shouted out “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in Heaven and glory in the Highest!”
But, it wouldn’t be long before some of those same people who had thrown their cloaks on the ground we be shouting at Jesus. Not words of praise, but words of condemnation. They were willing to lay down their cloaks for him, but at some point over the next few days, the cost of following Jesus became to great. And they shouted at him.
Just as Jesus knew which colt he would ride on, and just as he knew the people who would be shouting his praises – he knew the people who would be shouting condemnation. And He knew that though this story began at the Mt. of Olives the next time he would return there he would be betrayed. And He knew the story would finish at Golgotha, a Hill where he would give his life as the ransom for our souls.
Just as the hundreds who praised him would later betray him, one of his own would betray him as well. And on that night, before he would return to that Mt., Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Father, as we think about the joyful celebration that surround your son’s entrance so many years ago, and as we think about those who were there – so quick to lay down their cloaks for you – we think about the way you entered into our lives. We think about the way your Son laid down His life for us, to pay sins ransom. And for that we say Thank you. Thank you for being our redeemer. Thank You Father, for sending us your son.
For more weekend Reviews – check out Sunday Setlists over on “The Worship Community.“
What would the fly on the windshield say? Nothing now. No, not the one on the outside, the one on the inside. You know, when you get to Gateway on a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning, if the little fly followed you into church and told someone what had been going on what would he say?
I’ve heard from these flies (I don’t want to take this metaphor too far for fear that you actually start to think I talk to flies, like I’m some sort of bug whisperer so I’ll stop now.) and what I hear is that in general there are one of three things that happen in the car on the way to church. The first story I hear is nothing. People just drive to church as if they’re driving to Target and do nothing differently. The second story I hear is one of stress. Parents are stressed from trying to get everyone ready for church, kids are stressed because the parents are stressed and the poor little fly is terrified (sorry, just couldn’t resist). The third story I hear is one of preparation. There’s an understanding that what’s to come is of utmost importance and we want to be ready for it.
My goal is to give you a simple way to help prepare you and your family for worshipping with us each weekend at Gateway. All you have to remember is S.O.S. That might not be too hard to remember, depending on which scenario you fit in above. This is a different kind of S.O.S. We’re not trying to keep our ship from sinking or saving our souls from something, we’re preparing for an encounter with the Savior of our Soul.
The First “S” is Submit. “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Heb. 5:7). We need to follow the example of Christ, who was God, but was still obedient to His Father even though it cost Him everything (Phil 2:1-11). We need to be people of prayer, but not just praying “Lord, help me to worship you today,” though, that’s a great place to start. Rather, we need to pray, Listen to the Spirit’s prompting and the follow through with what the Holy Spirit tells us to do. “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God…and by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:1-26). When we feel the Spirit leading us to respond in worship, we have an obligation to follow through. It’s not just What Jesus would do, it’s what He did.
The “O” is for Others. We need to think about others and we need to not think about others. Make sense? Just in case it doesn’t let me explain. First we need to think about others. In any worship Service, the people leading worship aren’t just those on the stage. Everyone has the opportunity to lead someone else in worship. And when you Submit to the Spirit’s leading, the same Spirit could be at work in someone around you. That same Spirit may want to use you to lead them.
At the same time, we need to not think of others. We should not restrict our worship for fear of how others might perceive us, instead Fear the Lord. “The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them” (Ps. 25:14). Do not be confused by the word Fear. It is a term of worship. When used in scripture it used in terms of Reverence and Awe, a Hatred of Evil and an Obedience of God.
The last “S” is for Sacrifice. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb. 13:15-16). What’s comfortable for us, isn’t a sacrifice. And don’t forget that in our corporate times of worship when you make a sacrifice you are sharing with others and that is pleasing to God.
“I will sacrifice a free will offering to you, I will praise your name O LORD, for it is Good. (Ps. 54:6)” We sing songs of praise and thanksgiving and offer them as a sacrifice not simply because we’re commanded to, but because Jesus sacrificed himself for us, and because we want to experience now as well as look forward to a time that is to come when all worshippers will worship in Spirit and Truth. (Heb. 13:12-14; John 4:23-24).
Think about it, a time when our worship will be uninhibited by our fallen state and we will always obey what the Spirit tells us to do. A time when we will see Him clearly, face to face and we will be able to worship Him without any false pretense, but based solely on the truth that we see standing before us. What a day that will be. But don’t think that’s something reserved for Heaven, because we can experience it together. We can Experience God, when we come together each weekend to worship and we Submit to the Spirit’s leading, serve the others around us, when we get outside of what’s comfortable to use and offer up to God a Sacrifice of Praise.
