In recent years there have been many churches, @V21Church being one of them, that have sought to make the language and environment of church welcoming, the culture relevant to the surrounding city and attractive to those outside the church, all in an attempt to bring glory to Jesus. I speak from experience that as this continues, if there is not equal effort, prayer, and time spent making disciples of those who are saved, a development of biblical community where we love one another and bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), and a continued humility in seeking God’s will, the attractive and welcoming nature may grow, but the depth of the church will begin to wane. Soon what people are being drawn to is a service, a speaker, or social event. The words of Jesus to the Church in Sardis in Revelation 3 may describe the result: “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

Having grown up in the church, my experience week after week was like the movie “Groundhog Day” – it seemed like every week the same people repeated the same actions. People sat in the same seats, sang the same songs, and the minister said the same things. Rarely did new people attend, and when this occurred those people looked just like everyone else. On the rare occasion someone showed up who looked extremely different and was open about not believing in Jesus, it  inspired discomfort among the congregation. They were treated like a biker uncle who showed up unexpectedly at Thanksgiving – we don’t really have a place set for you at the table, and we aren’t open to you ruining this nice day we’re having.

When @V21Church was planted in November 2002, there was a strong desire to welcome people who did not follow Jesus. In addition to calling followers of Christ to be warm and friendly towards everyone who attended, it was important to address what was said from up front. We examined the language and style of the songs, the liturgy and the sermon. We soon figured out this should not result in a dumbed-down or super-simplistic approach to Scripture. The arrogance underlying such an approach is astounding, as it communicates “You just don’t understand. We’ll make it simple for you so you can see the light.” This implies people who do not follow Christ are idiots, and followers of Christ have arrived at the conclusion that Jesus is Lord on their own merit. In addition, if you preach a dumbed-down portrayal of God and people began to follow this, they will grow frustrated as they’re unable to reconcile Scripture with this compartmentalized snapshot they signed up for. In other words, preach, teach and follow the God of the Bible.

Those who were open about not believing Jesus was God responded with enthusiasm to the challenging truths found in the Bible, while many who had grown up in church had an amazing ability to hear direct challenges to their lives and promptly ignore those convictions. We soon learned that people were coming to church to see if Jesus was really God, and wanted us to be clear and direct with them. The key to creating an environment welcome to those who do not follow Jesus was not a watered-down message but clarity. In addition, it was a sincere love for God, for others and for the city we live in – the ever-popular term “authenticity”.

Several years in we found the teachings of Tim Keller that brought even more clarity to what we had found true in practice at @V21Church. Below is a video that sums this up well.

We’re honored that God has brought people that do not know Him to @V21Church and given us a heart for those people. We’re humbled by those who have been saved by God who are involved in @V21Church, and encouraged to make sure we continue to shape our service in such a way that those without a church background or who have been “burned” by the church are welcome here.

Here’s the thing: if this becomes the main goal of our gatherings on Sunday, we’re in error. When one aspect receives more attention than Scripture dictates or to the detriment of other duties of the church, the pendulum has swung too far. Like a football team that only recruits and practices offense, the result will be an unhealthy organization. While a football team that only practices offense could argue “The goal of the game is to score points. We’re going to do everything we can to score points”, to win the game you also have to keep the other team from scoring points. The coach in this instance would be taking one command – “score touchdowns” – and blowing it out of proportion to what is needed to win the game. For a church, it’s not about winning or losing, but about being the Body of Christ. We desire to follow the commands of Scripture, the example set for us by church history, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While Jesus commanded us to “go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20) this is not our only command. When Jesus speaks to the churches in Revelation 1-3, he said more than “Did you make disciples of all nations?” Therefore, if we make our service entirely about attracting non-believers, we’re missing our call as the church.

Join us tomorrow as we examine the other side of the coin: circling the wagons, and gathering only for the followers of Christ.

]]> http://worship.vintage21.com/2010/08/why-we-gather-on-sundays-part-one/feed/ 1 http://worship.vintage21.com/2010/08/resolve/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=resolve http://worship.vintage21.com/2010/08/resolve/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:41:17 +0000 Matt Stevens http://worship.vintage21.com/?p=1279

Humans long for resolve. In chaos it’s natural for us to work towards order. We were created in the image of God, and in Him there is no chaos. Mankind has fallen however, and until we are in Heaven with the Father we will live in the tension of desiring order in a chaotic world. This grows tiresome, and apart from the peace and understanding of God this can cause us to become despondent as we try to bring order through our own strength. The United States is an example of frustrated people who are seeking happiness through their own strength by looking for quick resolutions to our longings. Songs, clothes, electronics, and material goods can be ordered and received overnight. Gratification, affirmation and self-serving solutions are mere clicks away. We’re rarely asked to wait for anything. The downside of this luxury of quickly receiving what we want when we want it affirms our belief that we have the power to make ourselves happy. In addition, we’re not often in a place where we have to deal with our longing, because solutions come so quickly. This denies us having to stop and listen to God for an answer – an unwelcome discipline in a world of instant gratification.

In The Long Walk, Slavomir Rawicz recounts being captured and shipped to a prison camp in Siberia, the horrors of imprisonment, his escape and trek across 4,000 miles of frozen tundra, the Gobi desert and the Himalayan mountains. What moved me was the mental and emotional demands of such a horrible experience. For Rawicz and millions of others throughout history and across the world, arriving at a place of rest, comfort, and resolve is not a reality. Faced with such turmoil, most Westerners would die not due to the physical toil but because the majority of us live in a world where resolve is seen as a right. Take away our rights, and we would slip into deep hopelessness. Not only are we insulated from so much of the sharp reality of suffering, but we’ve had it that way so long that now we believe we’re entitled to a life of ease and comfort. That’s why it’s so moving to read stories like what Slavomir Rawicz went through – we are jarred out of our lives filled with easy resolution when we are faced with the suffering of another human being. I’m writing today not to scold myself or others, but to illuminate the danger of complacency, which runs contrary to the biblical calling of a disciple of Christ.

“And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” – Luke 9:58

Jesus Christ was homeless for the majority of his ministry, and only on the cross did He speak the words “It is finished.” Upon being commissioned the disciples spent the remainder of their lives spreading the Good News in the face of severe opposition. The history of the Church is filled with people who saw that their lives were no longer their own but Jesus’, and only in Heaven would they find resolution once and for all. In the West today, the reality of living in a chaotic, fallen world has been overshadowed by entitlement and pride. Nowhere is this more evident than on Sunday mornings, when Christians gather. Here our main concerns deal with the music, aesthetics, preaching, kid’s ministry, parking, temperature, chairs, programs, etc. At the heart of most people is not a desire to glorify God or represent Him, but an opinion based on their own desire and comfort. Most people enter with a thought of “getting fed” or receiving instead of gathering to glorify God and encourage one another. There is great dissatisfaction in the Western Church today as we cling to promises Jesus never made – that we would live comfortable, suburban lives. Our self-serving nature is left unsatisfied, as the Holy Spirit does not respond to our beck and call to satisfy our whims and desires, telling us how wonderful we are. In dealing with most of life we’re able to bring resolution on our own strength, achieve happiness through satisfying our own desires, but in following Christ we find ourselves outside of the center of the universe and our selfish desires are not the primary concern.

We cannot desire God’s will without our hearts being transformed by the Gospel. Without the Holy Spirit’s movement, we’ll remain at the center of our own little universe, and Christianity will become increasingly frustrating. 2010 has been a challenging year at @V21Church for people’s individualized versions of Christianity, which in essence isn’t Christianity at all. As we study the words of Scripture and call people to become a disciple of Christ, our selfishness has no place and we’re left with a choice: Will we continue to harden our hearts against the work of the Holy Spirit, or will we be people of soft hearts who are being sanctified, or made holy, by the Spirit?

copyright 2009 Geoff Wood Photography http://geoffwoodphotography.com/ @geoffwoodphoto

Leading worship at a conference can feel like being in charge of cooking at an Iron Chef competition. In the back of your head there’s a feeling that you’d like to give a good showing, and the feeling that people expect a good showing. Having attended many conferences, I admit there’s often a prevailing temptation to judge and critique the band and leader, or at the very least crane your neck to see what pedals they’re using. At it’s worst, the time of worship through song can turn into a performance from the band to crossed-arms smirks of Simon Cowells.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Almost everyone there leads ministry, many of those ministries dealing with Sunday morning corporate worship. It’s not only a job, but a calling and a passion, so we would naturally be interested in what’s happening on stage. Due to the community focus of the local church and responsibilities of leading, it’s rare we’re able to visit other churches. Considering these factors, the temptation to watch and brainstorm is understandable. Personally, I’ll allow observation during certain times, usually one unfamiliar song, or during a song that’s so familiar it’s accompanied with a burned-out feeling. Limiting this time allows you to faithfully engage in worship and still satisfy that natural curiosity.

Here are several things to consider when leading worship at a conference:

Jesus Christ Is The Leader, Not You

Worship leaders are not modern-day priests, leading people into the presence of God. This is the work of Christ, who has “entered once for all into the holy places” (Hebrews 9:12). According to Hebrews 9, the atoning blood of Christ has secured our redemption and torn down the wall of the curtain separating us from the presence of God. To lead worship with the thought that it’s on you to conjure up God’s presence or that you have special access to God and it’s good for everyone that you’re there so they can hear from and sing to God is not only arrogant but blasphemous to what Christ has done on our behalf. Read Hebrews and discover what Christ has done and is doing; it will free you from such pressure.

Choose Songs People Will Know

This is a difficult task, especially if you don’t keep up with the latest trends in contemporary worship. You also don’t want to choose mediocre songs just because they are familiar to people. The majority of people at conferences have a church background of some sort, so consider hymns over the contemporary songs. For the Advance Conference, we’re kicking off both sessions with older hymns that are fairly well-known; “How Great Thou Art” and “My Hope Is Built”. We’ve rewritten the arrangements in order to add more melody and groove but kept the familiar aspects of each. Some newer songs are okay, if they are both familiar and excellent. For example, “In Christ Alone” is a monster of a song, and there’s a reason it’s become so popular.

Introduce Original Songs Carefully

Not every church does original music, and oftentimes any new song they introduce has already been purchased from the Christian bookstore by many people in the congregation. Introduce original songs carefully; the last thing you want to do is draw people out of an atmosphere of worship, and launching straight into a new song or over-explaining can have the same effect as a giant record needle scratching. Ask yourself this: why are you doing an original song? Is it so people know you do original music at your church, or are you attempting to further your personal agenda by getting your name out there? Is the song on par with hymns and popular contemporary songs? Is it easily singable beyond the context of your own church? Last year we introduced “Into The Arms” by @ThadCockrell, who led a @V21Church band, and for months after I received emails asking for a recording. This year we’re playing “Holy Is The Name” by V21 band leader Mike Simons, which I think is on par with every other song we’re playing, and I anticipate more emails about this one.

Pray

Good gosh, have you prayed about this? There’s so much planning that goes into leading worship at a conference, much more than the established rhythm of a Sunday service. Prayer is often left to the last minute or disregarded altogether. If Jesus Christ is the leader and facilitator of our worship, and we’re gathering to sing to Him, lift up His name, hear from Him, and confess our sins through Him, why would we not ask Him to lead us? Simply gathering a bunch of Christians who are excited to be at a conference and who like to sing loud to a group of talented musicians does not equate worship. Pray that God would lead and move beyond what you have planned. And pray that He would guide you in planning. Despite all the practical considerations, the best laid-plans are foolish and useless without the leadership and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

In preparing for the Ash Wednesday service, I’ve read the repentant prayers of puritans, old hymns and texts, and scripture dealing with repentance. Through this I’ve noticed a lost language in church today. This isn’t a call to the flowery language of King James’ time (remember: thee before thou except after thine), but we lack a language of confession and repentance. Perhaps it was a pendulum swing from the “I’m a wretched worm” mentality that didn’t move from the cross to the good news of the resurrection, but today the most intense thing you’ll hear many Christians say to God is “I’m sorry”. Simply saying those words, as any experienced husband will testify, is not a magic phrase that fixes all problems. True repentance before God is more than an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, but a change of heart, a 180 degree turn back to God. Sadly, most of us feel guilty or caught, say we’re sorry, make some promises that may or may not involve putting money in a jar to deter us from sin, and then go about trying to conjure up ways to still do whatever we want while feeling right with God. I know because it’s a pattern in my life.

We’re like the unrepentant cities in Matthew 11:20-24, of whom Jesus says “For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Notice the cause of repentance wasn’t that they were compelled by guilt or their sin was found out; Jesus revealed himself to be God by performing miracles. The light of God shone on them, and they held onto the darkness.

Similar to these people, when the holiness of Jesus is revealed we harden our hearts in order to maintain control. We ignore the Holy Spirit calling us to God, the accountability of brothers and sisters in Christ and the rebuke of pastors; all because we don’t want to stop gossiping, getting drunk, overeating, lusting, etc. How can we get away with that, how do we sleep at night? Easy; by praising the name of Jesus through singing, bumper stickers and church attendance. By volunteering at church, listening to “christian” music, and having quiet times. Instead of ceasing to worship other things, we add more worship of God, thinking this will appease him. Notice those are all outward actions, which require no actual heart change.

Meanwhile, we never respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Instead of repenting, we keep singing about how good God is, deep down hoping that He’s good enough to put up with our continued rebellion, our unrepentant sin. This is not God-honoring, but a mockery of the good Father. Is he moved that we sing lyrics that accurately portray his character? Do you think a husband is moved when his unfaithful wife says “You’re a good man. I love you”?

Read Isaiah 1:11-17 for God’s response to our one-dimensional worship.

I hope you join us tonight at the Ash Wednesday service as we begin a journey of repentance. 7:00 pm, Raleigh campus of @V21Church.

Today’s post comes from a conference called Verge in Austin, Texas. Pastor @Nate_Williams and I traveled here to learn more about “missional communities”, or how to live as the church. The teaching has been challenging on some levels, and on other levels affirming to how we are seeking to live out the gospel at @V21Church. To watch online, visit verge2010.org.

A bonus of attending conferences is being able to worship through singing in an environment that is not @V21Church. As much as I love worshiping with my church family, it’s difficult to turn off the radar of responsibility while there. I have no complaints- my job is an honor and a joy- but it is enjoyable to attend a conference where I can worship through new songs with a musical style or approach that is unfamiliar, without thinking about the logistics of the service. Being away, among believers from all over often reminds me that I’m a child of God who has received immeasurable mercy, and his movement is much larger than my small brain comprehends or selfishly tries to compartmentalize.

Just as I’m able to worship God at Vintage21 while dealing with the responsibility of the role of leadership, it’s impossible at conferences not to think about the experience of worship, the methodology of the bands leading and not consider Vintage21 in light of it. During some songs I sit back and watch, listen, think and dream. Just like the teaching at conferences, the music is challenging on some levels and affirming on others.

What God has done with music at Vintage21 is unique and real. We have gone through phases of methodology, but thankfully our focus has always centered on glorifying Jesus. We’ve developed methodology not as a carbon copy of what other churches do or what the Christian music industry defines as “worship music”, nor have we defined ourselves in reaction to the shortcomings of christian culture. In addition, the musicians of V21 can be defined in one word: humble. They do not seek their own glory but that of Jesus Christ’s. I am honored and thankful to be at @V21Church, and praise him for each musician.

But…

When I attend other conferences or churches, there is something illuminated at Vintage21: our reluctance to worship God with abandonment. Is it fear? Pride? Ignorance? Before you dismiss this accusation with the thought, “It’s just the way I worship – don’t judge me”, go with me for a moment. Consider whether or not there is pride, fear, or unconfessed sin. Ask yourself whether or not the revealed glory of Christ, the good news of the Cross, and the freedom, mercy and forgiveness compels you to respond in the way you do. Or, are you practicing worship first by what makes you comfortable, and second by what God is worthy of and/or calling you to?

I’m not calling for an awkward environment where non-believers are confused and unwelcome by our practices. But we should be challenged – I am challenged and convicted – and the result of prayer, repentance and humble seeking will not leave us in the same place.

This is an ongoing issue at @V21Church among both the musicians and congregation, and will be a prominent topic next week as we prepare to worship together on Sunday, February 14th.

Know this, Vintage21: I love you deeply, and am driven not by a certain model or method, but a desire to see you free from sin, pride and fear. Praise God that He will draw us out of these.

]]> http://worship.vintage21.com/2010/02/a-lesson-were-still-learning/feed/ 6 http://worship.vintage21.com/2010/02/church-service-is-cancelled-worship-is-not/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=church-service-is-cancelled-worship-is-not http://worship.vintage21.com/2010/02/church-service-is-cancelled-worship-is-not/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:30:52 +0000 Matt Stevens http://worship.vintage21.com/?p=796 This past weekend’s snowstorm and subsequent freezing temperatures left us no choice and for the first time ever, @V21Church cancelled our services. We take this seriously, as each weekend is a chance to reflect Jesus to a lost world. I’m curious as to how this affected your view of worship. Did you see it as a “day off” from God? For me, it was a day off from leading others in worship, which I was not excited about – my role is a joy, and I am excited to be a part of what God does each Sunday in healing us, encouraging us by His Spirit, and drawing us to Himself through His Son. On the other hand, it was a blessing to have another day with my wife and two daughters, and I loved every minute of it. The heart perspective was different from a normal day, though, as I had the “missed worship” on my mind. How would we worship God as a family? How would I worship God without leading, singing, playing?

As written in the last post, it came down to my heart more than my actions. For the most part, our actions were normal for our family – playing, dancing, making food, praying, cleaning up, etc. – but the difference was an intent to worship God in that. Was this “less worship” than if Sunday had gone on as planned?

If you were at a church service, singing songs with a self-righteous belief that God would perhaps give you what you want since you were there, is that more worshipful than if you were home with your family, cooking breakfast with a thankful heart to God?

There’s no reason your worship would not be as pure, righteous and pleasing to God at home than if you were at church, singing in response. While the gathering includes prescribed and normative forms of worship- singing, communion, preaching of the Word, giving tithes – it is through Christ that we can know God, respond to Him in worship, and be seen as righteous. The Holy Spirit of God literally lives within us – our entire lives are to be lived as a worshipful response, whether we have a church service at Vintage21 or not.

Did you worship God yesterday? How did the cancellation of @V21Church services affect this? Comments and questions are always welcome.

To be successful in leadership, whether it’s a church service, business meeting, or concert, you must not allow the audience to dictate your performance or presentation. As a worship pastor, I spend a great deal of time in preparation, which includes prayer, planning and rehearsal. On Sundays, if I allow the energy and responsiveness of the congregation to dictate my level of energy, passion and focus, I’m actually worshiping the people instead of Jesus. Instead of leading them to worship Jesus, my presence is a distraction, and a new leader is needed.

This observation is not groundbreaking, and most people who are on stage regularly are faced with different sizes and energy levels of congregations/audiences learn to avoid “crowd worship”. To me, a mark of a great performer or leader is that he/she is unaffected by the size of the crowd. One band that comes to mind is The Avett Brothers. I first saw them at King’s Barcade in 2004, and hadn’t heard of them before that day. Two things astonished me: from the first note to the last, they played as if it were their last show. And, the show was filled with people there because it was “cool” in their scene, who talked through parts of this amazing performance. While most performers would be irritated or thrown off by a rude audience, the Avetts were unaffected. Any time I’ve seen them since, and from the reports of countless others who have seen them perform in hotel hallways, parking lots and at campgrounds, it’s always the same thing: they play each show as if it were their last.

Now, that we should lead worship in this way is worthy of a separate post. But today I have a different observation: While we work hard to present, lead, perform without being “brought down” by an indifferent crowd, the fact is a lively crowd can have a positive impact, and we should not shy away from that. Last Sunday I preached on worship at the Raleigh campus of Vintage21 Church. Four services in one day is tiring, especially when the four-month old had me start the day at 3:30 am and kept an afternoon nap just out of reach. As a result, the 6:00 service worried me, as I wanted to remain focused. The temptation was there to simply “get through it,” knowing rest was on the other side. Before the service I prayed that God would give me energy, focus, and would speak. Walking through the hall and praying, I was in a good place and ready to preach. However, when I walked into the main room, the band was singing and playing to God with all they had in them, and the congregation was following their lead. It was felt, and inspiring, and this put me in an even better place walking on stage.

My point is this: Worship leaders and bands not only honor God with their leadership, playing and singing, but can really set the stage well for the pastor coming up to preach. We play an important role for the oncoming pastor – if we bring the congregation down, distract them or bore them, that pastor has to fight all the more. If we paint a truthful picture of Jesus, and lead others to worship Him, the hearts of the congregation are receptive to the Word from the beginning. Keeping in mind that the role of the Holy Spirit is the key. Either we fight against what He desires to do that day, or we are instruments used to accomplish this.

What are your thoughts on this?

This past Sunday I was privileged to preach on the topic of worship, more specifically an issue that plagues Vintage21 and I would imagine most churches across the United States. A previous post on worship.vintage21.com called “The Exchange” contains thoughts that led to the sermon. In short, for years I’ve been plagued by the awkwardness of the beginning of the service and the discrepancy between the first and last song. We’re responding to the same God, the same Holy Spirit is present; why are people so dead at the beginning? In reading Romans 1:21-25, Paul’s writing on those who know God but “neither glorify Him as God or give thanks to Him” led to prayer and study that revealed a greater heart issue going on at @V21Church. It’s more than just warming up our voices or getting used to the music – we’re actually taking place in an exchange of self-worship for worship of God.

Download the mp3 here.

Upcoming Posts on worship.vintage21.com

• Wednesday, September 9: @ThadCockrell’s Show At The Pourhouse (Friday, Sept. 11)
• Thursday, September 10: New Band Vision & Audition Information
• Friday, September 11: “Set The Stage” – the effect bands and techs have.