"I Can't Worship": Worship Leader Edition

“I can’t worship…” If you’ve been leading worship for any length of time, you have probably heard that statement. But perhaps, you too have felt the same way. There are endless lists floating through my mind as I am leading worship - am I distracted? There are endless realities (and alternate realities) floating through my heart as I am leading - am I worn down, frustrated, hurt, steeling myself? Airtight theology is good, but it is of little use if we are not transformed by its presence in our lives. We can believe and teach that all of life is worship, and still struggle to ‘enter in’ to worship in this moment as we lead.

But what do we do in this moment when we are leading but in fact do not feel that we are able to worship?

Pray. Ask that God would unite your heart to fear his name (Psalm 86:11).

Think of the throne room of heaven. Day and night the saints and angels and living creatures never stop singing, saying, and shouting - the holiness, glory, and worth of God. This present reality will be an eternal reality for all who are in Christ. View the temporal in light of the eternal.

Think of my brothers and sisters around the world. We are a part of a diverse, global body of believers stretching through generations into eternity. We are caught up in a story larger than this moment, and many of our brothers and sisters face real and acute danger from their families, friends, neighbors, and governments for gathering with the people of God or professing faith in Christ at all. May the perseverance of the saints fuel your own perseverance.

Think of someone else worshiping. One of my youth pastors told a story about how when he would struggle to fully enter into worship, he would think of a specific family member (who expressed outright hostility toward faith in Christ) face down, arms raised in worship… The reality is this will one day be the posture of all people (Philippians 2), but does it stir your heart, does it fan the flame of wonder in you when you consider enemies becoming worshipers?

It is all normal. It is normal that some days our worship flows freely and easily - from a heart and cup that overflows. It is normal that some days our worship is labored and mismatched to the worth of the One whom we worship. Worship is costly, and Christ is worth the cost - press on.

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Resurrection Sunday: Liturgy + Set List

• FOREVER NOW A CROWN

  Call to Worship: 10th Presbyterian Church Call to Worship

• CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY

• LAMB OF GOD

  Let’s confess what we celebrate as followers of Jesus. I will read the parts marked ‘Leader,’ together we’ll read the parts marked ‘All’:

  LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen.


  ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!


  LEADER: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  ALL: He has given us new life and hope.
 He has raised Jesus from the dead.


  LEADER: God has claimed us as his own.


  ALL: He has brought us out of darkness.
 He has made us light to the world.


  LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

  ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia! 


  —based on 1 Peter 1:3-5, the Worship Sourcebook

  Sermon: Hebrews 2:14-18

  If God in Christ had never stepped down from heaven, laying aside his glory, taken on his flesh and blood, lived the perfect life, died the death we deserve, become our sin, if none of those things had ever happened, God would still be worthy of our worship, adoration, and obedience. How much more, as followers of Jesus should we respond with worship, adoration, and obedience in light of the propitiation of Christ? We’re going to respond now as we sing about how Jesus is, what He has done, and who He has called us to be. Would you stand if you’re able…

• THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE BLOOD

• NO BODY

  Benediction

31 December: Liturgy + Set List

• WONDER AND GIFT

  The Church calendar says that Christmas is more than a day, it is a season. So we are still in the season of Christmas, remembering Christ’s coming, and anticipating His return. As we sing together this morning, I want to encourage you to look back over the past year and search for ebeneezers - remembrances of God’s care, help, and provision. Hold those things in your heart and mind, and sing from that place, sing from that remembrance this morning.

• BEHOLD

• HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

• ONLY A HOLY GOD

  Readings: Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 1:1, 12-16

  This is the word of the LORD. The kind of people Jesus came from reveals the kind of people Jesus came for. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

  Sermon: Luke 1:26-56

  Writer Frederick Buechner says, ‘The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us... I love you." If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, as you look back over 2023 and as you look ahead to 2024 you have nothing to fear, because the Lord who loves you says in His Word: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ God is so kind, so good, so gracious, he can work all things for our greater good, and His greater glory. As we close out our morning and our year, we’re going to sing about God’s glory with a song that will have a familiar melody, but maybe words which are unfamiliar. Would you stand if you’re able…

• All Glory Be To Christ

Tuesday Refocus: November 7

“Glory to the Father who created us; glory to the Son who redeemed us; Glory to the Spirit who sanctifies us; glory to the most high and undivided Trinity, whose work is inseparable, whose kingdom abides, world without end. Amen.” - Augustine

We created beings have no glory of our own in which to boast. 

No saving work of our own in which to trust.

No ability of our own to grow up into godliness.

And what a comforting reality that should be!

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” - Psalm 115:1

Father, forgive our attempts at earning, achieving, or possessing our own glory. All glory belongs to You, and You alone. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: September 26

“We must not become people who denounce but do not weep. Nor those who weep but never denounce. Too much is at stake both ways.” - D. A. Carson

Ours is a culture quick to denounce. In some ways, this is a good thing. Christians should be at the forefront of seeking to see “…justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).” Because we know what is good, and what is required by the Lord: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Christians should be quick to denounce racism, sexism, exploitation, injustice, and sin in all its forms and locations. And in this way be about the business of seeing “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10).”

But simply denouncing without weeping fails to enter into the brokenness of our world. Without weeping, we keep brokenness at a distance. Without weeping, anger feels like action.

Jesus, you wept at the tomb of your friend, and you wept over Jerusalem. You grieve and groan over the brokenness of our world, and have yourself been broken for our sake. You did not keep our brokenness at a distance, but stepped into it, and took it upon yourself. May we be people who model this kind of self-giving sacrifice to the world around us. For Your glory, and for the good of the whole world. Amen.

Both/and,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: September 19

"I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion... I want all that God has or I don't want any." - A.W. Tozer

My theology should not just shape my thoughts, but shape my life. Not just shape my ideas about God, but inform the practices, habits, aim, and direction of my daily life. If I am not being conformed to the image of Christ, experiencing a renewed mind, and being deeply transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit - then why even bother? 

My life - your life - does not need any more accessories, activities, or excuses. I need - we need - whole life discipleship.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2

Father, we are too easily satisfied. Give Your people a greater longing for Yourself. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: September 12

“Lord, though I possess outward things, yet let outward things never possess me.” - Puritan George Swinnock

I am always struck by the reality that ‘…the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Matt 8:20).’ The One who holds the universe together by the word of His power, claimed no possession over His own creation (Heb 1:3).

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33

Father, You know my need before I ask, You clothe and provide, You sustain and fill, and may all things from Your hand be received with grateful dependence upon You. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: August 29

"Be so preoccupied with good that you have no room for ill will." - E. Stanley Jones

Right worship leaves no preoccupation for self in the same way that filling our minds, hearts, and lives with good leaves no room for ill:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” - Philippians 4:8

May our minds, words, actions, and lives be marked with nothing other than a preoccupation with the only One who is good. “You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.” - Psalm 119:68

Father, fill our minds and mouths with things that are good, beautiful, and true. May our hearts be an overflowing cup of life-giving love in response to the love we have received through you, in Christ’s name, amen.

Preoccupied,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: August 1

“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies;
    the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.”

“Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.

For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongue.

Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.” - Psalm 5:4-10

While an abundance of transgressions casts us out, the abundant love of God welcomes us in. 

His love is steadfast and immovable. The welcome and love of God mean that we no longer bear the guilt we rightfully deserve, but instead, it has been cast out so that we can be welcomed in.

Father, thank You for Your abundant love greater than the abundance of transgressions we have to offer. Jesus, we are grateful, Spirit help us remember, in Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

30 July: Liturgy + Set List

• ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

  Call to Worship: Psalm 19:8-14

  This is my hope and prayer for you and me this morning - that our words and our hearts would be aligned. That we would sing of the things we have seen - that God is great, good, and kind. Let’s sing together:

• GOD YOU’RE SO GOOD

• KING OF KINGS

  Sermon: Exodus 20:16

  God created the world by His word - and sustains it by the Word of His power. When you and I speak, it is one of the most obvious ways we display that we bear the image of God. Scripture tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue, and confronts us with the reality that we use the same mouth to bless God and curse our brother. All words - those spoken aloud, and those uttered only in the quiet of our hearts and minds - all come from the overflow of our hearts. You and I do not merely need better control over our tongues, we need new hearts. And as we continue in worship we are going to use our words to confess our sin to God and one another, would you stand if you’re able:

Merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
By what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

In Your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us amend what we are,
And direct what we shall be,
So that we may delight in your will and walk in Your ways, To the glory of Your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

• ONLY A HOLY GOD

• RAISE UP THE CROWN (ALL HAIL THE POWER)

  Benediction

Tuesday Refocus: July 25

“O Lord… You know me more deeply and fully than I know myself. You love me with a greater love than I can love myself. You even offer me more than I can desire… Take my tired body, my confused mind, and my restless soul into your arms and give me rest, simple quiet rest.” - Henri Nouwen

Before a word is on your tongue, it is fully known (Psalm 139:4). Because you are fully known.

Nothing will separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39) - because God’s love has no ending, and no beginning (Geerhardus Vos).

We want enough grace for this moment, God gives us grace upon grace upon grace upon grace (James 4:6).

Father, may these truths be as animating as they are restful. For Your glory in our good, in Christ’s name, amen.

Known,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: July 18

“The more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does most to avoid suffering is, in the end, the one who suffers most.” - Thomas Merton

It was for the joy set before Jesus, that He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). The Author, Finisher, and Perfecter of our faith suffered, why would we believe that our lives would - or should - look any different?

Suffering feels unnatural because it was never intended to be a part of our world and our lives - and one-day suffering will cease to exist. But if we suffer with Christ as children and heirs, we will also be glorified with Christ (Romans 8:17)! Suffering feels unnatural in a world and culture of instant gratification. Suffering is counterintuitive because it says that there can be future joy, and eternal pleasures only in part today, but forever more on that day.

Father, may we experience Your comfort in our suffering? May we glimpse You joy now? Fill us with endurance, oh, Lord. In Your eternal and enduring name, amen.

Amen,

AB