This year’s WX conference was incredible. Not only did we have great worship and speakers, we also had workshops like Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Male Vocals, Female Vocals, etc. If you can attend next year’s WX conference, I highly recommend it! Here is what I learned from WX2002.
The following quotes were either by the person cited or they came into my mind as the person was speaking.
Devin Berryhill - host
Humans are very wrapped up in themselves.
God can use us to make a difference.
God is greater than every person’s achievement.
We’re tapping into the most incredible power in the universe.
Chris Falson - guitarist, singer, song writer, author, etc.
Even if you don’t have confidence in yourself, have confidence in God.
You’ll be blessed when you have confidence in God.
The word "anointing" means enabling.
You may need to change your lifestyle if you want to be more effective for God.
Are your roots reaching for God’s streams?
When you love people, they want to know what is different about you.
Is there something that is more important than good for you?
Our worship is the fruit of our time spent with God.
Dave Rolph - pastor
When we are worshiping God, we are diligently seeking Him.
When you feel like nobody else loves God, remember Noah when he was the only righteous person on Earth.
Worshiping God inappropriately will bring trouble on yourself.
When you study the Bible, remember that it doesn’t include every word that the people or God spoke.
Since they weren’t eating meat yet, Abel must have been a shepherd because he wanted to have lots of sacrifices to offer God.
Abel’s worship was accepted by God because it was the appropriate offering that God required.
Many people express joy to God, but how many express their sins, repentance and failures to Him?
Don’t forget that part of worship is conveying the message that you’re sorry for messing up.
The essence of art is self-expression. The essence of ministry is self-denial. - A.W. Tozer (Putting the two together is difficult.)
Simply presenting something from your heart doesn’t make it valuable to the church.
In times of worship, are you considering the future or complaining about the present?
Compare and contrast:
Lamech (poetry, earthly, etc.) vs. Enoch (prophecy, heavenly, etc.)
Are we speaking and singing like people who love God and live with a heavenly perspective?
Faith means you see things like God says, not like they feel.
Compare and contrast:
Nimrod (unrighteous, worldly, etc.) vs. Noah (righteous, godly, etc.)
Are you worshiping God like Nimrod or Noah? Like Lamech or Enoch? Like Cain or Abel?
Noah got zero converts in the 120 years he built the ark and preached.
We don’t even see that Noah’s family helped him build the ark.
Can you tell the difference between people with God’s anointing and people who possess talent, but aren’t anointed?
Fancy construction is greatly overrated.
I don’t want to spend time doing things that don’t work.
You’re going to have to turn down the volume of your surrounding noise, so you can hear God.
Peter Courson - pastor
Obey God without thinking He owes you something.
God can direct us into difficulties so we can experience Him.
How many consequences are you currently facing because you left the side of your Deliverer?
God didn’t purchase us to have a Master/slave relationship.
Tommy Coomes - pastor
Don’t let anyone talk you into thinking that worship is one style of music.
Did you grow up in a religious vacuum?
Don’t worship what the world worships.
Only experiment with good things.
Do you have a musical role model?
Trade in bad habits and unprofitable actions for godliness.
All of us need a Christian we can talk to that loves us.
Some of the opportunities God gives you are very small and informal, but become huge.
Encourage and don’t just criticize people who are fearful or less faithful than you.
Peer pressure is one of the strongest forces on Earth; even for adults.
Carve your own path as you listen to the Holy Spirit.
If you want to be good at something, you’ll have to do it wholeheartedly.
Practice things in private until you’re comfortable enough to play them in public.
Discover what God’s job is, what yours is and stick to doing yours.
Love changes things.
Steve Antti - Acoustic Guitar Workshop: He’s a worship leader, guitarist, singer, songwriter, etc.
Have a guitar that is set up properly.
Invest in buying the best guitar possible because there is a major difference in the low end and high end guitars. It’s worth the extra cost for the quality guitar.
Buy a tuner and use it.
Take guitar lessons and be prepared to spend time learning new chords and rhythms.
Buy worship cds and learn the songs.
Find the best key for your voice and the people you’re leading.
Memorize your songs and don’t be afraid to learn new ones.
Have a group of songs you can play any time without using sheet music.
Keep a song sheet book with all of your songs and organize it.
Try and create new arrangements for older songs.
You don’t have to play all of the songs just like you hear them on the cd.
Practice flowing from song to song.
Will you begin with the chorus or the verse?
Know when to mute, play soft and how to build your volume.
Learn chords with different bass notes.
Be in prayer throughout the week and let God speak to your heart about a song list.
Let your guitar be a tool that the Holy Spirit can flow through.
Be at a place of total submission to what God wants for that moment.
Use the guitar to play and speak at the same time.
Know when to finger pick and when to strum.
It’s ok to close your eyes, just make sure that you’re going to the same place, together.
Daniel Tyack - Lead Guitar Workshop: He’s a guitarist, worship leader, etc.
You are an example.
Get your perspective right.
Worship is in no way about me.
Worship is entirely about Jesus!
God does not "need" any of us to accomplish His work. He chooses to use us.
We must do all things for the glory of God!
When given a compliment, say "Thank You." Afterwards, say in your heart, "Thank You, God."
Keep your focus!
If you’re adding sounds that are good, then play. If you think that your part will not be good or if the music will be crowded, then don’t play.
Often times, less is more.
Know your congregation and be sensitive to what they like and want.
As a worship leader, it is essential that you partake in the worship.
Remember to smile and to save your hops and thrusts for the mid-week service.
Remember, you’re not a rock star. You’re leading worship.
Invest in quality gear and guard it.
Create tones that do not get drowned out by other instruments.
Keep all your patches at a consistent volume and don’t dial up patches that are harsh or stick out too much.
Pay attention to what is going on and follow the worship leader.
Contemplate what you’re singing and playing.
Leo Correia - Male Vocals Workshop: He’s a worship leader, guitarist and singer
If you’re leading, do it confidently.
Don’t be shy or bashful when singing.
Don’t worship insincerely or out of habit.
The worship team must submit to the worship leader.
Be a teachable follower of God and Christian leaders.
Take care of your voice.
If you’re a guitarist, take care of your hands.
Discern when to play fast and when to play slowly.
Christians should be playing and singing more wholeheartedly than unbelievers.
God blesses teachable people.
God gives you the gift and it’s up to you to enhance it.
Sing like you mean it!
Joe Servia - Bass Workshop: He is a Bassist and currently with Justin Fox’s band
Don’t let your appearance be a distraction to the worshipers.
Be prepared when you arrive at a gig.
Be prepared to have something go wrong if you are testing new gear and have a backup plan.
Drummers and bassists keep the rhythm.
Experiment in sound check and rehearsal, but be careful about experimenting during the live performance.
Learn the rule of waiting your turn during sound checks.
Give your sound man a sound check lick that represents how you’re playing in the service or show.
While performing, look for visual cues and listen for vocal cues, so you can find whether or not there will be additions or subtractions to the songs.
Be prepared for key and song changes.
Criticism from the music director isn’t bad.
Accept criticism and take responsibility for decisions and attitudes.
Know when each service starts and your on-stage and off-stage times.
Pray for yourself and your team.
How awesome is it to lead people into worship?
Know which gear you borrowed and which gear is yours.
Leave your area ready for what follows you.
Give appropriate compliments to your teammates and network.
Be thankful that God has given you the talents to play instruments and lead worship.
Click here to go to JCSM's main Worship Xcellence page (with links to several different conference years of notes)