Archives For Ryan Egan

How do You Teach Children to be Worshipers?

Ryan Egan —  July 2, 2010 — 9 Comments

This is a question I’ve been pondering for a while, especially as our daughter gets older and starts to understand things and ask more questions.  I also found this fantastic post from The MOB Society (Mother’s of Boys) that I just had to share.  It was so good to read and think about.  An excerpt:

He listens, learns, and knows the words now. He can’t read yet, learning by hearing is his way. He gently raises his hands, the air accepts them, and he closes his eyes. He is mouthing the words now, no sound.  Not yet. Halleluia! Sweet tiny sound breezes through my ears.  A wee voice with a big heart.  I open my own eyes to look. He is worshiping.

So, what do you do?  What have you done?  What has worked?  And I’m not talking about just teaching your kids to sing and do actions with Sunday School songs.  While that’s great and is a good starting point, I’m wondering how you teach children to be worshipers. I want to know how you’ve developed lasting results.  Will you leave me a comment and let me know?

In For Worship Leaders
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Some Great Thoughts on Raising up New Worship Leaders from Paul Baloche

Ryan Egan —  July 1, 2010 — Leave a comment

Something I would love to do more often is to integrate more younger players and singers into our worship team. Watch this video of veteran worship leader and musician Paul Baloche as he shares some good thoughts about how to do it.

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In For Worship Leaders, Leadership
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Sunday Recap – Moved to Tears During How Great is Our God

Ryan Egan —  June 29, 2010 — Leave a comment

This past Sunday at Living Word was so good on several levels.  There was only two of us leading worship (guitar and piano) but it worked, and it worked well.  We were very familiar with all of the songs and were able to worship as we led.  The message was challenging.  And the people were singing. I love it when we can hear the people sing.  It’s always so encouraging.

I think, as well, what made the morning so meaningful for me is that I was finally able to let my guard down a little bit.  God has definitely been working on some things in my life and the words from the call to worship from Psalm 34 (which was also the message text) really struck me.  They were almost overwhelming and I wish I would have let even more emotion show through.  However, the next day I received an incredibly encouraging email from some regular visitors to our church.  It was mentioned that

the Spirit was alive and moving in church today and that [this person] was moved to tears during the song about how great our God is.

To me, if nothing happens in the service except God being glorified in this way, I can be satisfied that He was moving in this one person’s life through the music.  I’m so thankful that they took the time to write.  Here was our song set:

  • I Exalt Thee (classic)
  • Come, Christians, Join to Sing (Covenant Life Arrangement)
  • I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Hymncharts Arrangement)
  • How Great is Our God (Tomlin – Looks like Chris from Canada was right after all)
  • Jesus Paid it All (Traditional)
  • I Exalt Thee

I’m so looking forward to worshiping again next week.

*This post is part of the Sunday Setlists community at The Worship Community.com.

In For Worship Leaders
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Worship Leader or Worship Pastor?

Ryan Egan —  June 26, 2010 — 2 Comments

Shannon Lewis posted a great question yesterday that I thought would be worth weighing in on.  You can check out the full extent of the question at his blog, but here’s a quick summary:

My question is this: is there a Biblical balance, and if so, where is it to be found?  Is worship ever to be “seeker friendly”?  Even if not “seeker friendly”, is there ever a proper time to use songs because they are comfortable or familiar?

I think there’s definite Biblical support for both sides, which would lead me to believe that “pastoring” includes using both new and familiar songs.
For instance, looking at Deuteronomy 6 where the people are commanded to “teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise…you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”  – speaking of the law that God gave to the people through Moses.  These things they were supposed to remember would be familiar to them, even to the point of them dangerously becoming too familiar as we see through how the Israelites acted (and how we act!), but they were still commanded to dwell on and remember those things.
Contrast that with the multiple times in the Psalms where the writers urge us to “sing a new song.” I also think of how Paul exhorts us to both “think on these things,” speaking of whatever is good, excellent, noble, etc., AND move from milk to solid food.
In the case of music I think all of the above can, and should, be applied. Familiar songs remind us of truth in an easy-to-remember way.  They also make it easy for us to meditate upon those truths.  New songs, as long as they truly are filled with truths that stretch us, move us from milk to meat.
In For Worship Leaders, Leadership
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Since We’re Singing How Great is Our God in our Local Church this Sunday…

Ryan Egan —  June 24, 2010 — Leave a comment

…I had to alert you to this great blog post that’s voiced some of what I’ve been thinking for a while now.  Enjoy, and thanks, Chris!

Chris Tomlin – How Great is Our God.

In For Worship Leaders
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