Lessons in Worship
March 28, 2008 10:36 am Blogs
Since Pastor Duane Smets will be out of town this weekend, the journal entry has been handed down to me for this week. The topic? “What I have learned since becoming a worship leader” written by Michael Trujillo.
So here is a my brief history and what I’ve learned. I’ve been throw into the position of “worship band member” for different churches probably ever since I was 16 or 17. I’ve never really enjoyed it up until the last 3 or 4 years. It’s a scary position. Especially for somebody like me that doesn’t do very well speaking in front of more than 5 people. But one thing I’ve learned is that God will always find a way for His plan to work. Even if that meant me being a part of it (which until recently I have never really been fond of). I wasn’t thrown into the position as worship leader at the Resolved (which is nice for a change). I served under the leadership of Justin Bragg until he moved away to pursue his wife. The spot was left empty and I although I had never even sang a verse out loud I felt strongly that I was being called to step up and lead worship.
There are people like Duane that feel a calling on their lives to preach the word of God to a bunch of people every week on Sunday mornings. I’ve never felt this calling. I was more the person that slipped out of church without talking to people and preferred to keep to myself. While attending the Resolved I feel like God has done much to shape my heart. I went from volunteering to serve, to an eagerness to worship God anyway that I could. So I guess I prefer to sing the word of God (which is a form of preaching I guess)?
The first morning I volunteered to lead worship I’m pretty sure Duane was kind of unsure of what he’d gotten himself into. I’m sure of this because I was thinking the same thing while standing up there. I wasn’t sure if words were going to come out of my mouth or a nervous shower of barf onto the front row (sorry, but it’s true). Things have gotten easier since then and my confidence has grown. But there are always challenges that will come along when you are in a position like this. These challenges come in the form of people you work with, idolatry in your heart, and daily struggles that you must overcome. The first thing I try to admit to is that I’m not perfect. And the more I learn about God and how perfect He is, the more I’ve realized I cannot trust myself without Him. There are conflicts that I have faced, and no doubt will have to face in the future that I’ve handled horribly. And I’m sure a few of you can bring to light some mistakes that I’ve made but have forgotten. I thank God every day for the family that He has built in the church and for bringing us farther along than I sometimes believed we would be. This shows my weakness in faith and that I have much to grow.
With the growth of our church and the coming and going of different members I’ve met new people that have helped my personal worship of God. It’s not really anything they’ve said or done to me but just knowing them has made me realize the selfishness of my heart. When we worship on Sunday morning it is as a family. And almost like any family gathering or dinner there is going to be a clash on styles or lifestyles but its brought together beautifully because for one purpose. And that is the gathering of God’s people to worship Him.
My first aim in worship music is to see that God is glorified. Whether that means we simplify a part of a song, or boost it up louder than it should be. I will not hold back my worship. I will drone on a single verse or even word for as long as I feel God is being glorified through it and people are worshiping Him through it. Styles will come and go and so will preferences on how people worship God. But I’ve learned that the sound of God’s people singing out praises is more beautiful than any chord or beat that the worship band could play by itself. I can play only hymns or only contemporary worship music but not everyone is going to be satisfied. My goal now is to marry a sound that reflects the worship of the Resolved church as a community. NOT Michael Trujillo’s worship. NOT Pastor Duane’s worship.
God Bless,
Michael Trujillo