Chapter 7

       As a worship leader, it is vital to our faith that we know the word of God to better understand ourselves. The bible is a way God can communicate to us and it's also how we can learn. Our faith is grown most when we pay attention to Gods word. The bible is Gods story, and it's probably the greatest story ever written, so we need to take advantage of the opportunity to read it. It is really hard to do this on a regular basis, but it is also very important.
     
       For us, we memories bible verses for this class and some other classes as well, and we need to remember them. We can read the bible on a regular basis to learn these things, all we need to do is set aside five minutes a day to read a chapter and reflect.

Chapter 6

     The chapter starts by showing an image of our current society, an thankless society. It is really depressing to think about it, people today do not realize that they need to be thankful for things that are given to them. He challenges us to be thankful as much as we can for what God has given us because it will make our worship more authentic. The more authentic our worship is the more fulfilled we will feel in our faith and in our life. The more thankful we are, the more we can convince others to believe in God as well.

      As worship leaders, we need to be thankful for all God has given to us. He's given all of us musical talent, and we can thank him by using our talents to glorify him. We understand that God created the world but not everyone believes this. It's our job to show others to be thankful to the lord. We need to set an example for our peers.

Chapter 5

In chapter 5 the author emphasizes that we need to worship the six days of the week outside of the sanctuary. If we do not live like we do on the stage, we are hypocrites. He quotes mother Teresa in a quote where she says we need to love everyone all of the time. If we do not love God the entire week, our worship is meaningless. He concludes by reminding us to do everything we can to help our congregation.

I think that we can relate this to the chapel speaker we had this week. One of his main points was that we need to give our whole lives to God, not just 99% of our lives. Our faith really is not real if we do not give our entire lives. Giving our entire lives will show to God will show to him how much we love him, which is exerting to him. Like we say almost every week, we need to be worship leaders on and off the stage.

Chapter 4

       Tom Krauter Emphasizes the Book of Leviticus in this chapter. His main point is that we need to be completely given to the Lord, even though it may be very difficult. The best thing we can do as worship leaders is apply that love to our music. If we do this, all of our music playing will be worship, so will everything else. If we strive to be like the Levites, eventually we will make it to our goal.

      All of us in worship band are relented musically, and to be like Levites we need to give that music to God. If we give our whole lives to Him there is nothing that can separate us, since we will finally be fulfilled by him. When we give up our lives we will never be sad or uncontempt. It is super hard to do this, but it will be completely worth it. The Levites are a great example of how we should worship.

Chapter 3

            As the author points out clearly, it is tremendously important to be humble among your peers. The best leaders and worshipers are those who keep themselves in a place where that aren't proud. We also need to be servants around our friends. Leading is not being above everyone else, it is being below them, you need to look up to those you lead. Being humble is one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish as a leader. 

   

           This chapter definitely applies to the situation we are placed in as worship leaders on campus. We are here to set an example for our peers. If they see us serving and being humble around our class mates. If we act proud, or better than everyone around us, what kind of example is that? Humbleness is our most important tool as a worship leader, to allow others to follow us.

Chapter two summary and reflection

         The author starts by explain how he has such a hard time focusing on what the right thing to do is. He knows what he should do, but he still struggles like many of us do. One great thing that God gives us because of this, is his mercy. Without it we would be doomed to bathe in our sin for all of eternity, but God doesn't want that for. Like I have said so many times, Tom Kraeuter's most effective writing comes when he is most vulnerable, and our lifestyle should reflect that as well.

          We, as leaders on the campus may feel like we need to be perfect, but most of the time, it is more important to show that we aren't. If our fellow students view us as unflawwed in our faith, they will believe that they cannot be like us and lead others. I am not saying we need to do naughty acts before our peers, but we need to let them know that struggling in their faith is OKAY. I have struggled in my faith, and I am sure many of you have as well, but it is very healthy for our faith.

Chapter one summary and reflection

           The First chapter of this book is one that really tells us how we should act away from the stage. The author explains his personal struggle with only worshiping on stage and not off stage. He did not feel a great connection with the Lord, which is the most important relationship as a worship leader. If we do not feel him off of the stage we will not feel him on the stage. Even great worship leaders struggle with this and it will be the most important thing we do.

            I really liked that the author was willing to share that there was a time where he was not that close to the Lord. I think it is really important to share with others what we struggle with even if it is hard, and the author said this to everyone who reads this. Authors who do not hide themselves from their audience are the best ones. Like I said in an earlier post, I am excited to read more from him. This book will teach all of us how to be a worship leader in our lives.

Introduction summary and reflection

       The Introduction to the book "Keys to becoming an effective worship leader" effectively introduced what we will be reading over the school year. The author quickly summarizes his short beginnings which I predict, and hope, will be expanded upon in the later chapters. Wether we are leading a huge group of people, or a small meeting, this book can teach us how to present ourselves as a worship leader. His most important quote is, "This is more a book on being a worship leader: the practical everydayness of the position itself". I am excited to absorb the rest of the information the author has for us to learn.

     My favorite part of this introduction was definitely the quote I mentioned earlier. I really want to learn how to be a worship leader in my community rather than just learn how to lead worship. I believe it doesn't matter how well you play if you are doing it for the right reasons (it really helps to sound good though). Many people may just play in front of a crowd and not worship away from the stage, which is definitely not how I want to do these things. I can't wait for the rest of the year and what I will learn in this class.