Church Music Matters Podcast

As we’ve seen multiple times this season, the role of the musical worship leader is pastoral, servant-minded, and anything but a rock star. This week, we talk with Stephen Miller about the identity of a musical worship leader, leading in a 30,000 person church, and more. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars by: Stephen Miller https://www.amazon.com/Worship-Leaders-Are-Rock-Stars/dp/0802409865 Stephen Miller‘s Music http://stephen-miller.com/music/ Leadership and Church Size Dynamics by: Timothy Keller http://seniorpastorcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/04/Tim-Keller-Size-Dynamics.pdf Systematic Theology by: Wayne Grudem https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Introduction-Biblical-Doctrine/dp/0310286700 Knowing God by: J.I. Packer https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=knowing+god+by+j.i.+packer&sprefix=knowing+go%2Cstripbooks%2C209&crid=GEHAD3IXFEWK The Gospel Coalition https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ The Austin Stone https://austinstone.org/ Grand Parkway Baptist Church (Neil McClendon) Sermons https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grand-parkway-baptist-church/id500278835?mt=2 Epiphany Fellowship (Eric Mason) Sermons https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/epiphany-fellowship-sermons/id460267096?mt=2 The Village Church (Matt Chandler) Sermons https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-village-church-sermons/id82014403?mt=2 Timothy Keller Sermons https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/timothy-keller-sermons-podcast-by-gospel-in-life/id352660924?mt=2 Renewing Your Mind (R.C. Sproul) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/renewing-your-mind-with-r-c-sproul/id110916650?mt=2

There are few things more important in local church music ministry than the development of leaders, and there are few musical worship leaders who are better at developing leaders than Paul Ramey. This week, Paul joins us to talk about the problem of a low view of worship leadership, how to raise up leaders, and more. CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

When it comes to music for the gathered church, there are few artists as theologically deep and lyrically simple as Citizens & Saints. This week, we explore their catalog, their songwriting process, and more! RESOURCES: citizensandsaints.com CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com & twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

What happens when you’re a touring musical worship leader, and a love for the local church begins to grow in you. Our guest this week is Michael Bleecker of The Village Church, and he’s here to talk about desiring to be a pastor, knowing the people in your congregation, and much more. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper The Imperfect Pastor by Zack Eswine CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com & twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

As church leaders and musicians, what we are doing is shaping and forming our people, so the shape of what we’re doing matters. Local church pastor Adam Hendrix is with us this week to talk about framing your gatherings around the story of Scripture. RESOURCES: Union Chapel You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith Desiring the Kingdom by James K.A. Smith Rhythms of Grace by Mike Cosper CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com & twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

Every once in awhile, a song comes around that is perfect for gathered worship. While it may speak of personal circumstances, it encompasses all spots in life, and calls those singing to glorify God. I Will Follow is one of those songs. This week, we have songwriter Jon Guerra with us to talk about the song, songwriting for the church vs. writing for radio, and more. RESOURCES: verticalchurchband.com Chord Shape 1 Chord Shape 2 CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com & twitter.com/churchmusic_pod  

The Austin Stone is a church that not only does church music extremely well, they also equip other churches to do the same. This week on Church Music Matters, Worship Pastor Aaron Ivey joins us to talk about The Austin Stone, crafting a gathering around a story, and how The Austin Stone helps other church leaders learn and grow. RESOURCES: austinstoneworship.com CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com & twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

Mars Hill Church was known for a lot of things… one of which is their incredible worship music. Cam Huxford was one of their leaders, and is still the front man BEC Recordings band Ghost Ship. Today we talk about writing for Nashville versus writing for the church, what went wrong at Mars Hill, and the church that was born beautifully out of the rubble of Mars Hill, Cross & Crown. Find more about Ghost Ship at: ghostshipmusic.com Artists Mentioned in this Episode: Ghost Ship Citizens & Saints King’s Kaleidoscope The Modern Post The Sing Team Demon Hunter R. Kelly CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com & twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

Why do we do what we do? For every question about church music, we have an answer. Why is it so loud? Why do we sing so many old songs? And the musical worship leader is often “on the hook” to answer these questions. So why not really explore our reasoning behind our answers? This week on Church Music Matters, author Zac Hicks joins us to talk about the importance of articulating a doxological philosophy. RESOURCES:  The Worship Pastor by Zac Hicks The Three Spheres of Worship CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com twitter.com/churchmusic_pod

The church has been singing together for hundreds of years. But why? Why do we, week in and week out, practice the rhythm of gathering together in community? And when we do gather, what should we sing? Church Music Matters is a new podcast where two guys who serve together in a local church, Tyler Clarensau and Max Janusch, sit down and try to figure this stuff out… with microphones… and theologians, authors, songwriters, and pastors who are way smarter than they are. CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com