The Worship Homestead

Is praise just another name for worship? Is it the fast songs? Is praise just from the 90's? In this episode I show you what praise is according to the Bible. We look at the Hebrew words for praise, and what it means for us today.  To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks

What is the opposite of worship? Does such a thing exist? In today's episode we look at what the Bible has to say about it. Find out: - The Hebrew words for worship and its opposite. - Two examples from the Bible of what worship isn't. - What "not worship" looks like for us today.  To access my free guide "25 Arrangement Tricks" visit:  www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks

In the new year, I'm answering some basic questions. We start with: what is worship? The answer may surprise you. To access my free guide "25 Arrangement Tricks" visit:  https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks

You've got great lyrics for your worship song. But what about chords? In this episode I show you have to add chords to your melody. You'll learn: - Why the bass line matters so much. - How the right chord can make all the difference in your song. - How to listen to your melody to find the hidden groove. And more. To access my free guide "25 Arrangement Tricks" visit: www.blueprintsounds.com/25tric...

Worship songwriting can be as simple as 4 steps. I said simple-not easy. In today's episode I tell you the 4 things your song must have. And don't skip #3! To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks

Are you the whole worship team? This episode is for you. Today I share some life-saving tips for the solo worship leader. To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" go to: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks  

Does your electric guitar playing need to go on a diet? In this episode I show you an exercise called "The Four Note Challenge". Get your notes and your note placement in shape. Play less, play smarter, sound better.  To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:  https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks

Don't make these songwriting mistakes. In this episode I contrast two songs to show you the difference good writing makes. You'll also get three easy-to-remember rules that can save your song from mediocrity. To learn more and to access my free guide "25 Chart-topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com

I'm recording a new album. But not every song I've written for the project deserves to be included. This week, I compare two songs and show you why one song deserves a spot and what is wrong with the other. To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com

I'm recording a new album. But before I start tracking I have some things to do. If you are planning on a new recording project, make sure you have these 3 things in order. To access my free guide visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com

Do you trust your gut when making decisions? Do you deeply feel things, but don't have language for it? Do you tend toward self-sacrifice for others? You may have the mercy gifting. In this episode we talk about what the mercy gifting is, and what God intended for the mercy.  To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit my website:  https://www.blueprintsounds.com...

Do you often find yourself in positions of leadership? Do you thrive under pressure? Do you know how to make something bigger and better? You might be a ruler. In this episode we talk about the hallmarks, pitfalls, and birthright of the ruler gifting.  To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit my website: https://www.blueprintsounds.com To learn more about the redemp...

Do you find deals easily? Do you give wisely? Do you think about the long-term benefits of a gift or investment? You might have the gifting of a Giver. In this episode we look at what God designed the giver for, some of the hallmarks of the gifting, and an example of a giver in the Bible. If you want to know even more about the redemptive gifts click below: https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gi...

Are you the life of the party? Do you spin a lot of plates, and love new things? When you think of an event, do you want to involve as many people as possible? You might have the gifting of an Exhorter. In this episode we unpack how God made the exhorter, and what their purpose is. To download my free guide "25 chart-topping arrangement tips" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com To learn more ab...

Do you make decisions slowly, taking time to weigh each option? Do you love knowledge and research for its own sake? Do you take things step by step rather than jumping in without all the information? You might have the gifting of a teacher. In this episode we look at the God-given design of a teacher, some of the hallmarks of the gift, some signs of a mature and a carnal teacher, and what God put...

Do you always find yourself stacking chairs? Do you shy away from the limelight? Do you dislike hustling people or being high-maintanece? You might have the gift of the servant. Find out what what God designed the servant for. To access my free guide "25 chart-topping arrangement tricks visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com To learn more about the gifts go to this resource: https://theslg.com/con...

Do you make judgements quickly? Do you stand on truth no matter what people think? You may have the gifting of a Prophet. In this first-of-seven series, we explore the design of the prophet. We discuss: -God's design for the prophet gifting. -The difference between the office of a prophet and the gifting of a prophet. - Some of the personality markers of a prophet. -The hallmarks of a mature proph...

Have you heard of the Enneagram? Do you know where it comes from? In today's surprising episode we explore the history of the Enneagram and discuss whether or not you should be using it with your church or worship team. We cover: - The three men who gave us the Enneagram we use today. - The spiritual roots of the Enneagram system. - Whether Christians should use the Enneagram. - An alternative way...

Trendy and timeless aren't the same thing. Today we are going to look at some trends in worship songwriting you should avoid, and how to write a song that will last. We discuss: -What not to tell your audience in your song. -Why you should choose the simpler word. - Why big words may hit the head but miss the heart. - How to contrast big and little words to make your writing shine.

Today's worship tech needs to be a Swiss army knife- audio, visual, lighting, networking, etc. But there is one skill that can't be taught in a manual- mixing a live show. In this episode we discuss "fader fear"- the terror of actually (gulp) moving faders during a service. I show you: -How to teach young techs to think creatively and musically, not just technically. -How young techs need to perfo...

Want to know the best way to play worship electric guitar? With half of it taped up and off limits. Those open chords and power chords you played in your high school rock band? Not an option. To play modern worship you need a different approach, and that's what I show you in this video. It may seem counter-intuitive, but playing less and leaving more space will make your worship team sound bigger...

Is your Worship tech culture healthy or are there warning signs? I'll give you three examples of unhealthy attitudes in your tech team, and one example of tech leadership done right. Don't neglect your tech team just because the mics are working this Sunday morning. If you want your team to last they need a healthy environment.

Is your worship team culture healthy? In today's episode we look at some attitudes and actions that aren't just annoying, but can be harmful if they aren't addressed.

Have you ever had the sense while listening to a new worship song that something is missing? Have you felt bad for feeling that way? In today's episode I dive into the craft of song writing. Turns out, there are some structural problems with modern worship songs that can't be explained by style preference. I compare a hymn from a few hundred years ago with a "faux worship song" I wrote to show you...