Zac Hicks Blog - Comments

Miguel comments on When the Holy Spirit Breaks Open the Worship Service (Or, the Surprise of Super Bowl Sunday at Cherry Creek)

Miguel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:37:08 +0000

The thing about Pentecostals and others who see this every Sunday is that it often becomes contrived. It's better to have it organic and inconsistent than for people to try to force it. It probably shouldn't be added to the liturgy. I find it risky to add a ton of joyful stuff to the liturgy because it can crowd out honesty for those time when joy seems far away, but there are certainly times (like this!) where it is most appropriate. Great story!

Paul Mojica comments on When the Holy Spirit Breaks Open the Worship Service (Or, the Surprise of Super Bowl Sunday at Cherry Creek)

Paul Mojica — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:26:43 +0000

Hello! Just wanted to say a job well done to the articles being put up here! Just two words: insightful and blessing! I have been a believer for 12 years now and a song leader for 10 years (and still learning!) by God's grace! It has always been a humbling experience to sing songs that convey the hope that we have in Christ amidst His people. And oftentimes as in this article, people in the church where I am at, lag in terms of physical expression. But however, I would like to single out a point made in this blog (and even one of the comments)
regarding the act of "prompting the people" as in to sing jubilantly with the clapping of hands, and shouting of
praise. This made me reflect and evaluate.
As a song leader at church we are tasked to lead the people to be engaged in worship of our God in singing
and other bodily expressions that goes with that. I laud God's work in you Zac for having that burden to, nonetheless heed and employ God's Spirit who for sure orchestrated that "internal wrestling match" of declaring the need to physically and actively commissioned in praising God. Surely the congregation that you are serving (as with mine) are very much aware of the plethora of biblical verses that speak of worship involving the body. But who will remind them unless we mention it to them time and again? Can we generalize this as an act of "prompting the people" to use the body during congregational worship?
I for one cannot "prompt the people" to lift their hands when singing or jump for joy in praise. They have their own volition to do that as they wish. I am not highlighting the role of a song leader for God gives the calling. And if one receives the calling, the burden will go with that (such as the struggle of making the people aware of the need to use our bodies as instruments of worship). Receiving that burden would then lead us to be empowered (by grace), for how can one be called without being empowered?
More blessings and insightful thoughts. God bless

Zac Hicks comments on Worship Leading, Ageism, and the Fear of Getting Old

Zac Hicks — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:26:09 +0000

Wrinkle Man, thanks for your honest, even funny, thoughts. This is tough. You're right, though. In the end it all comes down to call. Let's hope that the worship leader's church community is seeking to discern that call as much as the worship leader him/herself is. This would alleviate a lot of these issues.

Wrinkle Man comments on Worship Leading, Ageism, and the Fear of Getting Old

Wrinkle Man — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:20:59 +0000

I'm 30 years old. I'm not sure how it happened. Just 2 years ago I was the "young 28 year old worship leader". Now I feel like the athlete whose agents are looking for fresh legs that can keep things moving. I've definitely already began to question the longevity of this ministry in my life. But I think that ultimately it comes down to what God has called you to do. So maybe your hair's greying. Maybe you can't pull off the "skinny jeans". Who gives a snot? Is this what God's called you to do? Then be obedient to that. And if the time comes that you reach that ripe old age of 35 and decide to hang up your guitar, then grab a wheelchair and worship with your oxygen tank beside you.

Zac Hicks comments on A Great New Online Resource Hub for Worship Leaders

Zac Hicks — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Thanks, Brandon. I don't feel e-stalked. And until I do, keep stalking.

Brandon Waybright comments on A Great New Online Resource Hub for Worship Leaders

Brandon Waybright — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:44:30 +0000

Goodness, I feel like an e-stalker with all these comments, but I'm just genuinely interested in most things you post. Great blog!

I'm so excited about this news. My dad was pretty involved in the earlier part of The Gospel Coalition and I'm so excited to see more coming from it! Can't wait to see how it grows.

Heidi comments on When the Holy Spirit Breaks Open the Worship Service (Or, the Surprise of Super Bowl Sunday at Cherry Creek)

Heidi — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:20:17 +0000

Agreed 100% to Dave's comment. I was held up and did not get to experience what you wrote about at the beginning of the service. There was certainly no prompting at the end (which I did experience)... simply a beautiful outpouring of the Spirit, manifest in the worship of God's people. And then the kids got to make music at the end too... absolutely beautiful!

Kyle Sinacori comments on When the Holy Spirit Breaks Open the Worship Service (Or, the Surprise of Super Bowl Sunday at Cherry Creek)

Kyle Sinacori — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:46:22 +0000

Awesome!

Mom comments on When the Holy Spirit Breaks Open the Worship Service (Or, the Surprise of Super Bowl Sunday at Cherry Creek)

Mom — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:41:51 +0000

YES! Just reading about it, I am as thrilled and uplifted as those who were there.

David Strunk comments on When the Holy Spirit Breaks Open the Worship Service (Or, the Surprise of Super Bowl Sunday at Cherry Creek)

David Strunk — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:25:21 +0000

I might add that you didn't prompt this outpouring at the end. It was simply a manifestation of how the Holy Spirit was already working. And it wasn't contained to a "few people." It was simply most- yes, most- of the congregation manifesting worship in some visible and outward way: clapping or hands raised or more shouts or bodily movement to the rhythms of the music. People I would never thought would have felt comfortable doing such a thing were doing it all around me.

It wasn't a "wow, we finally have over 20 people raising their hands" it was a "is most of the congregation really raising their hands? What happened" kind of thing. Did the vocal volume level really go up? Yes. Yes it did.