Contemporary Praise & Worship

Digging4Truth · #1 03-03-2011, 08:05 AM

At our church we sing almost exclusively Contemporary Praise & Worship. And I don't even mean "Potters Hands" (Although that is a good song). We add a new song 2-3 times per month and they are usually newer songs. This is largely because my praise team is young and they bring me songs that they have listened to and that has meaning to them.

But... what I am presenting in this thread is this.

It seems to me that, largely, older songs were about what I get. They were less about praise and actual worship. I really like the newer songs because they are very worshipful. They speak directly to God or at least speak of his love and the wonder of who He is.

Some quick examples of the older songs...

I'll fly away. It's excitement about what we get. We get out of here. God raptures us out.

Going Up Yonder. Same thing.

There is power, power, wonder working power. Ehhh... Kinda. But mostly it is about the excitement of the power of God rather than worship OF God.

Can't nobody do me like Jesus. Again... Ehhh... it depends on how you look at it I guess. But it seems to me to be about how much God can do for me.

A few examples of the more contemporary songs.

The more I seek you. The more I seek after Him the more I find Him and the more I find out about Him the more I love Him.

I Give Myself Away - I give myself away so you can use me.

Majesty - Forever I am changed by your love in the presence of your Majesty

You are the love of my life. You are the hope that I cling to. You are, You are my everything.

POWERUP · #2 03-03-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

At our church we sing almost exclusively Contemporary Praise & Worship. And I don't even mean "Potters Hands" (Although that is a good song). We add a new song 2-3 times per month and they are usually newer songs. This is largely because my praise team is young and they bring me songs that they have listened to and that has meaning to them.

But... what I am presenting in this thread is this.

It seems to me that, largely, older songs were about what I get. They were less about praise and actual worship. I really like the newer songs because they are very worshipful. They speak directly to God or at least speak of his love and the wonder of who He is.

Some quick examples of the older songs...

I'll fly away. It's excitement about what we get. We get out of here. God raptures us out.

Going Up Yonder. Same thing.

There is power, power, wonder working power. Ehhh... Kinda. But mostly it is about the excitement of the power of God rather than worship OF God.

Can't nobody do me like Jesus. Again... Ehhh... it depends on how you look at it I guess. But it seems to me to be about how much God can do for me.

A few examples of the more contemporary songs.

The more I seek you. The more I seek after Him the more I find Him and the more I find out about Him the more I love Him.

I Give Myself Away - I give myself away so you can use me.

Majesty - Forever I am changed by your love in the presence of your Majesty

You are the love of my life. You are the hope that I cling to. You are, You are my everything.

Digging4truth you have got to learn "Reaching for You" by Lincoln Brewster!!

My new favorite song to play.....

Digging4Truth · #3 03-03-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POWERUP

Digging4truth you have got to learn "Reaching for You" by Lincoln Brewster!!

My new favorite song to play.....

Great song. I had heard it before but it is going on the list to work into the song list sometime soon.

Thanks.

What do you play? I'm assuming guitar.

Dagwood · #4 03-03-2011, 09:10 AM

D4T, you and I think along the same lines. I've often found myself thinking the same thing, though I do love the older songs. I wonder what kind of message it portrays to one who's never known God the way some of us do. Sure, we can sing all day long about what He's done for us -- don't you think, though, that should be done more in our own private prayer/singing time, of course, singing the current P&W songs to?

I have to admit, though, along the lines of songs about "me" is Jason Gray's "I Am New." Beautiful. So is Chris August's "Starry Night." IDK, I guess it's about having a balance in what we sing to keep us from getting caught up in the I/me/my syndrome...whent in actuality it's about Him...

Just my thoughts...

POWERUP · #5 03-03-2011, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Great song. I had heard it before but it is going on the list to work into the song list sometime soon.

Thanks.

What do you play? I'm assuming guitar.

I wish!!!! Just a crazy drummer!!!! My mom always told me it takes a
crazy person to play drums......... Just saying........

Digging4Truth · #6 03-03-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagwood

D4T, you and I think along the same lines. I've often found myself thinking the same thing, though I do love the older songs. I wonder what kind of message it portrays to one who's never known God the way some of us do. Sure, we can sing all day long about what He's done for us -- don't you think, though, that should be done more in our own private prayer/singing time, of course, singing the current P&W songs to?

I have to admit, though, along the lines of songs about "me" is Jason Gray's "I Am New." Beautiful. So is Chris August's "Starry Night." IDK, I guess it's about having a balance in what we sing to keep us from getting caught up in the I/me/my syndrome...whent in actuality it's about Him...

Just my thoughts...

Indeed. In most all things balance is the key and dogmatism is the door stop.

We must not become dogmatic about things like this. That is a great point.

I've never hear I am new before. I just listened to it. Great song. To me... even though it is talking about what He has done for us... it is still "worshipful" to me. But, either way, we just have to weigh each song... it's words... it's meaning... and how it ministers to us.

Sometimes the spirit of the service is, simply, celebratory and those old songs would fit the bill wonderfully. So I can't throw those songs out the door because you never know what God has planned for us.

Thanks for the post.

POWERUP · #7 03-03-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagwood

D4T, you and I think along the same lines. I've often found myself thinking the same thing, though I do love the older songs. I wonder what kind of message it portrays to one who's never known God the way some of us do. Sure, we can sing all day long about what He's done for us -- don't you think, though, that should be done more in our own private prayer/singing time, of course, singing the current P&W songs to?

I have to admit, though, along the lines of songs about "me" is Jason Gray's "I Am New." Beautiful. So is Chris August's "Starry Night." IDK, I guess it's about having a balance in what we sing to keep us from getting caught up in the I/me/my syndrome...whent in actuality it's about Him...

Just my thoughts...

Great thoughts!!! i love the older songs also....... There more about the past.

I need songs that put me into his presence, not about the time i was in his
presence... Just my thoughts though........ Thats why I like the newer worship....

Digging4Truth · #8 03-03-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POWERUP

I wish!!!! Just a crazy drummer!!!! My mom always told me it takes a
crazy person to play drums......... Just saying........

LOL... Well my crazy son plays the drums at our church and my crazy daughter is on the keyboard.

We have youth services but once every quarter we have a special service that the kids work 3 months to get together. We sing songs like You Are Good by planetshakers, Washed By The Water by needtobreathe etc.

The kids choose songs based on what really speaks to them with no worries about whether a song is "churchy" or not. We just have a great time and we always have a great move of God too. People in the altars etc.

A few songs from our upcoming service are...

Changed Forever by Tobymac
What I've Overcome by Fireflight
Signature Of Divine by needtobreathe.

We're going to have a great time. But these songs and that service that we have quarterly are an aside from the subject of service songs I have mentioned in this thread.

rgcraig · #9 03-03-2011, 09:58 AM

I'm not real keen on the Hillsong songs - - the words are beautiful, but they tend to all sound alike and the words don't flow - - - it's like you can't close your eyes and worship like you want to because you have to read the words.

Digging4Truth · #10 03-03-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

I'm not real keen on the Hillsong songs - - the words are beautiful, but they tend to all sound alike and the words don't flow - - - it's like you can't close your eyes and worship like you want to because you have to read the words.

Right. We don't use many Hillsong songs. There are a lot of great artists out there doing praise & worship.

David Crowder
Jason Gray
William McDowell
Lisa Gungor
etc

But I do think that it was Hillsong that helped CCM make the turn though.

Also... there is Hillsong United. They have a different set of songs as Hillsong.