Talkin' About Worship!

Great question! I grew up listening to acapella and still love the pure harmony associated with it. Also, growing up in the South, it was nothing to turn on the radio and hear a great gospel tune ANY day of the week. However, in recent years I've found myself listening to and really loving Christian music during my solitary worship time. Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Vicki Yohe, Anthony Evans Jr. all move me just as much as Mahalia, Shirley Caeser, Yolanda Adams and Smokie Norful. The more I study God's Word and recognize the scripture associated with the lyrics I'm singing.....the more I appreciate the worship song, regardless of the specific genre.

I like to take my own personal cd to the spa. I once took a compilation of CeCe Winans, Anthony Evans, and Donnie McClurkin. It was slow tempo and I thought it would be calming, but I was so stirred by the words of the songs that I was anything but relaxed!!! I'm telling you, me and that dear lady doin my massage ended up having worship!!! Beverly is right, if you just leave yourself open, you'll find it's the message within the lyrics that matter most.

I would have to say that my favorite style of worship is influenced by Chris Tomlin, Hillsong etc. I love the flow of acoustic type music, but by the same token, I still love traditional hymns (particularly updated versions of them) and I do appreciate gospel music, although I did not grow up listening to it.

My kids have introduced me to newer styles of worship music, which makes the "new" choruses of the 80's/90's sound pretty old. They have more of an appreciation for Christian rap (LeCrae, for ex) but they are bringing me around to realizing that there is more than one way to bring glory to God.

Great topic!

I would have to agree with Lola when she says "The more I study God's Word and recognize the scripture associated with the lyrics that I'm singing.....the more I appreciate the worship song, regardless of the specific genre."

I was raised on all kinds of music. Perhaps some of my favorites now are Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Hillsong. I completely value the solidity of an old hymn, along with rocking out to a great gospel song. To me, the deeper I go in God's Word and understand the meaning of whatever song I am singing, the more likely I am to enter right into the Throne Room and worship Him, heart and soul.

Of course, my appreciation of worship music is only heightened by being married to a Worship Pastor. :)

-Melissa

Some of my favorites are Hillsong as well, Shane and Shane, Rita Springer, Kari Jobe, Phil Wickham, and Gateway Worship just to name a few =)

Most recently I've branched into Klaus, World Mandate, and Nina Landis.

I look forward to checking out some of these that have been mentioned above!

I grew up listening to my Dad play Andre Crouch songs on the record player! :) My all time favorite praise music now is definitely CeCe Winans!!! She has an amazing voice and takes me right to the throne room! I also enjoy the piano hymns by Chris Rice during my worship time. If the words can be sung right to Jesus or is a verse right out of scripture I love the song even more! Michael W. Smith, Hillsong United, Chris Tomlin... all great!

So much of what I listen to is dictated by where God has me at any given time. I'm not the world's biggest traditional gospel fan, but there are some songs and some times when it's all I can do to sit still when I hear true gospel and all those old songs my grandparents used to sing (my family comes from a Baptist tradition, and so the old country church w/the deacons & elders moanin out a hymn is OH too familiar. HA!)... i love those songs. 'I Shall Not be Moved' is one of my favorites, as is 'Wade in the Water'. Once i understood the scriptural reference, i was hooked. I sing both quite a lot, depending.

Now, my favorite day-to-day worship music is stuff like Christ Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Soul Fruit, and AE of course :0) (he's actually my fave by far; it just seems that every cd he's released has been timed perfectly for just what God is taking me thru right then.) Matt Redman is also another that I really enjoy.

It's so amazing to learn of who God truly is, because for me that directly impacts the way that I hear worship music and the artists that I'm drawn to. The styles matter so little, after a point. It's all about the truth of the message.

Love, love, love,love this blog on Worship. I grew up in a baptist church and I love Gospel Music. I love to listen to CeCe Winans, Donnie Mcclurklin(sp), Fred Hammond,Vicki Yohe and other great singers. But over the past year the Lord has opened my ears to Mandisa and Casting Crown!! I now love Christian music that have Scripture woven throughout the song. It blesses my soul and takes me deeper in my worship experience. By the way, listening to Worship music at the gym has helped me lose 14 pounds!!!! Specifically Mandisa's Freedom CD has energized me on a daily basis at the gym!!Our God is AWESOME.

I LOVE what Beverly said about if you keep your heart open you never know what kind of jewel awaits you. That is in essence what worship is all about - having such an open heart that we will follow God wherever He leads us!

My favorite style of worship music is rock/indie rock. I've always tended towards the typical band setting of one singer, electric guitar, keys, bass and drums. That being said, I can actually get into anything! If I had been at that "Lion of Judah" taping I'd have totally gotten down! It's not my preferred style, but the passion and fire in it always stir me and build my faith!!!

An area of worship where God is stretching me is with hymns. I struggle with them because of the attitudes of the people that push for them - they always say they're the only worship songs with depth and richness, and they criticize the new songs God is bringing because they feel we should never lose sight of "our heritage". So unfortunately I associate hymns with people who are unable to embrace the new things God is doing. I really want my attitude to change! So since I'm the worship leader at our church, I've had us doing a different hymn every week or so in order to build a bridge between the old and the new. In the process, I'm starting to like hymns again!

I really enjoyed the worship talk you did with Beverly Crawford. She is one of my favorites! In worship, there has to be a message. To me it doesn't matter you it is, but as long as the message is there, and that the message takes you to a place in God. I was raised around gospel music all of my life, which was Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland, Andrae Crouch, ect. I really got a taste of experiencing or being introduced to worship, when I purchased a worship CD of The West Angeles C.O.G.I.C, with Bishop Blake. It was awesome! After that, I was hungry for more. Then I allowed my self to listen to more chirstian worship. Then I was introduced to Michael W. Smith, and others! I love CeCe Winans worship CD's such as "Alone in his Presence", "Throne room". I love Shekina Glory Ministries as well.

I really enjoyed the worship talk you did with Beverly Crawford. She is one of my favorites! In worship, there has to be a message. To me it doesn't matter you it is, but as long as the message is there, and that the message takes you to a place in God. I was raised around gospel music all of my life, which was Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland, Andrae Crouch, ect. I really got a taste of experiencing or being introduced to worship, when I purchased a worship CD of The West Angeles C.O.G.I.C, with Bishop Blake. It was awesome! After that, I was hungry for more. Then I allowed my self to listen to more chirstian worship. Then I was introduced to Michael W. Smith, and others! I love CeCe Winans worship CD's such as "Alone in his Presence", "Throne room". I love Shekina Glory Ministries as well.

I really need to apologize about my previous comment! I re-read it and I feel like I was a little bit harsh on people who like hymns. I am so sorry if what I said has offended anyone. If you like hymns, I do not look down on you! I really was referring to some experiences I've had with people in my world, and not everyone in the whole world who loves hymns. I realized through this post that there are still some areas in my soul that need healing in regards to some church/worship circumstances I've been through over the past few years. And I'm so sorry I allowed any venom to come through in my comment!! Especially sorry to those to whom hymns are very dear! :-) Please forgive me!

When i was 17 God began to challenge me to "listen" to what I was listening to. He wanted me to hear the words and not just the beats or catchy melody. When God says that truth will set you free and by George it did. I couldn't listen to the same artists quite the same anymore!!! I wanted to fill my ears with that which reflected my life and relationship with God...needless to say a lot of my music as changed.

Over the years my music taste has changed from Hymns to Contemporary Music. It's funny when my friends are in my car and I’m blasting Toby Mac, Mandisa or 3rd day...and i catch them out the corner of my eye giggling at me snapping and swaying!!! I would replying in a joking way “don't judge me" and they would retort “Do your thang girl"!

Over the years i embraced all styles...if you’re worshipping the God i Love then i'm down!!!

When i was 17 God began to challenge me to "listen" to what I was listening to. He wanted me to hear the words and not just the beats or catchy melody. When God says that truth will set you free and by George it did. I couldn't listen to the same artists quite the same anymore!!! I wanted to fill my ears with that which reflected my life and relationship with God...needless to say a lot of my music as changed.

Over the years my music taste has changed from Hymns to Contemporary Music. It's funny when my friends are in my car and I’m blasting Toby Mac, Mandisa or 3rd day...and i catch them out the corner of my eye giggling at me snapping and swaying!!! I would replying in a joking way “don't judge me" and they would retort “Do your thang girl"!

Over the years i embraced all styles...if you’re worshipping the God i Love then i'm down!!!

My most all time favorite worship style is when the entire congregation is on one accord in worshipping GOD as if HE is standing right in the midst of us. No music playing. Just going truly into the presence of GOD. When I get into that place of worship, all of my cares are completely forgotten, because I have litterly laid them at the Master's feet. When the body gets on one accord, the annointing will fall in the house. Worship GOD with the fruit of your lips. Telling him how much you love him and adore him is a part of worship. Praise is good. Don't get me wrong; but, worship is even better for me!

I truly enjoyed the video blog and thankful for Pastor Beverly Crawford leading me to listen to it. I also enjoyed the Lion of Judah video. I just learned a new Praise song. I grew up traditional Baptist and know most Hymns by heart. I still enjoy them but when I am worshiping God I tend to go to what people call contemporary style of music. As long as it is pure as Pastor Crawford said and the Word of God comes forth thru the music, then that is my style of music. I like Michael Smith, Chris Tomlin, Stephen Hurd, William Murphy, III, Faith Davis, Mahalia, Donnie McClurklin, Byron Cage, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans and so on. Thank you for the opportunity to look at other posts because now I am seeking out artists that are new to me like Mandisa, Viki Yohe and Soul Fruit.

I grew up on hymns in a small, rural Methodist church and still love them. However, one day my sister brought home DC Talk and Jars of Clay and I have never been the same. I love David Crowder and Hillsong. They lyrics of Casting Crowns resonate with me every time. Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary are also some of my favorites. Thanks to my husband I now have an appreciation for bands such as Pillar, Kutless, and Fireflight.