Show Notes
Is worship just the music? Zack and Jason of The Berean Files join TopLobsta and David Lee Corbo "The Raven" on Nephilim Death Squad to dig into the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), worship and worship music, and who is really writing the songs your church sings.
Jason, a worship pastor who says he has led worship from the stage for about 30 years, defines worship as ascribing worth to something, and the guys argue that worship is every minute of your life, not just the songs on Sunday. They ask why churches guard the pulpit but not the music ministry, when the lyrics of a song stick with people long after the sermon is forgotten, and why people get more defensive when you question a worship song than when you push back on a sermon.
Then it's into the NAR: modern apostles and prophets, the Seven Mountain Mandate and the idea that religious music is one of the "mountains," Bill Johnson and Bethel, and the claim that a small number of groups are behind most of today's worship songs. The conversation also covers flags and "American Jesus" in worship, worship as a production (lights, stage and theater language), worship schools and the music business, being entertained versus worshiping, whether God can use a Bethel song to draw someone to Him, Bethel's strange practices and prophecy training, and biblical meditation versus emptying your mind.
To close, Zack and Jason break down the lyrics of popular worship songs like Reckless Love, Oceans and No Outsiders, explain why they teach around the lyrics when they introduce a new song, and recommend Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God.
Should churches guard the worship set as carefully as the sermon? Tell us in the comments.
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Chapters (times include the opening trailer, as heard in the RSS feed): 00:00:00 Trailer 00:01:02 Intro, Patreon, Merch Sale & Dallas 00:04:09 The Berean Files Are Back 00:06:13 What Is Worship? Ascribing Worth 00:10:16 Leading Worship From the Stage for 30 Years 00:12:06 Who Gets the Mic? Guarding the Worship Team 00:15:43 Talent, Ego & Branding the Worship Band 00:17:08 We Guard the Pulpit, Not the Music 00:20:02 Critique a Sermon vs. Critique a Song 00:21:42 Worship Styles & Denominational Cultures 00:25:42 What Is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)? 00:29:06 Why Worship Music Hits Harder Than a Sermon 00:33:19 Bill Johnson, Bethel & Who Writes the Songs 00:35:12 The Seven Mountain Mandate & Christian Music 00:38:09 The Persecuted Church, Flags & American Jesus 00:40:44 The American Dream vs. Biblical Freedom 00:46:58 Everything in Your Life Is Worship 00:48:04 "Our Musical Act Takes Over" 00:50:08 Worship as Production: Lights, Stage & Theater 00:55:16 Worship Schools & the Music Business 00:57:12 A Worship Star's Country Crossover 00:58:13 Entertained or Worshiping? 00:59:31 Can God Use a Bethel Song? 01:06:13 Bethel's Strange Practices 01:09:20 Failed Prophecies & Prophecy School 01:11:00 Biblical Meditation vs. Emptying Your Mind 01:13:11 God Can Use All Things, But Not All Things Are Permitted 01:17:21 Attention, Love & Idols 01:18:07 Is Worship a Ministry? 01:22:55 Psalms of Ascent & the Levites 01:24:05 Art, Labor & Dancing as Worship 01:29:15 The Practice of the Presence of God 01:34:42 Reckless Love 01:37:51 Oceans 01:41:13 No Outsiders & Universalism 01:44:15 Teaching Around the Lyrics 01:46:35 Final Words & Where to Find The Berean Files
NOT YOUR AVERAGE BIBLE STUDY Hosts: TopLobsta · David Lee Corbo "The Raven" (Co-founder & co-host)
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