Gene Cornett
The Way Forward in Worship Ministry
When you read this, my time of pastoral ministry at Seaford will have ended. I can barely remember the time before I served at Seaford. I was 27 years old when I began. I will turn 50 in a few days. Over that time much has changed in the worship ministry at Seaford. When I was hired, Pastor David Smith asked me to transition our worship into a more contemporary style. We did that very slowly. When I came back in 1996 after three years of serving at Bay Rivers Community Church in Denbigh, we sped up the pace considerably. That December we used a live band for the first time and never looked back. Over the years, the worship ministry has grown significantly beyond my wildest dreams at the beginning of my ministry here.
Seaford now faces its biggest transition in the worship ministry in 16 years. As you might imagine, Dennis and I have spoken often about this circumstance. Over the last two years his message to me has been consistent, “Gene, I really want you to stay, but if you are leaving, you have to help us make the transition.”
For many years, I’ve been meeting weekly with a volunteer worship planning team. Essentially every week, these folks come and eat lunch with me at their expense for the purpose of planning worship, encouragement and functioning as the worship ministry staff. Any church would be thrilled to have a group of leaders like this: Ed Bell, Scott Beasley, Terry Roberts, Kerry Gough, Laurie Elder, Mark Robinson, and Lei Collins. Others participate occasionally either in person or by email. It’s tempting to think that they could just pick up the ministry and go. However, in spite of their high functioning, each would tell you that the group needs a leader. Each has a clear role within the group, but no one person can step up and do the various parts of my job relative to worship ministry. I’ve been doing this work for so long, there are too many details that I cover that come second nature to me. I have long believed thatSeafordneeds a person largely devoted to the worship ministry. Over the years, I’ve taken on and developed many other responsibilities. I would estimate that only 25% of my actual work time gets devoted to worship ministry tasks. I believe that a person who could give something more like 75% to the worship ministry could realize much untapped potential within this ministry.
In terms of worship staff leadership, there are three time based needs. The furthest out would be a permanent worship pastor. That’s obviously months away and requires Personnel Committee action and a church vote. The intermediate need would be for an interim worship ministry leader. Hiring an interim requires only Personnel Committee action. However, there is an immediate need in these first Sundays in January. That need does not require either committee action or church vote. Dennis has asked me specifically to help with this need and I have prayerfully developed a plan.
Israel Kim is a 4th year worship ministry student at Liberty University. He is available to assist beginning on Sunday Jan. 8.Israel and his wife Chloe have a sweet spirit and Israel is a gifted worship leader, singer, guitarist, and pianist. However, he cannot help on Wednesday evenings due to a direct conflict at school. The band has capable leadership in Scott Beasley and has long rehearsed without my direct involvement. However, the worship choir needs a leader. Linda Reviea and Kerry Gough have led from time to time, they are great substitutes, but don’t have the time required to lead weekly. Katie Howard (Michael Howard’s wife) will lead choir through January only. Katie has a degree in music from Belmont University and is more than qualified to play this role in spiritual maturity, personality, and giftedness.
What happens beyond January will involve the Personnel Committee, the worship planning team, and the pastoral staff in decision making to provide for leadership of Seaford’s worship. I have tremendous hopes for the worship ministry of this church. It is not easy to step away from such a group of people who love God, love to glorify God through the work, and who love the work itself. I ask you to pray for them through this transition time. Furthermore, I ask that you would put feet to your prayers. Each of these ministries needs passionate committed servants. Though we have strong people in every area, we have always needed more. Right now, this is especially true in computer operator for projection and the worship choir. And, even though they sounded amazing in our recent Christmas production, we’ve always, always needed more singers in the worship choir. If you would like to be contacted about getting more involved or have a question about the worship ministry, please send an email to worship@sbc-va.org or call the church office.
In Christ,
Gene
Feeding a Hunger for Spiritual Progress: Part 1
This post first appeared in shortened form at Gene’s personal blog
There are basics to spiritual formation that anyone who wants to make spiritual progress in Christ must learn and practice. Some spiritual disciplines are spiritual exercises to help you grow spiritually.
If I were to go out right now and say I’m going to go run a marathon, I can’t do it. why? I haven’t disciplined myself to prepare to do that. But if I chose to, in about 6-9 months, I could do it, if I were willing to put in the work.
In the same way, there are things you or I want to do or want to be spiritually that we simply can’t turn on by direct effort. If you struggle with anger, losing your temper, you can’t just say, “I’m not going to do that anymore.” That doesn’t generally help. If you are constantly worried and anxious you can’t just say, “I’m not going to feel that way any more.”
Rather, you have to put some disciplines in practice that will provoke you to spiritual growth. There are lots of spiritual exercises: service, silence, fasting, simplicity, study, prayer, bible reading, meditation, and memorization, to name a few. John Ortberg made one up that he called slowing. It involved deliberately seeking to cause things to take longer. For instance, if you are always in a hurry, deliberately put yourself in the longest line at grocery store or drive in the slow lane.
All the disciplines don’t need to be practiced by everyone, but the two core disciplines, which all other spiritual disciplines use and enhance, are prayer and bible reading. For a few weeks I want to address practically how to get at the bible.
I like the hand illustration by the Navigators regarding the bible. The five fingers of the hand represent five ways to get a grip on the bible: hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating. All of these are important. They don’t need to be practiced in any particular order. I have found that the third step of Bible study is critically important for my own development. But hearing the word is fundamental to all the others. Numerous methods provide opportunity to “hear” the word. Faithful participation in corporate worship and then listening intently to the word being preached is primary. Participating in small group bible studies is another. It is relatively easy, and in many cases free, to listen to scripture being read. Free options include the online ESV bible and Bible Gateway. I own the ESV audio bible which I have uploaded into Itunes and onto my itouch.
Stunning resources are available for hearing the word through listening to free podcasts. My favorite are Tim Keller, John Ortberg and John Piper but there are many others.
Why is this particular step of hearing the word important? If I understand Romans 10:17 it is how faith it is developed. Romans 10:17 (ESV) 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Here is how that works. Hearing the word of Christ directs our attention to God’s faithfulness instead of on the circumstances that trouble you or frighten you.
The question remain is then will you, will I, be intentional about hearing the word of Christ? There’s no way to make spiritual progress without it. As I heard John Piper say in a message some time ago. “I can’t promise you that if you will get faithful to hearing God’s word that you will grow. But I can promise you that if you don’t, you won’t grow spiritually.”
Dealing with Stress
Most of us deal with more stress than is good for us. Most of could also learn to handle the stress we face in a better way. My family tells me that I’m a stress carrier. Ouch. When I’m stressed I seem to act in ways that ensures that the blood pressure of those close to me goes up as well. I will argue tomorrow from Hebrews 10 that the solution is not so much less stress, but to have the right kind of stress. Stress may be a good thing and in some ways we need more of it. We tend to worry and be anxious about things that in the end won’t matter so much. by contrast, where we need to sense some tension, some stress is in the character of our faith and our relationship with God. We need to be willing to allow a book like Hebrews to deeply probe our lives and create some discomfort within us so that we are most concerned about the things that will move us in the right direction for now and for eternity, for ourselves and for those closetst to us. I hope you can join us for the discussion.
Gene
Men’s Meeting
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Hebrews 10:32–39 (ESV) 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Questions for Discussion
- What creates the most stress in your life?
- How can this text help you to see that hope more practically?
- To what extent can you imagine joyfully accepting the plundering of your property?
- How often do you honestly evaluate where you confidence lies?
How can we practically live by faith now?
Anger According to Jesus
I’ve spent two weeks discussing the subject of anger in our men’s breakfast. It didn’t seem right to leave the subject without grappling with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5: 21-26.
There’s a tremendous section in Dallas Willard’s book, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 147-154, that discusses Jesus famous words mentioned above. It is possible to read most of that section online without purchasing the book, though it does require an Amazon account. (Is there someone that doesn’t have an Amazon account?) Here is how:
- Go to www.amazon.com
- Log in or sign up for a new account
- Navigate to http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Conspiracy-Rediscovering-Hidden-Life/dp/0060693339/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307390318&sr=8-1
- On the left hand side, click on the image of the book cover which has the words above it, “Click to look inside”
- Find the search box down the left hand side that says “search inside the book” and search on the word “anger”
- Choose the reference that comes up on p. 147.
- Read for free!
You can do this with almost any book, but hang on to your wallet.
Below is the scripture and discussion questions for tomorrow’s meeting.
Men’s Meeting
Tuesday, June 8, 2011
Matthew 5:21–26 (ESV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Questions for Discussion
- Do you agree that anger in and of itself creates harm?
- Why is it that we do withhold anger in some settings but then are more likely to unleash it on those who are closest to us?
- Anger first arises spontaneously, but we choose to indulge it. In what ways do we indulge or nurture anger? How does this result in our “carrying a supply of anger around” with us, which is quick to ignite? Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 149.
- Nurtured anger always involves self-righteousness and vanity. What sorts of things do we say to ourselves and others that reveal this self-importance? (For example, How could he say that to me?)
thoughts on dessert, medicine and sermons
I don’t suppose anyone really likes taking medicine. It’s usually a rather traumatic event when we need to give our three year old medicine. I can remember our older kids reacting the same way. When we get older, we recognize that though we don’t really like the taste, for our own good we need to take it. Some medicines obviously go down easier than others do.
On the other hand, most of us have favorite foods, perhaps steak or seafood, or maybe cheesecake or ice cream. Regardless, many of us have a favorite, we look forward to opportunities to eat them, and we try to savor every bite. We may even tell others about how much we love this or that food.
At some point, all of us have viewed attending church, reading and studying the bible, or reading a Christian book as more like taking medicine than we have eating our favorite food. But I don’t think any of us will make any spiritual progress as long as we see the intake of God’s word in that way. The Psalmist said of the words of God in Psalm 19:10 that, “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
I have been greatly helped by listening to the sermons of others through the years. But to do that, requires some movement toward the Psalm 19:10 attitude toward scripture rather than seeing it as medicine that we know we need, but don’t much enjoy taking. Often, I have had the medicine view, but when I move toward Psalm 19:10 then I seek ways to get God’s word into my life. Listening to sermons is a great way to do that. I used to listen to sermons on cassettes. Now it is much easier, whether listening over the internet from my computer or synced to my blackberry, ipod, or itouch. In tomorrow’s men’s meeting, I’m going to summarize an excellent message I’ve recently listened to by Tim Keller called Forgiving and Forgiven on Eph. 4:25-32. I hope you can attend. But you will draw even more benefit by listening yourself. You can do that either here, http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/
or you could sign up for Keller’s podcast here http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sites/sermons2.redeemer.com/files/RSS_Feeds/Timothy_Keller_Podcasts.xml
My scripture and discussion questions for tomorrow are below.
Men’s Meeting
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
See also Psalm 19:7-11
Ephesians 4:25–32 (ESV) 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Questions for Discussion
- When you are tempted to sin, what is your personal strategy for combating that temptation?
- How can you practically choose to think about who Jesus is, what he did for us, and the reality that he lives within you?
- Which kind of sinful anger are you most prone to: Bitterness, blowing up, or clamming up?
Forgiving and Forgiven, message by Tim Keller on Eph. 4:25-32
http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sites/sermons2.redeemer.com/files/RSS_Feeds/Timothy_Keller_Podcasts.xml
Built to Last: The Challenge of Endurance
Tonight the pastors are beginning a message series on the book of Hebrews called Built to Last: The Challenge of Endurance. Pastor Gene’s outline for tonight is below.
Building a Foundation: Part 1
Hebrews 1
Embrace a fully biblical view of who Jesus is
Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV) Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Identify Jesus as uniquely great in your own soul
Hebrews 1:5–14 (ESV)
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Leadership and the Fruit of the Spirit
In this week’s men’s meeting I’m taking one week off from addressing the issues raised at the men’s retreat to share some reflections from my weekend away at Gordon Conwell. Ironically, it will end up having a great deal to do with the subject of anger, which I will return to next week. Here are the scripture and the discussion questions.
Men’s Meeting
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Galatians 5:19–24 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Questions for Discussion
- Who are or have been the leaders who have made the greatest positive difference in your life? What characteristics drew you to them?
- Do you agree that the development of the fruit of the Holy Spirit within us is a path to becoming a more effective leader? Why or why not?
- How would you go about seeking to develop the fruit of the Spirit?
- How would the greater development of the fruit of the Holy Spirit address a problem with anger?
Fighting Off Discouragement
Wednesday’s outline from Gene on Psalm 42
Fighting Off Discouragement
Speak the truth about the state of your soul
Psalm 42:1-3(ESV)
1As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Deliberately call to mind the acts and the goodness of God
Psalm 42:4-10 (ESV)
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of iHermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Persist in preaching to yourself about where to find hope
Psalm 42:5, 7-11
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
the challenge of community
The latest version of kindle for PC (the program is free, not the books of course) allows me to copy straight from books. I like that a lot. I just read this, it reminds me of Eph. 4:1-3. Paul would never have said, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, if it wasn’t going to be a serious challenge.
“Church” is not an event. It is people—people whom God calls us to love. What is more, it is in a very important sense an involuntary community of people: we don’t choose our brothers and sisters—God does. And sometimes (oftentimes) those people are not terribly compatible with us—not the people we would choose to hang out with. But it is this very incompatibility that is so important, for at least two reasons. First, learning to love the people I don’t like is by far the best way to learn how to love (it’s easy to love people I happen to like). Second, the church is supposed to be a sociological miracle—a demonstration that Jesus has died and risen to create a new humanity composed of all sorts of people.
Challies, Tim (2011). The Next Story: Life and Faith after the Digital Explosion (p. 108). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Gene
A simple definition of worship
Dear worship ministry folks,
You can see Wednesday night’s worship choir agenda here. May 11, 2011 (2)
I trust that your week is going well. I read something yesterday that I thought was a good description of what it means to glorify God. “You’re glorifying something when you find it beautiful for what it is in itself. Its beauty compels you to adore it, to have your imagination captured by it.” Tim Keller, King’s Cross, p. 6. Perhaps that seems overly simple, but I like it that Keller breaks down in different language the way we normally think about worship. My sense is that if we to try to answer off the top of our heads what worship is, we would struggle to describe it. These two lines do a good job of using language we can understand.
The worship choir is practicing this Wednesday evening, May 11, the worship band is not. We will begin work on a fantastic new collection of choir songs tomorrow evening. I have the worship choir booked to sing every Sunday beginning May 22nd. I have posted the rehearsal schedule on the church blog here.
Finally, you are receiving this email from Planning Center Online. You can login to this web based service and change your email address, add a cell number, and block off dates when you know you will be away on vacation. Why would you want to do that? If you enter your cell number, you can choose to have the program send you a text message any time you receive an email from the program. I think everyone should do that. Surely everyone will want to immediately notified when I’ve sent an email J. The calendar feature is helpful to me in planning to know when people will be available and when they are not. The service has several features that help us to more effectively plan and communicate details about the worship ministry, to include providing the tools for more advanced planning. If you can’t log in to the service, I will send you instructions.
Regarding this, I have a question. I have the ability to assign the whole choir to the services when we are singing. If I do that, you would receive an email saying that you have been assigned to a service with an option to click “accept”, “decline”, or “view this plan.” I see some real advantages to this, but i think some might find it bothersome. Would you let me know what you think about this? Perhaps I will run a trial on this for a Sunday soon.
In Christ,
Gene