Archive for Using Videos

“Lord I Lift Your Name On High” – A song for many occasions

May 31, 2009 at 11:19 am · Filed under All Others, Using Videos ·Tagged ,

The song, “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” has been around for 20 years now, perhaps long enough to knock it out of the “contemporary” genre but its popularity is still high.  I think that one reason for this is its broad application for the Christmas through Ascension church year that’s summarized in its short and simple chorus as shown below:

 

You came from heaven to earth – reference to Christmas (Christ’s birth)

To show the way

From the earth to the cross – reference to Lent

My debt to pay

From the cross to the grave – reference to Good Friday

From the grave to the sky – reference to Easter & Ascension

Lord I lift Your name on high

 

It has a verse as well:

 

Verse:

Lord I lift Your name on high

Lord I love to sing Your praises

I’m so glad You’re in my life

I’m so glad You came to save us

 

CCLI Song #117947

© 1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc.

By Rick Founds

 

I like to use this song when I know there will be a lot of unchurched visitors and children because it captures a lot of information about Jesus’ life in a memorable and singable format and is easy to comprehend.  I’ve specifically used this at our worship service that concludes our Summer VBS where a lot of visitors are in attendance. 

 

As Lutherans, we tend to like a lot of words, some doctrine, and some theology packed into our music.  This song doesn’t do much of that, although it contains the Gospel and is specific in its references to Christ.  It’s not a hymn, but sometimes, keeping it simple is a good idea.  Sometimes we need to see what the creatures do to praise God that were made specifically for that purpose.  Consider the Seraphims for example, they call back and forth to each other, in the presence of God, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full with His glory.”  As far as I know, they are still repeating this today. 

 

If you aren’t familliar with this song, you can hear it here:

This particular version is sung by Paul Baloche.  This is also an example of Integrity’s worship videos that can be used for congregational singing during worship.

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Music Videos

February 1, 2009 at 9:42 pm · Filed under BLENDED WORSHIP, Using Videos, Videos ·Tagged ,

Several people have asked me for a good source of music videos to use as sing-a-longs either in worship or at youth events.  These are great, especially if you have limited instrumentalists in your congregation.  I have found the best videos to be produced by Integrity Worship.  They have several families of music videos but the “iworship at home” series seems to offer the “best bang for the buck.”  For about $15, you can buy one DVD that contains a half dozen or so professionally recorded song videos with lyrics to sing along with.  You can purchase these at your local Christian Bookstore and on-line at Amazon.com (search on “iworship at home”)

 

You can also see the full line up of Integrity music videos at their website:

 

http://www.integritydirect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category__10151_-1_10051_15739_15735

 

You can view individual songs at this website:

 

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/index.cfm?hndl=producer&id=25

One note of caution, please review the songs prior to usage and make sure that the lyrics are in line with your doctrinal beliefs.  I have found most of these songs to be good, but I have not seen all of the DVDs.

 

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A picture is worth a thousand words!

December 4, 2008 at 12:11 am · Filed under Preaching, Using Videos, Worship Tools ·Tagged ,

Are you using presentation software for your sermons?  Visuals are important in worship because they help your members and visitors absorb and remember what you are saying.

 

Have you ever wondered why some adults are getting more out of, and enjoying, the children’s message more than the sermon?  It’s for the same reason.  Typically children’s messages employ pictures or props, and we often involve the children by asking for questions and participation during the message.

 

There is a theory known as the “cone of knowledge” which states the following:

 

People generally remember:

 

90% of what they Do as they perform a task

70% of what they Say and Write

50% of what they See and Hear

30% of what they See

20% of what they hear

10% of what they read

 

If you don’t use projection software for imagery during your sermons, or props, or videos, then you might be limiting yourself to a 20% retention level.  Consider using the five senses that God gave us.  You can easily jump to the 50% retention level by using visuals.

 

You can even jump to the 70% level by getting your people to “journal” or take notes.  Our Pastor had a unique way of doing this.  He sometimes included a fill-in-the-blank style note sheet in the worship bulletins that us worshippers would use to follow along with the sermon.  As we listened, we would try to fill in the blanks on the note sheet.  As a pew dweller; I have to tell you that this works.

 

Why not consider some of these suggestions in your preaching and scripture reading?  You don’t need to do it every Sunday, but use these techniques whenever you feel that additional information can be conveyed.  Your congregation will more than likely enjoy your added effort.

 

 

The easiest way to obtain good quality graphics is by simply doing a Google Search, but change the default search criteria from “WEB” to “Images.”

 

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