1.  How would you define Biblical worship?
Worship is God’s idea and we have all been given the “worship chromosome”. We will worship something. The bible shows us that worship is the natural response of the people of God to the being and work of God. This response includes praise, adoration, lament, doubt, confession, singing, silence, dancing, dying...it is a life lived in the presence of God for the purposes of God. And it lasts forever.

 2.  Does John Knox follow a specific liturgy or pattern for worship each Sunday? And if so, how do you select songs for worship to fit that pattern?
We have a flexible outline that we follow. Word and Sacrament are foundational to our time together. The songs flow out of biblical themes, seasons of the church and the liturgy. Not that we fill in the blanks each week, but there are almost always hymns of adoration, lament, confession and forgiveness. The psalms are also an important part of our worship each week; whether they are spoken or sung.

3.  Does the culture of Seattle play a role in the music ministry at John Knox? And if so, how?
The culture of Seattle does play a big part into what happens here. To quote a good friend of mine, “rugged individualism and the pioneer spirit” are alive and well in the Pacific Northwest. This has an impact on any community gathering, and sometimes the challenge is simply trying to get people to sing with other people.

4.  If a young musician felt called to become a lead worshiper for their church, what advice would you give them to help in their preparation and education?
Study the Word. Study the community. Study yourself. I’m not trying to be self-centered here, but a sense of vocation is vital for anyone in the ministry. I would also encourage them to write new songs for their congregation. We don’t worship a “one size fits all” God and our worship music shouldn’t be a “one size fits all” set of songs that you can download each Saturday night.

5.  What role and responsibilities do you play (if any) in the missional endeavors of your church and is that important for a minister of music?
I think everything we do in the Church flows out of worship. How does the music we sing seek justice? How do we mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice? Where is God at work in our community and world? Missional worship is more concerned with sacrifice than self. For lyrics see Philippians 2.

6.  How important is personal preparation and worship before coming before God’s people and leading them in song and prayer?
It is important to both my community and myself. I think lead worshipers are involved in reconnaissance. I am a member of a scouting party. You can’t lead people where you haven’t been. I say this with a humble heart because I keep getting lost. Thankfully Jesus Christ is the Way, not me.
 
7.  Worship is sometimes a contentious subject in the church, what key factors from a leadership perspective have helped the elders and congregation of John Knox get beyond this?

I think you need to balance two things. First, what does an authentic worship response look like from this community? Second, who is this community becoming? If you can’t agree on the answers to these two questions then worship will remain a contentious subject. Also, coming to the table on a regular basis is vital in order to experience common unity.

8.  You’ve been doing this for a number of years now. If you could go back to the beginning of your ministry, what thing(s) would you do differently?
Go to seminary first. I was just recently accepted into Fuller Seminary and am on track for a MA in Biblical Studies and Theology. Of course, had I gone to seminary first I would probably be one of the guys saying, “seminary sure didn’t prepare me for this”. That being said, I still wish I had gotten started sooner.

9.  Favorite book on worship? (And for the geeks who are reading - Favorite piece of gear you use?)

Favorite Books on Worship…
Answering God by Eugene Peterson. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down by Marva Dawn. Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  A Sacred Sorrow by Michael Card.

Favorite piece of gear…
Steinway & Sons Grand Piano – Model B

10.  Lastly, if someone is visiting South Seattle, where is the best place to get a coffee and/or beer?

Coffee – All City Coffee in Georgetown
Beer – Elliot Bay Brew Pub in Burien