CHS Blog

Beyond the Music: Developing Leaders Who Worship in Spirit and Truth

All throughout scripture, praise is both commanded and modeled as a way of giving glory to God. Psalm 95:1-2 says, "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." It is no secret that God created humanity to worship Him, and on the student worship team, exalting Christ is our greatest priority. Through the worship team at Christian Heritage, students grow in theological literacy, they cultivate creativity, and they learn how to lead themselves and others in adoration to the Father.

Through music, we strive to proclaim the truth of God with biblical accuracy. As Matt Boswell writes, “It is (our) responsibility to shepherd the congregation into the green pastures of God-centered, gospel-centered songs and away from the arid plains of theological vacuity, meditations on human experience, and emotional frenzy”[1]. As students craft worship sets and prepare to play, sing, and lead, they are challenged to consider the words and messages of each song. When selecting music, some questions we ask ourselves are: What gospel truth is being conveyed in this song? Is this song more about me and my feelings than it is about Christ and His holiness? Are there any words or phrases in this song that might be confusing or easily misinterpreted? On this team, students understand that in order to grow as worship leaders, they must become students of scripture. 

One morning, as the team was preparing to rehearse, a student started playing a riff on the bass that mimicked a tune from an oldies song. Another student darted over to the drums and started tapping along. Others began singing in harmony, and quickly the rehearsal space was echoing to the sound of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”. There is an impulse inside all of us to create. This is because God, the creator of all things, made mankind in His image (Gen 1:27; John 1:3). On the worship team, we encourage creativity by fostering an environment where permission is given to experiment, try new ideas, and learn from each other. Just last week, a middle school student had the idea to merge two songs together, flowing without pause from one chorus to another, treating two different songs as one. The same day, a high schooler saw a creative opportunity to let the voices minister without instruments. Unrehearsed, she signaled to the rest of the band to stop playing, and the room was overcome by the angelic sound of over one hundred voices lifted heavenward. Creativity inevitably draws us closer to our Creator, and we mirror His very nature when we make space for creative expression. 

One of the most well-known worshipers in the Bible was David. Throughout the Psalms he commands himself to praise and stirs up adoration to God. We see this in Psalm 103:1 when he says, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name”. On the worship team, we recognize that in order to lead well, we must first know how to lead our own hearts in praise. We practice this by remembering His goodness and regularly reflecting upon what He has done and is doing in our lives. Cultivating a greater personal life of worship enables us to lead others well. 

Students also learn that leading is a privilege, and we stress the importance of preparation as a way to honor God and each other. Preparation on the worship team is both practical and spiritual. We work on how to prayerfully and strategically build worship sets. We discuss ways that each instrument and voice can support and strengthen different songs. We take time to rehearse our parts. And we practice how and when to lead a pastoral moment, whether it’s sharing a scripture or word of encouragement, giving context to a song, or leading a prayer. Psalm 33:3 instructs us to sing and play skillfully before the Lord. When we take time to plan and prepare, we give God our best, and we limit distractions that might hinder others’ ability to fully engage with the wonder of Christ. 

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!” (Psalm 98:1). While we know that worship extends far beyond a musical experience, there is something undeniable that happens when we sing to Him. The life-changing power of God is released into our lives when we praise (Acts 16:25-26; 2 Chronicles 20:15-22), and our focus is shifted away from ourselves and onto something bigger. We cannot help but be reminded of who God is and what He has done when we sing. Through the worship team, students learn how the truth of the gospel, their creativity, and their affection for Jesus inform the way they lead themselves and others in praise. As we develop worshipers here at Christian Heritage, my prayer is that their lives would be shaped by the truth of Christ’s extravagant love; all glory belongs to Him. “Sing to the Lord, for He has done marvelous things!” 
 

[1] Boswell, Matt, ed. Doxology & Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader. Nashville, B&H Publishing Group, 2013. 233 pp.

Life Application Bible: New International Version (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Chelsea serves as the Upper School Worship Team Coordinator. She is a CHS alum (2009) and earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Industry. Chelsea is married with two young children, and leads worship and writes music with her friends at Vox Church. Chelsea is passionate about seeing the beauty and glory of God displayed through creative expression. 

 

Luke’s Gospel tells us what Jesus came to do. “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).” But it also tells how He uniquely went about doing it. “The Son of Man came eating and drinking (Luke 7:34).”

Meals matter. Food sustains our bodies. And the people we eat with are usually the ones who sustain our soul. The word “companion” comes from the Latin words “bread” and “together”, because a friend is someone who breaks bread with us.

Jesus ate with everyone – the renegades and the religious; He ate with a few and with the masses, with His best friends and His betrayer.

Our theme this year is Come to the Table. While this is Jesus’ free invitation of grace to all, it is hard to RSVP “yes”.  Accepting this invitation comes with some stipulations. You have to acknowledge you are hungry for something that only God can satisfy. You also have to be okay being in the presence of your enemies at this table, because the grace of Jesus does not play favorites. And you have to eat what is served at the table.

We are going to journey through the book of Luke and stop each time Jesus sits down with someone for a meal. And we are going to learn about grace, humility, and the mission of God. And I pray that we will also live these out in greater measure. Come to the Table.

And we are going to practice this as a community right at the start of the year! On August 29th, we will kick off our first week of school with our annual Dedication Picnic. We share a meal and ask God to sustain us and empower us to learn and love in the year ahead. Then, on September 12-13, we’ll take the high school to HUME New England for our overnight retreat. Again, we will be sharing meals and marveling at the grace of Jesus offered to sinners like us. 

Mark Persson, aka “Chappy P,” is the Chaplain at CHS. He is married to Michelle, and they have three children: Karis (starting Kindergarten at CHS!), Micah, and Asher. Mark likes baking (read “eating”) bread, running, reading, and building forts with his kids. He is an elder at his church. And, he is blessed beyond belief to work alongside the incredible staff and faculty at CHS as they serve students and families!
 

These are the most beautiful things you will never see! 

These are pictures of just a portion of the new HVAC systems installed over the past couple years.  At over $1 million, what an awesome display of God’s people investing in a better future for the ministry and mission of Christian Heritage School. 

There is this great image painted for us in Deuteronomy 6 just before the nation of Israel is to cross the Jordan River into Canaan.  God gives this word. 

"It shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to give your fathers  . . . to give you a land with great and splendid cities which you did not build and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn wells which you did not dig and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant” 

When we stop and look around us, literally everything here at CHS is here because someone gave, built or donated. Given, sometimes at great sacrifice, always with a yearning to see what we witness every day.  Children, families, and teachers working and learning together were on their minds and hearts when they gave their prayerful support and generous donations.  They earnestly anticipated the impact for Christ through the mission of Christian Heritage School and did it all with gratitude. 

The core values on which this place was built change lives and matter for eternity.  Values like an unshakeable faith in God built on a foundation of prayer, a firm adherence to His Word and a deep love for kids.  There is a passion for this biblically based education secured by a sacred partnership with the home and church.  And, there is a pursuit of excellence, all of it delivered by gifted and godly teachers in a culture that sadly does not often value these things.  

As CHS begins its 47th year, it has been and continues to be my greatest joy to serve in various roles alongside incredibly talented teachers and other professionals as we take on this important purpose. 

In my role in development, I speak with parents, former parents and grandparents of CHS graduates, alumni and friends of CHS.  I will sometimes ask, “Why continue to be interested in us?  Why support the CHS mission?  Your generosity is an obvious sign of support meant to encourage and strengthen what is done here.  Why do you continue giving money to CHS, year after year?" 

Their responses reference a few common themes: 

• It’s our children, and our children’s children.  It’s our responsibility, our greatest joy and treasure to support a Godly heritage moving on through our legacy.  
• It is our call and duty to our world.  It does not get any more important than this; together we raise up Christian scholars in a world that desperately needs people sharing the love of Jesus Christ in action and in truth. 
• Because we are grateful.  We experience the unique and personal touch of Godly teachers who model daily an intimate relationship with, and love for, Jesus Christ.  Our children certainly learn to read and write and compete academically.  That is not unimportant, but it isn’t the full answer.  These teachers walk daily with the Lord and then teach children that the Bible is the Living Word of God.  We are grateful for that blessing.  

It is a privilege to take every opportunity to support the mission and ministry of this special place.  Please take a moment to reflect and share a gift that will literally touch lives for eternity. 

God bless you.

Bruce Stempien is the Director of Advancement. Bruce has been active at CHS in a variety of roles through their 45+ year history.  In the ‘80s, he set up the framework for the new high school and worked part time with college admissions for CHS graduating classes through the ‘90s.  In 2007, he assumed the role of Upper School Principal for 6 years and, in 2013, became the Director of Advancement.  As a team, Bruce and and his wife, Dianne, were involved in school musicals and a student singing group named Greater Love.  They enjoyed the experience as parents of a son and a daughter who attended CHS from Kindergarten through 12th grade.  They currently attend New Life Church.