The Worship Homestead: Recent Episodes
Nathan Smith
This worship podcast is for pioneers. Small communities of believers all over the world are seeking God outside of and in addition to the institutional church. It could be a house church, a bible study, a small group, or something else. This podcast is about writing songs and leading worship for those communities. Welcome!
To get more free training visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com
A lot of churches are doing acoustic sets for worship.
Enter the cajon.
But if you don't mic it correctly, you can get distortion and pops in your signal.
This week, I explain how to properly mic a cajon, why doing it wrong results in distortion, and what simple fix can keep your signal clean no matter what your cajon player does.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
It's quite a finding.
Worshipleaderresearch.com found that from 2010-2020, only 38 songs shared the top 25 spots in Worship music. Nearly all over them were either written by, or popularized by, 4 large ministries.
I have a different perspective on this finding than most. I don't think these results are unusual. I explain why. I also don't worry much about it. It has to do with farming, and freedom.
Here's the punchline first- if you want to live in freedom, run toward responsibility.
To access my free guide visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
It's August. Everyone is getting in that last weekend trip before school starts. If you are a worship leader you are likely anticipating the return of your full team, and a fuller sanctuary.
As you prepare, I encourage you to think about how you gather your team. It is crucial that you have a new beginning, and celebrate it. Today I share a story about what can go wrong when you try to burn rubber in a new season. It's much better to bring everyone along.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
When you can't see resources around you, that's the poverty spirit. When you are convinced that resources only exist outside of you, that's the welfare spirit.
Worship teams and tech teams live under this spirit. We play someone else's synth and guitar patches while using someone else's backing tracks, reading someone else's charts, and singing someone else's songs. We accept that as normal. But those are all products. The process is what matters.
God intended us to live in abundance. Abundance is a process, not a product. Learning an instrument, teaching a new volunteer, training a musician, building a team- those are all processes.
In this episode we talk about how to rage against the spirit of poverty and welfare, and embrace building instead.
To access my free guide visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
This week I want to share my song "That Place" as well as some tips for songwriters as you work on your next song.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
Here are the tips:
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Widen your music genre. Unlike many of my songs, this has a lot of jazz influence. Some the chords aren't typical worship song chords. That helps throw this song in a very different direction.
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Great songs are often built on the bones of okay songs. I had part of this chord progression for years. But a previous attempt that used the chords wasn't written well. I kept the chords and changed the song, and it worked much better.
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Vary your voicings. In the verse I have one version of an A major chord. But in the chorus I have a different version. It helps keep each section special.
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Give your audience more. I added an instrumental intro and a fill in between the chorus and verse 2. Don't just play changes and count time. Think of something to keep the listener's each interested.
God gave me the first line of the chorus for this song when I woke up one morning.
It was up to me to finish it.
God often does that. He gives us something, and then enjoys watching us finish it.
In fact, He made the universe to run on receiving and giving, in that order.
Find out more. To access my free guide "25 Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
My new course "Deeper Worship Lyrics" is out and on sale.
To celebrate the launch I am sharing my "Ten Commandments of Worship Songwriting" with you.
I guarantee that if you follow these ten songwriting rules, they will make you better.
To learn more about the course, click on the link below: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/offers/Z5rSNq2k/checkout
Today I want to share my song "Courts Above" and how I wrote it.
It was both a quick song to write... and it took over ten years.
In this post I share:
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Why I had to write this song twice over 10-15 years.
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How writing songs scripture works for me.
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Why it is good for a songwriter to look over your cast off and forgotten songs again.
Plus, my new course "Deeper Worship Lyrics" is out now! It is designed specifically for the worship songwriter. If you need help learning the craft, it's ready for you.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
This week I share the story of "In Time". I wrote this song to remind myself that God's timing is perfect.
In the bible, some people were reconciled to the timeline God had for them, and some were not. Do you want to know how to stay on God's timeline?
Check your gratitude levels.
Ingratitude is a dangerous sign that you might be forfeiting your God-given timeline for something worse.
All creation gives God glory. But far from being our competition, rocks and trees are our collaborators.
In this episode I share a song and new way of looking at a bible verse we too often misread. It turns out:
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God's plan for his church involves redeeming and working with land.
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God has always loved land and tied the destiny of His people to land.
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Jesus isn't just lord over people. He rules over all creation.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
Sometimes a song changes you.
Today I want to share a song I wrote called "Look What God Has Done". It's a very different kind of worship song from what I usually write. It is a song we sing to each other. If that sounds weird, I agree. But it's actually tells us in the Bible to "sing to each other".
I never noticed that until a neurotheologian named Dr. Jim Wilder pointed it out.
Find out how God intended us to use music, not just to worship Him, but to create joy bonds with each other.
Buckle up, this one will mess with your theology. It messed with mine.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
No, not that kind of gas. It's called Gear Acquisition Syndrome, and it's a killer.
All those lost hours online doom scrolling. All that wasted energy and wasted money. All that time you could have spent making music.
Today we talk about GAS.
-What are 4 ways you know that you have a bout of Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
-When is new gear not GASSY.
-What lie are you believing that gives you GAS.
Relief is on the way.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
Does your electric guitar playing need to go on a diet?
In this episode I show you an exercise called "The Four Note Challenge". Get your notes and your note placement in shape. Play less, play smarter, sound better.
To access my free guide "25 Chart Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com/25tricks
Don't make these songwriting mistakes. In this episode I contrast two songs to show you the difference good writing makes. You'll also get three easy-to-remember rules that can save your song from mediocrity.
To learn more and to access my free guide "25 Chart-topping Arrangement Tricks" visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com
I'm recording a new album. But not every song I've written for the project deserves to be included.
This week, I compare two songs and show you why one song deserves a spot and what is wrong with the other.
To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
I'm recording a new album. But before I start tracking I have some things to do.
If you are planning on a new recording project, make sure you have these 3 things in order.
To access my free guide visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
Do you trust your gut when making decisions?
Do you deeply feel things, but don't have language for it?
Do you tend toward self-sacrifice for others?
You may have the mercy gifting.
In this episode we talk about what the mercy gifting is, and what God intended for the mercy.
To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit my website:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
To learn more about the Redemptive Gifts click below:
https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Do you often find yourself in positions of leadership?
Do you thrive under pressure?
Do you know how to make something bigger and better?
You might be a ruler.
In this episode we talk about the hallmarks, pitfalls, and birthright of the ruler gifting.
To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit my website:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
To learn more about the redemptive gifts visit:
https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Do you find deals easily?
Do you give wisely?
Do you think about the long-term benefits of a gift or investment?
You might have the gifting of a Giver.
In this episode we look at what God designed the giver for, some of the hallmarks of the gifting, and an example of a giver in the Bible.
If you want to know even more about the redemptive gifts click below: https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Are you the life of the party?
Do you spin a lot of plates, and love new things?
When you think of an event, do you want to involve as many people as possible?
You might have the gifting of an Exhorter.
In this episode we unpack how God made the exhorter, and what their purpose is.
To download my free guide "25 chart-topping arrangement tips" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
To learn more about the redemptive gifts visit:
https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Do you make decisions slowly, taking time to weigh each option?
Do you love knowledge and research for its own sake?
Do you take things step by step rather than jumping in without all the information?
You might have the gifting of a teacher.
In this episode we look at the God-given design of a teacher, some of the hallmarks of the gift, some signs of a mature and a carnal teacher, and what God put the teacher on the earth to do.
Find out what God made you for.
To access my free guide "25 Chart-Topping Arrangement Tricks" visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
For more information on the redemptive gifts go to:
https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Do you always find yourself stacking chairs?
Do you shy away from the limelight?
Do you dislike hustling people or being high-maintanece?
You might have the gift of the servant.
Find out what what God designed the servant for.
To access my free guide "25 chart-topping arrangement tricks visit:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
To learn more about the gifts go to this resource:
https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Do you make judgements quickly? Do you stand on truth no matter what people think?
You may have the gifting of a Prophet.
In this first-of-seven series, we explore the design of the prophet.
We discuss:
-God's design for the prophet gifting.
-The difference between the office of a prophet and the gifting of a prophet.
- Some of the personality markers of a prophet.
-The hallmarks of a mature prophet, and a carnal prophet.
-The lie that Satan wants to prophet to believe.
-The birthright of the prophet (what God put the prophet on the earth to do).
God Bless you Prophet in your design.
If you would like a more in-depth teaching on these gifts click below:
https://theslg.com/content/redemptive-gifts-of-individuals-videos
Have you heard of the Enneagram? Do you know where it comes from?
In today's surprising episode we explore the history of the Enneagram and discuss whether or not you should be using it with your church or worship team. We cover:
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The three men who gave us the Enneagram we use today.
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The spiritual roots of the Enneagram system.
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Whether Christians should use the Enneagram.
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An alternative way of understanding our design.
Buckle up.
Nathan Smith
For more free content visit my website:
https://www.blueprintsounds.com
Trendy and timeless aren't the same thing. Today we are going to look at some trends in worship songwriting you should avoid, and how to write a song that will last. We discuss: -What not to tell your audience in your song. -Why you should choose the simpler word. - Why big words may hit the head but miss the heart. - How to contrast big and little words to make your writing shine.
Today's worship tech needs to be a Swiss army knife- audio, visual, lighting, networking, etc. But there is one skill that can't be taught in a manual- mixing a live show. In this episode we discuss "fader fear"- the terror of actually (gulp) moving faders during a service.
I show you:
-How to teach young techs to think creatively and musically, not just technically.
-How young techs need to perform their mix just like a singer performs their song.
-Why live sound should be fun and not frightening.
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What to prioritize when teaching new techs to mix.
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What flying a plane has to do with running a live service or show.
Let's get some people trained!
Want to know the best way to play worship electric guitar? With half of it taped up and off limits. Those open chords and power chords you played in your high school rock band? Not an option.
To play modern worship you need a different approach, and that's what I show you in this video. It may seem counter-intuitive, but playing less and leaving more space will make your worship team sound bigger and more spacious. And I can prove it.
So grab your painter's tape and get ready to love staying in your lane. Your worship team will thank you.
To watch my free worship workshop visit: https://www.blueprintsounds.com
To access "Sparkling Electric Guitar" online course visit:
Sparkling Electric Guitar
Is your Worship tech culture healthy or are there warning signs? I'll give you three examples of unhealthy attitudes in your tech team, and one example of tech leadership done right. Don't neglect your tech team just because the mics are working this Sunday morning. If you want your team to last they need a healthy environment.
Is your worship team culture healthy? In today's episode we look at some attitudes and actions that aren't just annoying, but can be harmful if they aren't addressed.
Have you ever had the sense while listening to a new worship song that something is missing? Have you felt bad for feeling that way? In today's episode I dive into the craft of song writing. Turns out, there are some structural problems with modern worship songs that can't be explained by style preference. I compare a hymn from a few hundred years ago with a "faux worship song" I wrote to show you some of the mistakes modern worship writers make. But I'm not here to bash the church, I'm here to help. My hope is that you can write your own songs to serve your local church and avoid some of these trendy mistakes. Serve your people. Improve every day. Create your own expression of worship. The Lord deserves it.