North Side Worship

For the Glory – EP

by

For the Glory – EP is a collection of six songs recorded by North Side Worship.  4 songs are modern hymns, 1 is an older hymn, and 1 is an original.  These are six worship songs that teach and celebrate the gospel.  The album walks through the progression of the gospel as well. All I Have Is Christ In Tenderness …

READ MORE

Worship Song on the 5 Solas

by

Sunday will be my last day leading worship at North Side.  As the church as a whole has been aware of this change for two weeks, I have been trying to do what I could do to help during the transition for a while now.  Part of the plan was writing a new worship song and recording a 6-song EP. …

READ MORE

The Old Rugged Cross – Album Chords

by

We have been super encouraged from feedback regarding our latest North Side Worship album entitled, “The Old Rugged Cross.”  This collection of 13 hymns was recorded on Easter weekend earlier this year. We have heard incredible stories of people sharing the music with friends and other churches beginning to sing the arrangements. Album Preview You can listen to snippets from …

READ MORE

The Old Rugged Cross – Album Available in April

by

This weekend was incredible.  We had 2 great nights of worship that we called “The Old Rugged Cross” followed by 2 incredible Sunday morning worship gatherings. As we prayed and thought through what we wanted to do on Good Friday and Saturday, we decided to do an Easter hymn-sing.  The last few years we have done something very different.  We …

READ MORE

I Will Cling to the Old Rugged Cross

by

We want to invite you to our Easter weekend special worship services on Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 pm.  This year’s worship nights will be called “The Old Rugged Cross.” Join us as we cherish the old rugged cross this Easter weekend.  Using hymns of old, we will recount the sacrifice of Jesus and worship the risen King. You …

READ MORE

Visit from Greenwood Calendar

by

Greenwood Calendar is a site that seeks to promote what is good about our city.  In addition to numerous news articles, they feature a band of the week.  After hearing North Side Worship lead at the YMCA Prayer Breakfast, Robert Stevenson wanted to come over and shoot a video of one of our practices so that others could get a taste …

READ MORE

Fear Not [Storytellers]

by

“Fear Not” was written for “The Word” project to cover the incarnation of Jesus. “The Word” is a project by North Side Worship telling the grand narrative of the Bible.  It is available at North Side (May 3, 2015) and iTunes (May 5, 2015). Song Info We had finished writing all the songs for “The Word” project and “Fear Not” was not on there.  We had …

READ MORE

The Heart Behind “The Word”

by

“The Word” is a project by North Side Worship telling the grand narrative of the Bible.  It is available at North Side (May 3, 2015) and iTunes (May 5, 2015). With every passing year, I watch the decline in biblical literacy. Many people’s understanding of the Bible are based upon recollections of isolated stories or lessons from isolated phrases. As a pastor at North …

READ MORE

Description of the 16 Songs at “The Word”

by

If you haven’t missed 1 Sunday in the last year, you have already heard 11 of the 16 songs we will be leading at “The Word.”  As we went through different studies at the church, we have introduced these songs along the way.  Hopefully, that will translate into you singing out tonight and Saturday! That also means that you have …

READ MORE

Lyrics to “What a Savior”

by

We are 3 days away from “The Word!”  We will be doing a live recording on April 3 and 4 at 7PM at North Side Baptist Church. Writing songs at key points throughout the biblical narrative is a complex process.  The three songs I was hesitant to begin were based on Creation, Passion week, and Revelation. “What a Savior” was …

READ MORE

“The Word” Song Listing

by

“The Word” is getting closer by the day. As we attempt to tell the grand narrative of the Bible, we set out to compose songs that communicate those truths and worship Jesus at every stop. Our team has never studied more, prayed more, and analyzed more.  We have spent an untold number of hours nitpicking lyrics because of our commitment to …

READ MORE

“Peace on Earth” New Recording

by

Two years ago, we decided to record a bluegrass Christmas album.  As we finished up the project, I wrote a Christmas song that was a very different approach for me.  It felt more like a country song than anything else I had ever written. The concept of the song was my attempt to deal with the lack of peace in …

READ MORE

Peace on Earth – Single

by

The Song Two years ago, we decided to record a bluegrass Christmas album.  As we finished up the project, I wrote a Christmas song that was a very different approach for me.  It felt more like a country song than anything else I had ever written. The concept of the song was my attempt to deal with the lack of …

READ MORE

There Is No One Like Our God

by

We shared the first song off of the Word project last Sunday and we are going to sing it again this Sunday.  We have been humbled by the great words of encouragement from our church. The song is entitled “No One Like Our God” and worships through the Book of Exodus.  You can hear some of the story behind the …

READ MORE

My Hope

by

Just a reminder today: always be ready to tell anyone where your hope comes from. but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…  -1 Peter 3:15 This song is from our 1 …

READ MORE

You Are Our Living Hope

by

“Living Hope” is the first song from our “Stand Firm” project where we wrote worship songs through the Book of 1 Peter.  We are using this song this Sunday morning, so check out the video to warm up your vocal chords and get ready to worship with us. Lyrics VERSE 1 We have endured these fleeting trialsNo matter what, we …

READ MORE

Knowing Jesus 2014 Recap

by

“Knowing Jesus” this year was a very special night.  While we have had the opportunity to lead this night of worship at North Side, other churches, North Greenville University, prisons, etc., this was a very special night. We kept to the script from the DVD that we did last year, but we did make some special changes to the night …

READ MORE

The 100-Day Bible Reading Plan

by

I made an announcement at “Knowing Jesus” this year from which I got a lot of feedback.  I told everyone that next Good Friday, we would not do the same program we have done the last 2 years.  Instead of doing a night of worship and teaching from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we were going to do a worship …

READ MORE

Abbeville Spring Festival 2014

by

We were so grateful to be able to play at the Abbeville Spring Festival on Thursday night.  It is always a special endeavor to play outside the walls of a church building and engage some new folks. Concentrating was a little difficult as I smelled the alligator-on-a-stick stand a little ways from us and heard the screams of those on …

READ MORE

Knowing Jesus Tonight – What You Need to Know

by

Tonight is the night!  We are celebrating this Good Friday by our worship event entitled “Knowing Jesus.”  You still have time to join us!   Doors open at 6:30 and the service will start at 7.  No childcare provided, but we would love for you to bring the whole family.  The service will be piped out to the commons area if …

READ MORE

Knowing Jesus – Good Friday Service

by

Join us on Good Friday as we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ with a special night of worship. North Side Worship composed this music to help tell the entirety of the life and message of Jesus Christ.  They have led this worship event before at North Side as well as other churches, college campuses, and even …

READ MORE

“Holy” // Storytellers

by

We led the song “Holy” on Sunday from the “Stand Firm” project.  This was the second song we worked on composing as a group and has been one of our church’s favorites to sing. The song is based off of 1 Peter 1:13-2:3. The Scripture 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on …

READ MORE

“Living Hope” // Storytellers

by

It has been so encouraging to hear the feedback from folks concerning the “Stand Firm” album we released on Sunday.  We actually sold out of the first batch, that was a shocker!  No worries, we do have some additional copies available now and you can also get your copy on iTunes. The first song on the project is called “Living …

READ MORE

1 Peter Recap

by

What a fantastic day to celebrate as a church!  To finish up the 1 Peter series, we read through the entire book as a church and worshiped at every turn. We did all 13 tracks from the “Stand Firm” album as Jeff read through the passages.  We have introduced these songs along the way, but doing it completely through this …

READ MORE

1 Peter Worship Album

by

I’m excited to share with you a new project for North Side Worship.  We are writing an album based upon 1 Peter.

Our church is going through a study of 1 Peter.  It is entitled “Stand Firm.”  We started it last Sunday, and if calculations are correct, we will be finishing the end of January 2014.  The book is all about standing firm as believers during difficult times.  It’s a pretty timely message these days.

Since we would be spending so much time in this book, we wanted to cement these biblical truths in the ears of our church.  Ever since we started focusing on discipling people through worship, we have been amazed at how people are growing through this ministry.

Our band got together and studied 1 Peter one day intensively.  We studied and we studied.  After really understanding it as a book, we then broke it down into about 12 songs that we wanted to write.  That day we started on some of them.  We have a goal of about 4 songs a month.  We have 4 complete, and we are in the process of the next 4 as we speak.  We hope to finish all the songs by the beginning of October.

READ MORE

Knowing Jesus Live Release

by

468353_10151372503765877_2063395594_o

I got to watch the “Knowing Jesus” DVD with our band and tech team tonight at the house. It was a great time watching these people worship along to these biblical truths. 16 months ago we met in our house to begin writing these songs, and here we sat together as a family celebrating what God has done among us.

I am blown away at how well this came together. God blessed us with some special people on our team and outside our team to put together an incredible double disc CD and DVD. It sings the Bible. You can feel the passion in the room. It’s very special.

We will have each available on Sunday for $15. Get both for $25. Get some for a friend. Share the gospel in a unique way.

Tonight, I am truly humbled that these wonderful worship leaders let me lead with them.

Here’s a sneak peek from the video – hope you enjoy:

READ MORE

Live Recording – Knowing Jesus

by

knowing jesus (33)

We have some exciting news to share with you today!

1. We are almost out of tickets for Knowing Jesus this weekend.  There are a few left for Saturday.  Friday is completely gone.  Now, these are free tickets.  So, we anticipate some tickets being out and not being used.  We will have overflow, and there is a chance that we will have extra seats – even on Friday.  The best bet is to get there.  We will open doors at 6:30.  If you do not have a ticket, we will give you a holding ticket.  If there are seats in the auditorium at 6:55, you come on in.  We are overwhelmed at the response.  We shouldn’t be surprised.  Jesus would attract a standing room only crowd back then, no reason He wouldn’t do it now.  Even if it is super packed, let’s rejoice in the fact and get cozy to the people next to you!

2. We are making a live recording from this weekend!  We have been making preparations for this for a while but held back the news of it.  God has placed some wonderful friends in our lives that are helping record a live DVD and CD from this weekend’s service.

READ MORE

58 Tracks

by

NSW 2012.002-004

At the beginning of 2012, I huddled our worship team together to dream a bit.  I started with the slide above.  As worship leaders, I wanted us all to grow a bit.  I wanted us to respond to God’s revelation through worship, but I also wanted us to begin to really pray how we could apply Colossians 3:16 in our church.  How could our worship team better disciple and teach our church the truths of God’s Word?

Part of the answer?

READ MORE

Peace Kept

by

photo-15

If you have ever wondered who is the media mastermind behind our services, look no further.  My son, Eli, is the technological guru behind all things AVL during our services.  Well, he at least likes to act like he is.  Honestly, he’s so smart and skilled in these areas, it won’t be long.

I always love the Sundays before Christmas.  Today was a little different.  The worship was great.  Message was powerful.  Great services full of eager worshipers, but so much stuff happening before, during, and after services that it is hard to process.  Watching families work on reconciliation in our midst.  Unemployed fathers trying to find assistance to provide for their family this year.  Single moms trying to find hope.  Families unable to attend worship because they are beside hospital beds.  And so much more.  It’s the Body of  Christ.  It’s church.  It’s not usually glamorous, but it’s real life, and I’m honored I get to alongside these people as Christ draws them closer.

Today, we worshiped to:

READ MORE

A Bluegrass Christmas

by

485125_561340144458_954801638_n

Personally, I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the encouraging amount of feedback we have received about our 4th 2012 worship album: “Peace on Earth: A Bluegrass Christmas.”  What started as a neat idea to have a small EP turned into something a little larger and more thematic.  We have sold out of our original run, and have been refilling stock as often as we can.  Many of our members have given theirs away and needed another one.

There are some random stories and interesting facts from each track.  If you like knowing some of the behind the scenes stuff, read below:

READ MORE

Bluegrass at the Mall

by

IMG_5126

Wanted to invite you and your family to join the North Side family at the Greenwood Mall Monday night.  A bunch of things are happening and we would love for you to join us!

READ MORE

Peace Lost

by

By the time I left the church house this afternoon, I was exhausted, but it was that good kind of exhausted.

I still can’t wrap my head around all that happened this morning.

READ MORE

“Prologue” & “Come Lord Jesus” – Storytellers

by

To begin the “Knowing Jesus” album and event, we needed something dramatic.

We needed something to display the numerous prophetic scriptures referring to the Messiah.

We needed something to sound dark with light bursting forth.

We needed something that sounded like 400 years of divine silence from God to Israel.

We needed something to create the space between Malachi and Matthew.

We needed something to sound like a supernatural battle going on where a baby was going to be born and the great dragon was trying to stop it.

And we needed it all in about 4 minutes.

READ MORE

Peace on Earth: A Bluegrass Christmas

by

We shared some music yesterday morning of our upcoming Christmas recording project entitled “Peace on Earth: A Bluegrass Christmas.”  Knees were a jerking for sure.

Available on iTunes!

We shared some bluegrass arrangements of some Christmas music we have worked on and we also shared an original song we wrote for the current series, “Peace on Earth.”  Since it was the first country/bluegrass song I had ever written, I was glad to know that those experts in this genre approved kindly.  Tracey did a fantastic job of singing it.  I have had many church members say they were going to sell it to a country artist.  Jeff thinks Brad and Dolly needs to cover it.  We’ll see ;).

The CD will be available this Sunday!  We are so excited to share this 11-track disc with you.  Here is the track listing:

READ MORE

“Go” – Storytellers

by

We sang “Go” this Sunday at North Side and it is the final song on our “Knowing Jesus” album.  On the album, it goes right into the 21st track, “Epilogue” which continues the song and also reprises two musical themes from “I Will Follow” and “Come Lord Jesus.” The song is written in an African-type of call and response.  It …

READ MORE

“Risen” – Storytellers

by

The song “Risen” off of our “Knowing Jesus” project was 1 of the 2 original group writing sessions we did.  John, Jamie, Laura, and Phillip camped out in my playroom and studied the 4 gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection.  After a while, they had a pre-chorus section and a few different chorus ideas.  The “come and see, the tomb is empty, He is risen” was the first section written.

We knew we wanted minor verses, major choruses.  We also decided that we wanted the mood to carry over from “It Is Finished” before it.  We wanted to convey at the beginning a sense of hopelessness and confusion.  So the song starts out with just pad and vocal.  Was the cross the end?  Now what?  We wanted people to experience what the disciples must have felt.

The rest of the song is a rowdy celebration of the power over death found in Jesus’ resurrection.

READ MORE

Knowing Jesus Recap (And What’s Next)

by

I know I am two weeks behind to give you a “Knowing Jesus” recap, but things have been a tad busy as of late.  In short, the event exceeded my expectations which were very large.  After all the prayer, study, work, and preparation into this event and resource, I set the bar high in my mind.  I never imagined what would happen that night.

I thought the entire roof was about to blow off the building.  When God’s people responded to the revelation of Jesus Christ, it was beyond intense.  As the storyline unfolded as we told the life and ministry of Christ through song, genuine, passionate worship erupted among us.

I had many comments (some of them were very sup rising), and here are the most repeated ones:

READ MORE

+ MORE POSTS