Music
Special Music: If you feel that you have a song/reading that God has laid on your heart and you want to share it in our worship service please see me and fill out a special music form that is located on the wall in "D" Building outside Bro. Howard's office.
PURPOSE/PHILOSOPHY: To honor God by lifting praises to Him in song, following Biblically sound principles of worship, and providing the Pastor and congregation with a resource for leading worshipers into the presence of God. Since God is present whenever two or more are gathered in His name, attendees at Live Oak Baptist have frequent opportunities to experience His presence, and music is one way for them to experience that presence. Since every song lifted to the Lord is simply a choir practice for that glorious day when we will all sing around the throne of God, our motto is, “When in doubt, sing louder!”
STYLE: As was previously mentioned, service music should lead attendees into the presence of God. Since all members of the Live Oak family have different backgrounds, personalities, tastes, likes, dislikes etc., many and varied are the styles of music used here. Traditional hymns are a favorite, as are praise choruses and modern worship songs. This can be called blended, mixed, assorted, anything you like. We just try to honor God in all we do.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE: There are numerous opportunities to serve in the area of music/worship. We have a live praise band which leads the congregation in worship every service. Several smaller ensembles, from contemporary (youth/young adult) to southern gospel, are also favorites. In addition, Soloists, drawn from members of the choir/praise band/ensembles, are also used to enhance most worship services.
At Live Oak Baptist we are always in search for people wanting to serve and honor God with their voice. Please see Brother Donald Turner or you can contact the church (225) 243-6138.
" What is Worship"
We gather every Sunday (some of us twice) and on Wednesday to honor the God we love. We sing songs, read His word, and fellowship with other believers. But what part of this is the “worship part”? How do you distinguish between the worship and the “fluff”? Unfortunately, a lot of us don’t really know the difference. Worship is not as much of an action as it is an attitude. Worship is acknowledging God’s love, grace, and mercy in our lives and standing in awe of it. It’s coming to an understanding of how truly insignificant we should be to Him, and yet realizing the sacrifice He made so He could have a personal relationship with us. Think back to the Old Testament book of Job. Job was a man of faith and integrity. And because of that, God blessed Job tremendously. He had a great family, land, cattle, and servants. Then, all at once, it was taken from him. He had done nothing wrong, and yet everything he had including his family and even his own health was taken away. Did he have reason to question God? Probably. Would it have been easy for him to turn his back on God? Absolutely. But he didn’t. Instead Job praised God in the midst of what must have been the darkest hours of his life.
Too many times we try to limit worship to a few songs that we sing at church once a week, but worship is so much more than that. Romans 12:1 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship”. What Paul is trying to tell us here is that worship is not an event….it’s a lifestyle. Worship should be seen in the way we live our lives. We should dedicate every thought, every action, and every moment of our existence to Him. We would do well to take the attitude of Job and remember that God’s worth is not dictated by our circumstances or preferences. God is too big for us to try and put in a box and the worship of Him can be no different. So please keep singing, keep going to church, and keep enjoying the fellowship of fellow believers but never allow yourself to think that’s all there is. Remember that true worship is living your life to please our Savior.
In His Service,
Donald Turner
