The title of session 2 is: God Songs – with Brewster Baloche Doerksen Scott

In this session they spoke about how they begin to write songs and what inspires them and some tips on how to get your own songs started. Again I thought that this would be great use in youth ministry as well so enjoy this session:

Baloche: How do we take a sense of wonder of a sunset and transfer that into a song.

What attracts people to a song?

Doerksen – There is this deep calling to deep thing. When you hear it you have this sense that someone put into words what I wanted to say to God.

Brewster: Think in terms of outcomes. If I was coming to church this weekend what do I need? What would I want to happen? Is this going to bring “ “ closer to God. It becomes so not about you but about serving the body of Christ. What words do I want to put in the mouths of people to say back to God?

Baloche: be a lifelong student of amazing and great songs. Ask why does this song impact me? Look at it from a spiritual aspect, lyrical, musical. We sense an authentic idea.

How are worship songs born from and spiritual and pratical standpoint?

Scott: two basic eleements: serving the body and touching the heart of God. You have to have some sort of insperation. You also have to learn the art or craft of a song. It is sacred and you must touch it. If you go down to the beach and there are no waves you can’t surf. Also if you go to the beach and there are waves and you can’t surf then you can’t surf. So ask God to bring the waves and have us do the hard work of stepping out in faith and trying it out.

Doerksen: Analogy of the seed. A farmer scatters seed. Seed is falling into the peoples lives but our job is to nuture the soil of our lives so that we can bear a crop. God I want to receive the seeds of sowing. Discipline of crafting. I make an appointment with myself. God im presenting myself. I’m here to write a song. And all of a sudden a melody starts. Or I bring out a draft and ask how do I improve this? Sometimes songs go through 5-6 drafts. What we have to do is learn the patience. Our favorite song is the last song because we met with God.

Baloche: Inspiration and perspiration. As songwriters we need to have our attenna on. Being aware. Write a song idea from a sermon. A hook or a phrase sometimes help us get that first line. Your own prayers or from others be a collector of ideas from things. Then go back and take out an idea and work on it. Sing it back to the lord. See what rises up out of this. At some point it takes form. Stay in the worshipping mode. Like a child in the sand box.

Doerksen: to be a songwriter you have to be willing to be a fool. You have to withdraw and go private to write songs. You got to try stuff. This crazy phrase goes into your head and may spark another thing to your final draft. The next time you start you are back in kindergarten again and you need to be willing to start again.

Brewster: Have a phone that has a recorder on your phone to help you capture the inspiration that takes place. There are ideas that I remember at the moment but then forgot them because I didn’t capture them. The process of identifying strengths and weaknesses

How do you develop songs?

Brewster: Be a lifelong learner in general. If you can’t stand someone telling you that’s not a good song – then you shouldn’t be doing it. I wrote a song and I was feeling it but they were not. I want that kind of honesty. Have people that you trust to give real feedback. Seek out people and give honest feedback. That’s been a lifesaver for me.

Doerksen: Form a songwriting circle. Serve one another. Listen to each other’s songs. We are going to point out flaws. We talk about each persons song.

Brewster: Do not tell your church that you wrote it. Don’t let it out of the bag right away. Please don’t say God gave me this song. Whose going to be critical about something that God wrote?

Baloche: what feels good about this song? Songs are subjective. We think we know something but sometimes we need that feedback. And then ask what feels funny? Because it’s not really a right or wrong. Be positive but also honest.

I would agree that you have to write a lot of bad songs to get a good song. Make song writing a part of something that you do. It will poison the well if you are trying to get a deal in Nashville if you only have written 10 songs.

Faithfulness and God may indeed promote something.

Doerksen: There is a sense that unless we do a big recording we are not doing anything valuable. There should be some songs that you write just for your fellowship. Don’t worry about recording and publishing it. Just serve the flock. Someone else took the songs and started the recording process. God elevated it. Keep your eye on serving.

What are the flow of lyerics?

Scott: This is hard. Your songs have to say something and have to say it well and capture peoples hearts. We are informing people about their maker. Dig as deep as you can. Write as much as you can. We need a song about the trinity and just started going that way. Use first lyerics to be springboard lyrics. Use anything to get you started. Work on it and work on it until you say this is the best way to say this. Take time to write and rewrite.

Doerksen: Lyric writing is the sweat part.

Brewster: Co-writing. If you find someone that is strong where you are weak then you have a good thing. Knowing when a song is done. Patience is key. Don’t rush it along.

Baloche: I spend way more intention on co-writing these days because of the relationship aspect. Spend some time and see what rises out of that. When you co-write you have to get past feeling embarrassed.

As you can see this is another great amount of insight into song writing even in youth ministry. I hope that you can take these youth ministry ideas for worship into your worship setting.