A Resource for Using Loops in Worship

This is a guest post from Will Flora, a great friend and worship leader on the theological aspects of using loops in worship.

As a worship leader it is very important to understand two things: worship is not just music, it is how we live our lives in a manner pleasing to God (Romans 12) and music is an awesome way to do that (Ephesians 5:18-21).  So how can we use music as our expression of thanks and adoration to the fullest? By putting forth our absolute best effort in our playing, writing, and leading.With the subject of loops there is always the question of why to start incorporating them. I have found that loops bring in a refreshing burst of energy to my music ministry. They brighten up old songs and inspire more creativity when composing new ones. The fact of the matter is that we are called to be skillful musicians (Psalm 33) and using loops is an excellent way to live this out. Using loops in your worship service takes extra time, effort and practice, which definitely lead to you being more skilled as a musician and composer. Not to mention pouring your life more into your ministry by spending extra time writing and finding loops to use is going to fuel your passion and desire for God to new heights. And that’s the most important thing to remember: you aren’t a worship leader because you’re pretty or want the attention. You are a servant of the Most High and you should put forth your best effort to lead yourself and your congregation before the throne.

Another command often given in Scripture is to “sing a new song” (Psalm 96, Isaiah 42). Loops create a new way to live out this command in that you can make an old song new by changing the instrumentation and the arrangement. Plus writing loops can open up creative blocks and expand your musical tastes and affinities.  Singing a new song is an especially important way of worshipping, and often it gets thrown on the back burner. When you fall into the trap of “autopilot” worship where you pick the same songs in a two-week rotation, you are not living out your Scriptural mandate to sing a new song, and you sure aren’t being the creative soul God intended for you to be. So why not add a little pizzazz to that hymn by adding a loop? Before you know it, that hymn is a completely different song, and you’re already sitting in your home studio creating new music that hasn’t been written, expanding the ever growing library of praise songs to our God who deserves them all and more.

In summary, loops provide a fun way to spice up your music ministry, and also a great way to worship. Be mindful of how well you are worshipping daily in your music ministry, not just when you lead the congregation. Ephesians 1:16-21 should be ever present in our minds, remembering our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and ever glorifying Him in everything we do. So if you’re starting to slip or you have become stagnant, perhaps adding loops can become a new act of worship for you. Give yourself fully as a sacrifice and watch as our Father is faithful to reward you in your efforts. May the Holy Spirit guide you into the best effort you can put forth as you continue in your striving for excellence in worship. Plus, who said worshipping couldn’t be fun while making loops?